The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-07
Our Daily $bcrt Story

I, hour ago, but a new Cynthia with scar let cheeks and tragic eyes. | Tt is very brave of you" sho con | tinued, ito come to me now, and re- proach me for not waiting. l thought | you cared-yes, but you left me with the same friendly goodbye that you gave a hundred others-nothing else -and how was I to know? If you had told me. if you had asked me to | wait"
 "Yes." he cried eagerly. The butterfly Cynthia came back liko a mask, with mocking smIlc and guarded eyes.
 Why, l should have waited she drawled, but you didn't come back. and Mir. Winthrop came" Cynthia" he begged, "is it too later
 Entirely" she answered with the l airiest of smiles. Tt was too late from the day you left. I have forgot ten. long ago. Next time you think | you love a girl-" There is no next time,' he said sullenly.
 Well, just as a piece of abstract advice, then" she laughed a little. next time don't leave too much to the girls imagination-she forgets"
 They fell Into silence again, Cynthia toying with the strings of her sun bonnet, and the man breaking a piece of driftwood into vicious splinters. The sand acted as a good muffier to approaching footsteps, and Winthrop, the cause of their dissension, followed by uniformed small boy, with a yell low envelope, was upon them before they knew it. He beamed delighted upon Cynthia-men of Winthrops type always beam. Here's a telegram, Cynthia" he said nhaarfYl1xy h ing for you up at the hotel. and brought him along"
 "A telegram!" cried Cynthia scram- bling to her feet. For me? How funny. Is 1t money---or a proposal- or message from Molly Endicott: I'm due at her house party next l week" She slipped one finger be- meath the flap of the envelope, and smiled at them deliciously. "Why don't you open it?" said Win throp practically, there may be an | answer
 She tore 1t open. and wolcott turned to Winthrop with jest on his lips l that was never uttered, for Cynthia's s hand grasping the bit of paper fiut- tered to his arm, and Cynthia's eyes, pitifully frightened. stared into his
 What is 1t. Cynthia?' cried Win throp sharply.
 Read it. Hugh" she whisperei faintly, and even in that moment Vol colt was shaken with the knowledge that she had forgotten Winthrops very existence.
 Come tonight" he said in hushed voice, your father is dead" Hugh" she begged, lis 1t true? It's written there."
 She swayed on her feet, and ne took her hand to steady her.
 He dared say nothing for fear of saying too much.
 There is something wrong." said Winthrop, what is 1t, Cynthia? You look pale. dear"
 My father" she said monotonousIy, he is-Oh, daddy, daddy" and ths rest was lost in a storm of 3obs that spent Itself on Wolcott's shoulder Winthrop looked dazed-vory nat urally-and his honest, ruddy eaee be- came an ugly grey.
 Cynthia" he said gently, out she seemed not to hear him, and, though Wolcott felt the extreme caddishn ass of his position, he could not for the life of him relax his arms. nor urge her to go.
 So they stood, absurdly enough. Winthrop aloof and pale-Wolcott with Cynthia's head against his shoul- der, and mounting desire to keep it there forever, regardless of honor, jus tice, everything, when the messenger Intruded his personality Sign" he said, callously, pulling at Winthrop's sleeve.
 Sign for her." said the other man