The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-01-20
WHOLE NO. 81.
cit never wants any consideration
with me- she answered..

with me-" she answered.
"Whas did you never place before
your mind the subject of marriage .
Have you been satisfied with the vair
triumphs of a belle? And did you
never look beyond. to see what the hap.
py duties of a wife. and the sweet tie.
of home might be ?"
Cynthia laughed, but the laugh wal
affected and constrained. "What non
sense, Mr.. Handy p
ut is not nonsense" he replied
"such thoughts are fit for maiden medi
tation--,hey are womanly-and a0oman
ly, above everything else, should wish
my wife to be-"
81 hope she may be all you wish her
Mr.. Handy. We will 90 now, if you
please. if you have finished my gar
land," ,...
''It is not ready for you YETI" said
Handy, passing it over one arm while he
took her hand. "Cynthia, beloved
you must listen to me-"
She drew her hand away. but he took
it again, and resumed: "You must let
me feel its pulses beating against my
hand, while l tell you the secret of my
life-of my love, for have always loved
you. loved you when you were a
blooming little girl. and we both weLt to
school to Ezekias Reed, dear Cynthia.
| have loved you against hope-at times
against my better reason. I have hesi-
tated to tell you this because incum-
brances on my farm made my position
less than that which / thought ought to
be offered to you. ! have watched you.
with your other admirers and, in some
moments. have not thought that any
other had your preference, so that other
men have taken their chance before me.
This offer of a professorship. which
adds thousand dollars to my income,
makes it possible for me to address you.
Cyuthia there are depths of tenderness
which no human eye has ever fathom-
ed, in many strong mans heart
depths which. perhaps, are never. by
the shallower nature of your sex, en-
tirely reciproca.ed o. understood. ltis
not alone my heart, it is M very nature
heart and soul, mind and strength
that l offer to you. The love Of you,
like things which plants absorb and
assimilate into their own growth, has
become part of me. This is a tried and
true affection, Cynthia. 1t has waited
patiently until the moment came when
it Nigh, be offered to your acceptance.
Cynthia. if you will lay this hand in
mine" land he let it fail but stretched
out his hand towards her, Il will
strengthen you, and elevate you and
guide You. You shall be woman Of
higher rank, las God ranks woman for
your union with mans stronger, stead
ier and more single minded nature, and
Cynthia, your influence for good on me
will be incalculable. Who can estimate
what man owes to the affection Of a
woman? All that l haye in me that is
good will be doubled by your influence.
You must draw forth-perhaps create
the gentleness, delicacies. and the
tenderness that complete the manly
character"
lie paused, and Cynthia stood with
her hands hidden in the folds Of her
mantle.
NO" she said, slowly; "Iam sorry,
Mr.. Handy. but I cannot be what you
wish to YOU
There was an embarrassed silence be-
tween them for few moments, and then
Cynthia, gathering courage with her
rising pride, continued:
Il am not good enough to answer
your expectations, Mr.. Handy. You
must look elsewhere for the kind OF wo-
man who will satisfy YOU"
Handy started, and his face flushed
eagerly. He was about to speak Gym
thia caught the lightning Of his eyes.
but wien they rested on her face, he
saw that her words were not wholly sim
cere, and the look faded.
"You are not dealing fairly with me.
Miss Cynthia. nor yet ,s;.h viii: your own
heart" he said, little bitterly. "You
are not convinced Of what you said this
You think in your heart am
a foolish fellow, and that ask too much.
You do not think that Cynthia Simpson
falls short Of the reasonable ideal Of any
man."
Il don't know why you should say
such things" said Cynthia, growing
angry and nearly ready to cry. It was
the first time any offer had been made
10 her which had not left behind it
self-satisfed feeling of triumph; and
yet here was Frank Handy. as incom-
parably superior to any other suitor she
had ever had AS. Well, no mat
ter.
"Miss Cynthis," said Frank, "when
a man loves a woman, as l have long
loved YOU he singles her out from the
whole world as his representative of
/; and there is that in her
before which he bows down, doing
homage to the woman's nature within
her. But this does not imply uncon.
sciousness Of her faults. He may see
where she comes short Of her own capa-
bility. And that marriage is true union
in which the husband. up to whom she
looks, anc. on whom she should lean,
strengthens her better in its struggle
against her worser nature"
They were walking towards the home
stead, and walking fast. Cynthia was
angry, disturbed, and mortified. Was
this a time to dwell upon her faults p
She admitted that she had some. Vauge
by no means implying that
Cynthia knew that. at that moment. she
was proud, vain. insincere, and petu-
liant, and that she was crushing down
the better feelings of her heart to give
the victory within her to the worst. If
Handy wanted her, she thought. he
might WOO her with more respect TO her