New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-11


to look after, half regretted my friendship with
the old man. -, -,
IF only they would fall in love with each
other 1 unused. as Bob and sat smoking together
that June afternoon; but they won't lherc Is
not n chance of it
Evidently my thought was infectious. for
suddenly, after gloomy silence. BOD heaved
prolgous sigh, and said deliberately. with bitter
I've got i'll suppose l ought to marry her"
Ought ?" ! exclaimed, trying 10 conceal my
eagerness My dear boy. there is no oblisation3
in the matter. If you care for her. FAIRY her;
How pg have bin S1a What fix
am in / see no other way out of it. hate kick,
ing woman out of her own. Besides, 1T would
o Re sen 70 20 he ssa o tbrnsng out
his his b Srawny hands "a as proof. What am to do,
kicking my heels together all day Yes Of course
%gst may hs s SAY Mr. sl2aese &
don t.know how it Is done a.,
"Wait q moment" / answered, rather fabber-
gastted by such ,impetuosity. Are you sure she
will have you?'
Bob meditated A CLEAN Of hope passed over over
his face, then faded. He showed both hands
through his hair, and shook his head doeiuliy'
"Of course l am stupid sort OF fool, he SAID
slowly Il know that, and don't for momens
expect her to think anything else. But then, you
see she'd eat her heart out at having TO leave the
Of things 20 down with a woman, don't they Il
wouldn't bother her much, l sha mt make brill
pect much from her, or beat her, or anything Like
that. We might jog along somehow. l rather
| like her. do. on my word OF honor
she has her fathers temper, and is dreadfully
spoilt" / felt constrained to say, not sure that
iob's arguments would not, he expressed it, go
down" with Cynthia, She being oil the iran sen,
and open to bn os Is 1 HO adSee
would wait little while, and-weil, IN sh0rE, pay
her some attentions as they say in novels. She
Very assented Bob; IAN awfuIly odd girl.
Still | don't see what else Is to be done. L dare
say if give her her head at first, she Will sober
down in time AS far as I'd Know S aG SyOfb sde 81
as in other things and long as she doesn't eX-
pect too MUCH Of me- l shall be all right fte nhe
glance at the delicious view, of the park through
the window. mo wonder she is cut up about It,
By Jove, I'll do it,"
Being Of the opinion that the lovc-afrairs Of
young people gain nothing good from the inter
ference of even the best meaning friends held my
peace, and thought what lucky girl Cynthia
might be if she would look at things In the right
light, from my point of view. 1 wondered If Bob
was as Indifferent to her as he appeared to be.
or if he really had snealing affection for her.
Presently, ventured gently TO probe his feelings
NO: pigsties!" growled Bob: whereupon we
subsidized into silence putting idly at the insinuat-
ing cigar, busted with our own thoughts, whilst
the summer air blew inviangly through the open
window. Probably, we driited rather Close TO the
land Of dreams; for both started gultily, when
the door presently burst open, and a girls fresh
voice broke the silence.
well, of all lazy creatures, commend me to men
in summerl How you can sit and stew here IN
70 cloud of smoke. when it is perfectly glorious
pse you don't appreciate it. A good cigar in an
armchair b is better it than sunshine and flowers OF
Her voice died away rather bitterly, with
| touch of scorn
"Well, tea is ready in the hall: so l came to
fetch you. And there some Of your favorite
cakes, Mr. Kindersley ! know you like a real
Especially yours, Cynthia. Whenever l think
of Arcadian feasts, | think OF summer and Pensii
| Grange and you"
low voice. still bitterly, followed he into the
| wainscoted hall. That is over now.'
| 1t was sore subject with her, poor girl, and
she could not nor did she wish TO, put on
resigned face. Who would care for the place as
she did? Her whole heart was wrapped up in it.
| How fond she was Of every feature in the fair
| every bend in the little river that meandered
| through the woods and meadows. How proud she
| had been of the old. gabled house; and to think
that all these good things would one day be hers
Now, us she said all that was over. and Bob
stupid Bob Trevanion-had taken her place. How
could her father have been so improvident? 1t
| was like slight her. Though she knew the
contrary, the world would say that, up to the day
of his death, he had never forgiven her for being
girl, ;, :, ooo. .a
| been less of spoilt child, would have disguised
these feelings: But our Cynthia was not con;
| ventional Her face was full of discomfort, and
| her manner toward Bob most discouraging to one
who contemplated asking her TO be his wife.
Cynthia bore a strong family resemblance to her
| cousin. Both showed the Trevanlon breeding by
their tall figures and fair coloring But Cynthia's
| features were refined into something very near
| positive beauty Her blue eyes were darker, with
black brows and lashes, and the curves of her lips
were more positive and self-willed. If she were
| not q woman, one might say that she looked less
| good-tempered than honest Bob.
| She gave us our tea with little air of proud
| humility that amused me, and impressed Bob
! with an uncomfortable consciousness that he was
a usurper. In his new character of "wooer,' he
was 0pprcsSively attentive; but his little courtcses
were received with such girlish disdain that he
grew more and more nervous and abashed, and
| finally upset the cream-jug over the table, and
half its contents on the floor .,.,
can't do anything right. What clumsy idiot
| am"
1T doesn't NATTER Cynthia began, then
| checked herself
1t was no longer for her to say whether or not
! it mattered having stains made on the carpets at
| Pensil. They were BOb'S carpets; in all prob
ability they would soon be unacceptable, what
with Bobs dogs running loose about the house.
| BObs friends with their muddy boots, Bobs own
dcplorable lack of appreciation of what is dainty
| and pretty.
She rose with petulant movement. and, taking
a book from the table ensconced herself In one
| of the deep-recessed window scats-not to read
! Her ewes were straying over the lawn and the
distant meadows, and the little valleys, which she
had hoped to call her own Blue smoke curled up
peaceful and refreshing to look upon. It was not
likely that a girl of eighteen would trouble her
head as TO whether it was as healthy as it was
picturesque: but l never walked through that
struggling village without seeing the ghost Of
| disease lowering above it,. The Squire had never
bothered himself to think about drainage, and
such-like trivial matters. much less about the
health OF his tenantry. Why should hep
Presently Bob got up with glance of interro-
CATION at me, which purp0sely ignored, and.
after fdgeting round the room, he joined Cynthia
at the window.
! Reading, Cynthia? ?" he asked, with O smile
Does that book interest you?"
| "Very much" said Cynthia.
Then, for the first time taking in the nature of