Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-12-25
MISS cYNTHIA's CHRISTMAS.

familiar room, strange feeling OF des-
olation stole over her. In vain she re-
minded herself of hard facts that had
heretofore given her satisfaction; she
was the richest woman in Dalesburg,
her house was the largest and most
imposing, her clothes the finest and
most fashionable, and yet
She got up impatiently and, going
over to the window. pressed her face
agaiut the pane and looked out into
the December dusk. Muf1ed figures
FASTENED past, carrying bundles OF all
shapes and sizes, for it was Christmas
eve; the sight sent queer little thrills
over Miss Cynthia and great load
seemed to settle on her heart. She
had no one to buy gifts for, she told
herself, and no one cared enough for
the lonely old spinster to even give
her good wishes.
1t had not always been thus. She
recalled the many, many happy De-
cembers she had enjoyed when Sidney
Bruce, her nephew and only living
relative, had lived in her house. She
had taken him to live with her when
he was small boy, and her love for
him had grown into mild idolatry
by the time he had become man.
Sidney returned her affection with all
the strength of his loving heart until
he wanted to marry Edith Blake.
Miss Cynthia had other plans for Sid
ney, and refused to even discuss Edith
with him, but Sidney was very much
in love and cared not farthing that
Edith was poor and sort OF upper
servant in his aunt's house. Edith
was a peace-loving girl who found the
| situation almost more than she could
bear, for Miss Cynthia had taken her
when an orphan, six years before, and
had been like a mother to her ever
since. Edith loved Miss Cynthia
dearly, but loved Sidney moro, and
one December day she went away
with him and was married.
Miss Cynthia did not rave or storm; ;
she simply ignored the existence of
the youthful pair, and Sidney, reared
in luxury, had to go TO work at any
thing he could find to do. BE had
never even tried to support himaelf
and now he had Edith to love and cher
ish-and support in addition.
Miss Cynthia changed into a cold,
hard woman, and was filed with Bit
terness when her oldest friends open
ly sided with Sidney and Edith. The
latter took small house, not great
distance from Miss Cynthia's, and
were happy but very poor. Sidney
after many discouragements succeeded
in obtaining a situation in a large fac
tory as assistant bookkeeper, but the
work was hard and the pay pitifully
small.
Miss Cynthia watched from her
plate-glass windows aud saw Sidney
trudging past day after day to his
work, and her heart hardened, for ap-
parently he never glanced at his old
home. He passed with averted eyes
and Miss Cynthia had ample oppor-
tunity to notice how thin and care
worn his face had grown and how
shabby his clothes were as time went
on.
1t was six years now since Sidney s
marriage, and Cynthia had not relent-
ed nor had Sidney asked aid, although
there were two little children, and
Edith was nearly blind with an Attic
tion of the eyes.
! Mis-. Cynthia's heart yearned for
those children, and whenever she
passed group of nsighborhoOd little
ones, her sharp eyes peered into each
small face trying to discern which
were the Bruce children, but she had
never felt sure of their identity. Her
heart was unusually tender on this
Christmas eve, and for the frat time
she wondered if she had not been toe
hard upon Sidney and Edith. She
had missed Edith's willing service
many times in the past few years, and
there had been no one to take hel
place in Miss Cynthia's household
She strained her eyes into the gather
ing darkness to see Sidney pass on hi'
homeward way, but it was impossible
to distinguish him in the hurryini
throng. 1t was showing little now
and it was some time before Miss Gym
thia noticed two little figures golnl
along the sidewalk, hand in hand
laughing and shouting with glee., Th'