Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-02-04


| inferiority. Frank stood in silence, twin
| ing the hop-wreath for her head. He did
not speak. His thoughts were buisied
with the words that he would say to her
when he broke silence. He was satisfied
to have her waiting at his side-waiting
| for the hop-wreath, with its pale green
bells, that he was twining leisurely; and
Cynthia grew impatient as she found he
did not speak to her. She addressed him
several questions, which he answered
with an air of preoccupation. She wan
dered from his side few yards among the
| rocks, turning over with her foot some
pebbles covered with gray and orange
moss, and disturbing all the swarm of busy
insect life, which made Its home there
The influences of the day stole into her
heart, and made her answers more soft and
natural.
AT last Handy broke silence, calling her
to him, as she stood watching the stir
which the point of her foot had produced
in an aut-hill
miss Cynthia
lis it finished?" she said, quickly.
''Not the garland-but the struggle in
my breast is finished I have been ques-
tiening with myself whether should say
Cynthia gathered a leaf and began
slowly to tear apart its delicate veins and
fibres.
miss Cynthia, is it pleasant to you to
have man say he loves your
Il dom know, Mr.. Handy. suppose
so. That is, Think it is very embarras-
sing sometimes
why embarrassing, Miss Cynthia?''
a VrTu fol rim hkar- 49,, h q
was different from anything she had ever
before experienced. She did not like this
Way of having his offer.
''lt is embarrassing when I know that
my only answer can be No." she said,
looking him in the face a moment, and
then casting her eyes upon the lime leaf
she was dissecting.
1T would be more embarrassing, |
think. if you were not SO sure, he said,
''and if you took the matter into considera-
ton"
1T never wants any consideration with
me, " she answered
"What. did you never place before your
mind the subject of marriage2 Have you
been satisfied with the vain triumphs of a
belle? And did you never look beyond, to
see what the happy duties of a wife and
Cynthia laughed, but the laugh was af-
fected and constrained. "What nonsense,
Mr.. Handyr'
1T is not nonsense, he replied; "such
thoughts are fit for maiden meditation
they are womanly-and ao0mdnGy. above
everything else, / should wish my wife to
be-.
Il hope she may be all you wish her,
Mr.. Handy. We will go now, if you
please. if you have finished my garland. :"
sit isnot ready for you yet, 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. t'You must let me
feel its pulses beat against my hand, while
tell you the secret of my lite-of my life,
for have always loved you. loved you
when you were blooming little girl, and
we both went to school to Ezekias Reed,
dear Cynthia. | have loved you against
hope-at times against my better reason.
| have hesitated to tell you this, because
encumbrances on my farm made my po-
sition 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 professorsnip, which adds
thousand dollars to my income, makes it
possible for me to address you. Cynthial
there are depths of tenderness which no
human eye has ever fathomed, in many
strong mans heart-depths which, per-
haps are never, by the shallower nature
of your sex, entirely reciprocated or un-
derstood. 1t is not alone my heart, it is
my very nature-heart and soul, mind
and strength-that | offer to you. The
love Of you, like things which plants alb
sorb and assimilate into their own growth,
has become part of me. This is tried and
true affection, Cynthia. 1t has waited pa
tiently until the moment came when it
might be offered to your acceptance
Cynthia, if you will lay this little hand in
mine (and he let it fall, but stretched out
his hand towards her), II will strengthen
you, and elevate you, and guide you.
You shall be woman of higher rank Gas
God ranks woman), for your union with
mans stronger, steadier and more single
minded nature; and, Cynthia, your in
f1uence for good on me will be incalculable.
Who can estimate what man owes to the
affection of a womanY All that have in
me that is good will be doubled by your
influence. You must draw forth-perhaps
create-the gentleness, delicacies and the
tendernesses that complete the manly
character
He paused, and Cynthia stood with her
hand hidden in the folds of ner mantle
s'No," she said slowly; Il am sorry, Mr..
Handy, but | 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:
81 am not good enough to answer your
expectations, Mr.. Handy. You must look
elsewhere for the kind of woman who will
satisfy you"
Handy started, and his face flushed
eagerly. He was about to speak. Cynthia
caught the lighting of his eyes; but when
they rested on her face, he said that her
words were not wholly sincere, and the
look faded.
"You are not dealing fairly with me,