The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-24
OUR DESERT ISLAND.

long and suspicious. 1t conveyed III al
together unworthy slur upon the pro
ceedings of the inhabitants of the room,
and Cynthia laughed with amused rcsiy-
nation
1t is Charlie, shc said. "IIo al
ways comes i'll like that"
1--WE must DO the Same for him." I
replied, when ho arrives at years of
discretion and becomes engaged -
Cynthia's youngest brother stole into
the room rapidly and softly Keeping
his eyes rcligiously averted from the
sofa by tho fireplace, he picked up u
book from the table and departed. |
offered some casual observation, but he
took no notice, clearly thinking it
would be iniudicious of him to be mixed
up i'll the business ut all. MY innocent
position, which was two good yards
from Cynthia, courtcd observation, and
we both felt little injured.
wonder what he expects to scc?" I
said, resuming my seat upon tho sofa
Augustus i'll the presence of Cleopatra
was not moro careful to sec nothing. Il
it Il sense of dccorum or feeling of
contempt that inspires his caution?'
Never mind,' answered Cynthia.
Let us talk about ourselves Are YOU
sure? Are you sure you are quite sure?"
This conundrum / had heard before.
and my answer WAS stcrcotypcd. 1 was
quite sure, and 1 pressed her hand to
convince her.
And when, she continued-' when
did You first, you know? Was it at
the -
Any demonstration that I may hayc
been contemplating was rudcly inter
ruptcd by further agitation Of the
door. With promptness bred of some
practice [ was again III IN erect position
on the hearth rug, and Cynthia was read
ing book. 1t WAS IL manscrvant with Il
scuttlc Of quite unnecessary coal for the
fire. He poured on the fuel and brushed
the hearth with scrupulous care The
operation seemed TO take an enormously
long time.
= Left once more to orr tctc-a- toto,
Cynthia's impaticncc of these intcrludcs
found words.
Il wish we lived on Il desert island, 5"
slic said. How delightful it would bel"
Indeed it would, | agreed. Long
yellow sands and blue sea and palm
trees and solitude, with nothing to dis
turb our conversation. We could talk
together from sunrise to sunset. -
So we could-or we could read to-
gcthor.
Or you could sing to me, ~ said
Il should want an accompanies, - she
,N1,- Il. Il,
play the piano
1t would be most Elysian, " went
ON. I'VE should have our house, our
books and our music Far away from
any fellow creature we could idle away
the sunny summer afternoons together
and be totally happy. We would be in
visible to even the telescope of the pass
ing vessel
Cynthia took up the parable and am
plified it, 1.-The world would contain
for yOu one woman and for me one
man, and each would be ample company
for each other"
Amplev' cried I confidently We
had only been engaged fortnight.
'Ample!' she maintained with sus-
picious emphasis, rs if conscious that
the statement needed repetition to rem
der 1t convincing.
For exercise" continued, rashly
skctching i'll the details, ''wc woulG
have II lawn tennis court
''Iou beat me so easily" she sighed.
passed the compliment by and strok-
ed her delightful hair. A tap rcsounded
on the window pane behind us and
made us jump drcadfully. 1t WAS my
uncle, man devoid of proper feeling,
and knew he was about to make /.
shouted suggestion of stroll i'll the
Thucydidcs used to put it. So SHOOT,
my head firmly, and he waddled off
with n despairing wave of his hand
which he may have considered humor-
Gus, for saw him smile as he went.
How long, - asked Cynthia, bccom-
ing pink i'll the face, edo you Think"
And she nodded guiltily toward the
window.
II wish l knew was my answer
I'VE ought to draw the curtain
That would only make matters
worse Besides, there is really nothing
20 be ashamed of -
Nothing whatever" l said "Still
the island would be less painful to the
nerves -
"Yon could play cricket on the
tandSH' cried Cynthia, rendered dcsper-
ate by the stings of conscience ANY
thing TO be rid of these constant dis
fractions -
/ might at low tide, " said dubious
ly, but You know | prefer to play with
81 other men
If they We're nice men, said Cynthia
blandly, I'VE might allow them TO
come. | delight in Watching cricket"