The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-10
THE MISTAKE OF
 CYNTHIA D0DD
DYJ. c. PLUMMER.

BYJ. e. RLUMMEH. CcopyiTht. 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Co)
 'T think, Miss" said the hired man. ileeweeding out Miss Dodd's garden. ''that old apple tree ought to be cut down. It takes up room and don't bear.
 "I wonder why it doesn't bear?' said Miss Cynthia Dodd.
 Because" replied the man, Tt Is all alone. Trees like comp're."
 But Miss Dodd did not have the tree cut down: 1t did not seem just for her to do so. Was she not alone and of little consequence to the community. Perhaps there was a trife less of sunshine in that day to Miss Dodd. So many women around her had husbands and children about their heels, and she could see from her window several apple trees in clumps with the red fruit on their branches. Miss Cynthia caught herself signing that day. Maybe the old apple tree had its blue days.
 At no time had Sandhurst speculated on the chance of Miss Cynthia marrying. It seemed an accepted fact to the folk of that port that she would live and die a spinster. Men might escort her to and from church, visit, nay walk with her by moonlight in sequestered pathways, and yet the gosslpy tongue of Sandhurst never hinted at Miss Cynthia having @
 
 larly plain of feature, for she wasn't; her manners were agreeable and her heart was the kindest in the world; but the fact remained that she had never had a lover. and Sandhurst, while loving her hugely, believed she never would.
 Having no personal interest in love or marriage, Miss Cynthia felt the deepest possible interest in the loves of other people She delighted to bring Jack to Ii oval fn fnlI ho fh0fr feet along the pathway of love to a joy ful ending. A marriage where Miss Gym thia has not been in some way concerned would have seemed stale and lacking of the proper ingredient to the people of Sandhurst.
 Captain Bob," said Miss Cynthia, ad- dressing the master of the schooner Sa- lome, as they sat on the porch of Miss Dodd's cottage. tits high time you were settling down."
 Captain Davidge admitted the fact. He was 45 years old.
 Then" said Miss Dodge, "why don't you marry Cecilia Craig and do k?"
 The captain intimated a doubt as to Miss Craig having him.
 Miss Cynthia rubbed her nose vexedly.
 "Why, you've never asked her!' she cried. You couldn't expect your schoon- CT to sail if you didn't hoist your can vas, could you?
 The captain shook his head and said he would try some day.
 ''He needs rousing,'' murmured Miss Dodd. looking after him.
 Captain Bob and Miss Cynthia had been friends for years. Every time his schoon- CT came to Sandhurst he paid her visit, and naturally she felt a deep interest in his settling down. She had, herself, in- troduced him to Cecilia Craig, whom she felt would make him 6 most suitable helpmeet. ,.
 But, despite the encouragement of Miss Dodd, the suit Jagged. To use a nautical expression, it was plagued with head winds. At the end of year apparently no progress whatever had been made, and Miss Cynthia. becoming nervous. impress ed Thomas Lane, mate of the Salome, into service.
 '"Thomas Lane," she said, Captain Davidge ie too slow in his courtship of Cecilia Craig. He needs rousing, and I want you to help me do It."
 What can I do?" inquired the amazed MT. Lane.
 Make out you wanted her yourself; cut out the captain all the time and make him jealous. Then he'll speak"
 "Pll do it!' exclaimed MT. Lane, with enthusiasm. You can depend on me. Miss Dodd."
 Mr. Lane, who had been an occasional visitor at the Craig cottage, now became assiduous in his attentions to Miss Ce- ella Sandhurst and Miss Dodd spurred on Captain Davidge to action.