Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-04-21

year slipped by, and then there
came into Cynthia's life another
change. She and Henry Lester, a
stranger in the village, met in October,
and before the end of November she
had promised to marry him, and the
time for the wedding was decided
upon.
Cynthia could not help feeling
many serious misgivings; she felt
drawn toward this sad looking man
with the brown eyes that always
seemed searching for something ex-
cept when looking at her; then they
were full of peace and restfulness and
deprecating love.
| Deprecating was the word that
seemed to fit his manner toward her.
Cynthia sometimes felt panied by it,
and wondered if nothing would ever
change him in that respect. Too
much humility was not to her taste,
and good and reliable and handsome
as he was, that way of his which al
ways seemed to be saying, "Forgive
me, please" grated upon her frank, in
dependent nature in spite of all she
Speaking of Annie as her adopted
daughter, Cynthia had mentioned her
as possible obstacle to their engage
ment He turned to her eagerly.
Trouble your mind no more about
her, Cynthia. She shall be as my own
child"
Then he became lost in that dreamy
maze which seemed sometimes to en-
velop him.
One day late in December there
was quiet wedding at the minister's
house in the village, and then Gym
thia found herself going swiftly tow
ards home, her mind filled with
strange new thoughts and conjecture
as to how Annie should receive the
news that that home would hereafter
own a master-that they two would no
longer be all in all to each other.
For some unexplainablereaso Gym
thia had never written Annie regard
ing her coming marriage, and as the
hour drew near for the astounding
disclosure she felt very nervous.
1t was now near at hand. There
remained but one day before Christ
mas; Annie would certainly be home
for the holidays, and tomorrow would,
in all probability, be the day of her
arrival.
The morning of that day was cloud
less. All the morning Cynthia few
about the house making pleasant prep
arations for the holiday. Everything
was done ut last. She had finished
her simple toilet and stood at the
window, watching with loving eyes the
rollicking romp of her husband and
the dogs in the fcathery snow, when
up the road came team from the
railroad station with Annie waving her
handkerchief from the depths of the
roomy sleigh, her cheeks so red that
Cynthia saw the color from her win
dow. Then her heart jumped into
her throat, it seemed to her, for as the
sleigh stopped Annie sprang out with
shrek that terminated in the word,
"Fathern' and after seconds hesita-
ton Henry Lester had taken the few
steps that lay between himself and the
girl and gathered her in his arms.
Cynthia looked upon the scene with
dazed eyes. 1t was evident that the
introduction she had been dreading
was not needed; but what did it
mean?
While her whirling brain was re-
gaining its balance her husband and
Annie had entered the house. Annie
immediately hastened up to Cynthia's
room.
'What is it. Mamma Cynthia? My
father tells me to come to you to find
out why he is here
Cynthia took the girl in her arms
and held her in silence for a moment,
while many and varied thoughts ran
through her mind At length she
said:
"The explanation is very simple,
dear; he is here because he is my hus-
band"
Annie raised her head and kissed
Cynthia's flushed face again and
again.
L am very glad" she said. "Some
time you will tell me how it came
about, won't you? 1t seems such a
strange thing to happen.
botl uHS,e lHtteeu. gut SyntHla.
81 cannot tell the child that if I had
known who Henry was it would never
have happened"
Then, together, they descended to
the kitchen, where they found Lester
sitting deiectedly by the fire, dog on
either side of him, anxiously awaiting
the appearance of his wife and daugh-
ter.
Cynthia hardly knew how to meet
him. He did not leave her to face the
! difficulty, but rose and held out his
hand to Annie.
"Come here, Annie,' he said, ''and
plead for me with your-mother. Tell
her, dear, from me. that / have never
tasted liquor since the day 1 returned
to our poor home aud found you gone.
have been searching for you ever
since. l have worked hard and saved
all l earned, thinking to find You and
make home for you, but had grown
| discouraged and had piyen uD hone of