The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-03-07
freeze now before he would speak


low on the window ledge and gszed out
at the flying fields and hedgerows. 1t
was getting darker too. The shadows
that, when they started had been so
clearly defined on the vivid emerald OF
the fields, were all merging now into
the soft dusk that Wept over the land.
The twilight shadows were, she
knew, creeping, too, into Miles gray
blue eyes, darkening them in tho way
she knew so well. The winter sun
shine ,noylonger touched with bright
ness thegclose waves Of his we'll
groomed head.
Against her will, she turned her
head and looking at him, but meeting
his eyes. looked away swiftly. and be-
gan nervously to pull Off her gloves
and chafe her hands. How cold It
was! She wished now that she had
accepted the rug. When one is half
petrifed, ones pride is at low ebb.
Cynthia" he burst out, finging
down his paper, all his bitter resolu-
tions not proof against the sight Of
her silent misery. 81 wish could do
something for you!"
At that moment there flashed into
both their minds the remembrance
OF the last time she had complained
OF the cold, when he had taken her
into his warm arms and kissed and
chafed her hands, and as their eyes
met each knew the others thought.
Cynthia" he said again, softly,
passionately, leaning across her
eagerly, "do you remember"
81 remember nothing" she answer
ed, with haughtiness that was but
the veil Of her utter weakness.
you are right" he agreed drawing
back quickly. ut is not worth re-
membering,"
Her eyes were full OF tears as she
turned over the pages Of the maya
zine she was beginning to hate. She
had read every bit Of It. No, here was
something she had not noticed before.
only little verse OF Omar Khay-
yam's:
'If in this shadowland of Life thou
hast
Found one true heart to love thee,
hold IT fast;
Love it again, give all to keep v
For Love, like nothing in the world,
can last"
It was the last straw All the pent-
up love and misery in her heart
welled up and brought the tears to her
eyes again, but she squared her small
chin and turned few more pages in
differently. He should not see that
she cared. She noticed that he had
finished his paper, and resolving not
to be outdone in stiff politeness, to
show him that she could trust her.
self TO talk easily to him, she offer
ed him he" magazine in exchange.
"Thank YOU" he said, accepting
the offer and opening the magazine
at the page where Omars verse was
marked by big tear drop. Cynthia
had been crying. He read the beauti-
ful words, then looked across at her
with his whole true heart in his
eyes.
Surely she cried, miserably, 1--WE
must be nearly there?"
Il don't think so," he answered al
most apologetically, his thoughts 60
ing back to the time when an entern-
ity alone together would have seemed
but as five minutes of bliss 'SWe"-
consulting his watch-"have an hour
and a half yet"
Your watch has stopped she in
sisted, irritably. "l'm sure you could
see the lights of u if yoN looked
out"
'I'll try, if you like" he said, good.
naturedly; and, raising the window,
he put his head out into the darkness.
NO." he affirmed, Il cannot see
them" He drew his head in sud
denly, and, pulling down the window
again, sat down with one hand
pressed to his eye, the acute agony
caused by speck of coal dust on the
pupil making the tears course down
his face.
Cynthia watched him for a moment
doubtfully; then her pride went down
before the pity and motherlness
which, at the sight Of a man or child
in pain, wells up in woman's heart,
and she crossed to his side. producing
a cobweb of handkerchief.
Miles" she said softly, shyly
placing one small, cold hand on his
forehead, "let me get It out for you.
Look up!"-as he moved his hand
from the injured eye. "Yes, | see it.
Now keep quite still There!"-tri-
umphantly bringing forth the speek
on the point of the fragile handker-
chief-"it's out"
Thank you, dear" he said, with
tender passion, catching and keeping
her two hands, handkerchief and all.
mo, | will not let you go, Cynthia
my Cynthia!"
NO." she contradicted, with lips
that were little tremulous, looking
down at the bare third finger Of her
left hand-"not now"
YES" he insisted, bringing forth