Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-05-18
IN A YEAR.
CYNrHTl LESTER, aged p

CYNTHTl LESTER, aged p
REX HAWTHORNE, aged "a
Sccnc:-A drawing room; bright fire In the
crate; general air of freshness about the
room; q quantity OF mimosa and Parma
violets about. Miss Lester, in an extrava-
gantly simple gray gown, standing on foot
stool before mirror, tucking some vtolets
into her belt.
CYNTHIA feel Just exactly like
character in first piece at the theater,
only, unfortunately, there is no gal
Jerry to play to! Crosses to work
tablet It's nearly twelve, and he al
ways was exasperatingly pune tual, SO
he'll be here directly. (Sits.) 1t any
one had told me year ago that things
would actually happen like this, I'd
never have believed it. It's like page
ont of novel However, here it is,
and here is Rexs letter. (Takes out
letter and reads.) my DEAR CYNTHIA:
Tomorrow is the 14th of February,
the day on which our probation ends,
and on which we are to be allowed TO
renew an engagement which has never
been broken as far as we are con-
ccrned May l call on you at twelve
o'clock? always, REX HAw-
THoBNE." After a note like that, what
choice had l but to say: Come atonce;
it is thousand years till | see you
CYNTHIA" And (she listens) he's COM
ing! Rises and advances as a servant
announces Mr.. Hawthorne.
Rex Coming forward with out
stretched hands)-Cynthia.
Cynthia running to him)-Rex.
Rex (hesitating)-How good Of you
to let me come!
Cynthia drawing gradually away
from him)-Dearest, how could you
think could do otherwise?
Rex Qeading her TO seat and sitting
beside her)-And-and now we have so
much to say to each other.
Cynthia "a little embarrassed)-
of course-so much!
Rex-My poor little Cynthia, I re-
member the last time saw you, how
Cynthia Qaughing) How red my
eyes were and how shiny my nose!
Don't remind me of it; it's almost as
bad as being shown a photograph
taken when you were six, and being
assured of the resemblance Please
don't think of me as a creature with a
perpetual SHUTTLE.
Rex (seriously)-It was no laughing
matter then.
Cynthia (smiling)-No, it wasn't. We
were desperately in earnest, weren't we?
do believe, Rex, that if that day you
had asked me to run away with you, or
if you had proposed that we should re-
tire to the back garden and dramatic
ally shuttle off this mortal coil to
.gether, honestly, / believe I'd have
done it.
Rex (pityingly)-Poor little girl!
Cynthia - But, all the same, I'm
rather glad you didn't ask me, you
know; because if we had rushed off to
the nearest registrars Office there
would have been an end of Uncle Bob's
fortune, and though, of course, love in
a cottage is very charming, and a
''dinner of herbs is delightful, still,
the cottage wants to have all the mod
ern improvements and the herbs need
the advantages of good cook to make
them acceptable, and as for the mortal
.coil?-weu (glances at herself in a mir
ror opposite) I'm not sure that I
haven't rather a weakness for it.
Rex Cooking at her admiringly(-
You're prettier than ever. Cynthia!
Cynthia (pleased)-Am 1?
Rex surveying her critically)-But
you're altered a good deal-and,
wonder if dare suggest something?
believe you'd look more enchanting
still if you'd wear your hair parted in
the middle.
Cynthia (horrifed) dear boy, I'd
be perfect fright! 1 wouldn't do it
for the world. Where did you get that
idea from?
Rex (meekly)-Oh! only thought
met girl at the embassy in Paris a
good deal this winter, and she looked
awfully nice with it that way; but,
then
Cynthia-Oh, but she couldn't have
been my style!
Rex (quickly)-Oh, mol She'd face
like a beautiful Madonna, great dark
mean-no-that is, of course, she wasn't
at all your style.
Cynchia Cooking at him fxedly)-Do
you know, Rex, that almost fancy
Rex (embarrassed)- do you
fancy?
Cynthia (gravely)-That should like
you to grow beard
Rex relieved
Cynthia enthusiastically Yes, q
man looks SO much more impressive
with a beard; sort of lord-and-mastel
air-and-well, there is something fas
.cinating to me in a man with flow
ing golden beard
Rex Gnterruptlng)-But, my dear
child, considering my coloring, dom