The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-19

ways comes in like that"
Cynthia's youngest brother stole into
the room rapidly and softly. Keeping
his eyes religously averted from the
sofa by the fireplace, he picked up
book from the table and departed |
offered some casual observation, but
he took no notice, clearly thinking IL
would be injudicious or him to be mix
ed UP in the business at all. My inno-
cent position, which was two good
yards from Cynthia, courted obserVa-
tion, and we both felt little injured.
II wonder what he expects to see?'
I said, resuming my seat upon the
sofa Augustus in the presence or
Cleopatra was not more careful to see
nothing. Is it a sense of decorum or
a 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 stereotyped. l was
quite sure, and l 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 have
been contemplating was rudely inter-
rupted by a further agitation OF the
door. With a promptnesS bred OF some
practice l was again in an erect posi-
tion on the hearth rug, and Cynthia
was reading a book. 1t was Il man
servant with a scuttle of quite unnec-
essary coal for the fire. He poured
with scrupulous care. The operation
seemed TO take an enormously long
time.
Left once more to our tete-a-tete,
Cynthia's impatience of these inter-
ludes found words.
II wish we lived on a desert island"
she said How delightful it would
bev'
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 sunet."
80 we could-or We could read TO-
gether."
"Or you could sing to me- 1 said.
81 should want an accompanist," she
observed obviously, because you
can't play the piano."
"It would be most Elysian," l went
on. 1--WE should have our house, our
books and our music. Far away from
any fellow creature we could idle away
the sunny summer afternoons toge-
ther and be totally happy. We would
be invisible TO even the telescope Of
the passing vessels"
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 COM
pany for each other"
Ample! cried / confidently. We
had only been engaged a fortnight.
"Amplev she maintained with sus-
picious emphasis, as II conscious that
the statement needed repetition TO rem
der 1t convincing.
For exercise" continued, rashly
sketching the details, 1--WE would have
a lawn tennis court"
You beat me so easily" she sighed.
passed the compliment by and
stroked her delightful hair. A tap re-
sounded on the window pane behind
us and made us jump dreadfully. 1t
was my uncle, a man devoid of proper
feeling, and I knew he was about TO
make a shouted suggestion of a stroll
in the garden. himself being the third
as Thucydides used to put it. So
shook my head firmly, and he waddled
off with despairing wave Of his hand
which he may have considered humo-
rus, for ] saw him smile as he went
How long," asked Cynthia, becom-
ing pink In the face, do you think?'
And she nodded guiltily toward the
window.
II wish I knew" was my answer.
"We ought to draw the curtain"
THAT would make matters worse.
Besides, there is really nothing to be
ashamed Of"
Nothing whatever" 7 said. "Still
the island would be less painful to
the nerves"
You could play cricket on the
sands" cried Cynthia, rendered des-
perate by the stings of conscience
Anything to be rid of these constant
distractions"
II might at low tide" I said dubious
ly, but you know l prefer to play
with 81 other men,"
IF they We're nice men," said Gym
thia blandly, 1--WE might allow them tC
l.
Mice men!' / repeated with suspi-
cious severity. Recollect / was new tc
the character of passionate shep-
herd.
We'll, we could take our bicycles, al
any rate" said Cynthia automatically
THE roads would be exquisite; nc
hills and no thorns in the road"
1T would be fatal if we were pune.
nice little man from the shop"
80 we should and to clean them"
There was a pause which we en-
ployed in contemplating the fire and
thinking of our island.
Perhaps it might be better" | re-
marked "to put the bicycle man in an.
other house about a mile away from
ours"
"He might live with the accompa-
mist"
And, of course, we should require
servants"
$50 they could all live together be.
hind the wood that divides our hall
of the island from theirs"
with a telephone laid on" / mur.
INJURED, but not ironically, though
began TO think our island was becom.
ing rather densely populated.
"The very thing" cried Cynthia
clapplng her hands. "Only we should
want somebody to examine it when il
got out of order"
$50 we should" ! agreed. But per
haps we could arrange for a boatloat
OF technical assistance to visit our isl
and each week"
"The tradesman bringing the gro.
ceries."
And the postman with the letters.
Cynthia hesitated, in doubt for a mo
ment or two. There seemnd 10 hl