Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-04

ty. Cynthia had always called him 'e Frank"
before, but consciousness made her now reject
the old familiarity
ooh that is somebody very wonderful
Everybody is afraid to speak to her. She has
written book. Frank seems to be right down
flirting with her, doesn't he ? declare, now
he always wanted somebody out of the way.
Nobody here was good enough for Frank.
Have you heard he has been offered a profes-
sorship and is going away? He is going to
live in the same place she does. | shouldn't
woader at his courting her-should you ?"
!" 1 don't care" said Cynthia in her heart,
% don't care. Oh yes do. / care that
he should have weighed me in the balances SO
calmly this afternoon, and found me SO un-
worthy that he takes back the love he has Of
fered me. Has he Judged me very cruelty
or am Iquite unworthy of his attachment ?
Oh | think that this morning had it in my
power to be happy oil my life, when / refused
him ! Oh how can any one compare any 9th
er man with him And lie loved me only to-
day-and now, tonight. his reason says am
not good enough to be his wife and he is
afraid of being unhappy with me- Indeed, |
am not good enough-but would try to be-"
"--If you would snip it."
Itwas Frank Handy's voice. She caught
the word, and looked up eagerly. Fr.nk saw
her, and stopped embarrassed He was hold
ing upa torn fold in the dress of his partner
In blue
"If / knew where to find needle and
thread" said the authoress, with half look
at the bridesmaid.
al know. Let me sew it up for you,"
said Cynthia.
Her pride had left her She felt humbled
to the dust. 1t would be a relief to do some
thing for this woman better than herself
whom Frank preferred to her.
Let me do it," said she earnestly
Mr.. Handy, l shall depend upon your
escort"
Frank Handy bowed, and the girls went to-
gether into bedroom t
Escort was it his escort to the CITY -
He had told her! he should go there Gym
thia sewed up the hole in the blue Dress very
sadly and quietly.
The animation faded from the young author
ess's face, as she looked down on Cynthia's
quivering lip and saw big tear fall upon her
sewing. She had heard some one say she had
been the victim of false hopes raised by Seth
Taggart, and had in her heart despised her
for it; but she felt as if the sad, heart-bro-
ken love bestowed on him endorsed him as far
better than he looked 1t was a woe, however,
to which she could not openly alIude But, as
Cynthia set the last stitch in her dress, she
stopped down and kissed her. Every sorrow
has its lesson" she said, (" as every weed has
drop of houey in its cap. Blessed are they
that suck that drop, and store it for good
uses"
She had gone, and Cynthia was left alone
Yes, she had much TO learn. This nights ex-
perience had taught her that her reign was
over, and her career of bellehood run She
who Was not good enongh to keep a good
mans heart when she had won it, would set
herself to her new task Of self Improvement. -
She would have her dear old fathers love, and
live at home, and little children too, should
learn to love her Ard then, perhaps, some
day, when they both grew DID, Frank Handy
might, perhaps, see that he had Judged her
hastily, and not be glad as he was now, that
she had rejected him. At least, every inl-
provement in her would be due to his influence.
though unseen and SO, even in her lonely life,
he would not be altogether dssociated from
her. She sat in the dark, with her hands
clasped tightly over her burning forehead.
She heard voices in the passage The par
ty was breaking up People were beginning
to 60. Oh why had she staid alone so long
Perhaps during that hour Frank might have
changed bis mind. She had deprived herself
of the opportunity.
She started up and hurried out amongst the
the Company. They were all getting their
cloaks and shawls on. Frank, in his great
coat, was standing impatiently at the house
door
"Please to tell her that my buggy has
come up first" he said to some one, as Cynthia
presented herself in the passage.
" am ready said the lady in blue, pre-
sentng herself
Frank raised his hat to the company and
took her on bis arm.
Shut up that door," said somebody, "and
don't let the night al: into the house"
So the door closed with a jar that went to
Cyuthia's very heart She turned aside and
tried to help some of the girls find their shawls
and hoods, Every lassie had her laddie /"
Cynthia had no one to take her home. She
asked Tommy Chase to walk home with her,
and he said he would as soon as he had had
some more cake and some more supper.
Cynthia went back into the empty parour,
and sat down by an open window looking on
the yard. She hid her face in her hands. All
sorts of thought went singing through her
brain but the one that presented itself oftenest
was an humble resolution that she would trv
to be such woman as Frank Handy wisely
might have loved
There was a stir among the vines that drap.
ped the window frame, She did not look up.
1t was the wind. She heard it sigh She felt
its warm breath near her chcek-warmer, sure
ly, than the night wind. She lifted her head
quickly
Snip !" said Franks voice at her side 1t
trembled and he tremble'l as he stood with
great hope and great fear contending in his |
breast His selfpossession was all gone