The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-19

Cornwall that / met with Miss Cynthia
Treleven. never saw her before, and have
never seen her since; yet in the short time
of our acquaintance i think 1 was a wit
ness of the one rornance-the one pitiful lit
tie tragedy-of Miss Cynthia's life.
She was certainly a middle-aged lady.
and yet that -erm gives altogether wrong
idea Of her Though her youth was past,
there was still something girlish about her.
She had preserved the shyness and in
nocence Of youth. though its freshness and
bloom had fed long ago: the bashfulness
that was pretty at eighteen was a little
awkward now; the blush that came so read
lily to her thin cheek was more painful than
becoming. 1 don't think she could ever have
been pretty but there was something taking
about her. and found Miss Cynthia a very
interesting study at first. She far
younger than I, although her actual years
must have numbered nearly the double Of
mine.
We happened 10 be staying at the same
hotel with my mother, and Miss Cynthia
with her brother, stout Cornish squire, his
handsome daughter, and young man whose
relationship 1 could not fix at all. He was
a handsome young fellow. tall and dark
haired. with heavy. sleepy eyes; and he
Iounged about all day, in a fashion that
made me long to shake him. Nearly all his
time was spent lying on his back on the
turf. smoking, or slouching about the little
place, watching the coasters In and out Of
the harbor. and yawning A French novel
was always sticking out Of his pocket; I
never saw him read anything else.
81 detest that young man." L said with
much emphasis to my mother one day.
when we were seated on the downs with our
books and knitting, with a good view Of
the gentleman in question lounging on the
breakwater below US.
II don't think he can be altogether bad"
replied my mother gently. There must
be some good in a young man who is as
devoted to his aunt as he is. 1 notice him
always very attentive to Miss Treleven."
II am sure she is not his aunt" 1 cried.
lis he really attentive to her?"
Very much so, indeed said my moth
er II think there must be some relation
ship, as 1t would be absurd TO imagine any
thing else between them"
That evening happened to pick up Miss
Cynthia's book for her, and so commenced
our acquaintance. We were seated in the
hotel garden, in the soft summer twilight,
and Miss Cynthia talked a good DEAL
In the nervous, Hurried way that shy peo-
pie have. Her niece Maud had not been
so they had been trying what little
change of air would do for her.
And I like to see little OF the world
now and then" she said hesitatingly.
Don't you think one grows a little old
fashioned, living in the country all the
year round? We do not see much society
at Polellan. and. for my part, | like TO
have some idea Of the fashions"
could scarcely help a smile as l glanced
at her slim, lank figure and faded face.
There was nothing fashionable about Miss
Cynthia She had curiously preserved
the exact style of feature and manner
which one sees in the Keepsakes and
Books Of Beauty which were young with
her; and the style which was suggested
by her appearance was that Of limp braids,
with rose behind one ear. slopiLg Shout
ders with a scarf trailing Off them. and
sandalled slippers.
They had made quite little tour, Miss
Cynthia went on, and Maud was much
better already.
And does her brother like it, too?"
asked.
Her brother? oh. you mean Mr.. Hous-
ton. No; he is no relation at all-that is
/ should say he Is only a friend" said
Miss Cynthia, nervously. I'VE made his
acquaintance at Penzance. and he has
formed one Of our party since"
He seems to find it rather dull" I re-
marked.
do you think 50? Oh, MOI I assure
you he is delighted with the place" fiut-
tered my companion, with painful blush
He doesn't care much for eXertion, per-
haps; but he says IL Is enough for him
simply to live In a place like this"
He IL rather young to talk like that"
I hazarded. He can't be more than
twenty-five or six?'
"Ohr' cried Miss Cynthia che is much
older than thatl I am sure he is much
older; but then" she went on, twisting
the corner OF her shawl in her nervous
fingers, II think IL is so difficult really to
tell age. Some people look so much older
than they are, and some so much younger.
Don't you think so? Mr.. Houston says
that years have really very little to do
with age. and ii is only experience and
knowledge that really signify"
Poor Miss Cynthial According to that
maxim she was certainly no more than
eighteen.
For example," she said hastily, with
the curious boldness OF bashful people,
who often make condolences that stronger
souls would shrink from-"for example,
am sure you would never guess my real
age. Now, wish you would tell me; how
old should you think really amp
This was rather sudden. I gasped.
There was nothing for 1t but prevarica-
ton; and with that anxious, faded face
waiting eagerly upon my words / said
well. It is really hard to tell; but are
you thirty YETI"
'"Therer' cried Miss Cynthia, beaming
with sudden delight. 81 was right; 1t is
impossible to guess quite correctly 1
really am little more than that. but ap-
pearances are sometimes deceptive, are
they not? Is that you, Maud?" as a
tall figure approached through the twi-
light. DO you want me, my love?"
1T is too damp for you TO be out, DEAR
said the girl. do come in now
She spoke in a soft, pleasant voice; but
/ noticed a scrutinzng glance at me as
she came near, as If TO see who it was
that kept Miss Cynthia out so late. She
acknowledged her aunts nervous intro
duction with very slight bow. and passed
her arm through hers TO lead her indoors
/ remained on my seat a little longer.
medtating. Poor Miss Cynthia! Her Sc
cTet was easily read, and 1 scarcely knew
whether 10 laugh or cry over her: but l
couldn't get her out Of my head. From
where / sat ! could see the masts of the
yesse.s that were lying by the lock, ready
10 go out with the next tide; the broad
downs rose on the other side Of the har-
Dor. and l could see the constant flash of
the white breakers at the edge of the
grayness Of the ocean. The air was fuI.
of the sound of the sea; IL formed a sort
Of background to all other sounds of the
summer evening; the distant voices Of chill
dren. the stars and greetings Of passers-by,
and the thin twang Of the church cock
that struck the half hours and quarters
high above the scattered little town.
Miss Cynthia's affairs seemed fantastic
and rather ridiculous to me while l sat
there in the twilight. As I unused, the
scent OF a cigar foatsd Upon the air, and
heard a step down the road by the
n r.