The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-12-19
In the Attic.
By TEMPLE BAILEY.
COPYRIGHTED, 1907. by P. G. Eastment.

COPYRIGHTED. 1907. by P. G. Eastment. 8
tsass~~sNeN~~s~ee>
Miss Cynthia's attic was fragrant
WITH aromatic herbs. Little bags OF
lavender and Of dried rose leaves hung
from the rafters and mingled their del
fcate perfume with the coarser aroma
of sage and sweet marjoram and
thyme and summer savory.
On autumn afternoons the attic was
golden with sunshine, and from the
little peaked window one could see
the long white road and the blue hills
beyond.
It was to this fragrant and gold
lighted attic that Miss Cynthia would
come when the summer rush was over
and in its peace and quiet try to for
get that she was worn and worried
and withered.
At thirty-five one should not be Wor-
ried and withered But hard lives do
not make for youth and freshness, and
Miss Cynthia had always drudged
Work had been the watchword on the
farm, and when prosperity had come
in later years the habit Of keeping
summer boarders had become fixed,
and even after the death OF her par
ents Miss Cynthia had continued it.
But with September came rest and
freedom, and 1t was then that Miss
Cynthia sought the attic and wrote In
her diary.
The diary was a safe outlet for her
woes. There were pages blotted with
the tears she had shed when she had
closed the volume Of her first romance,
and two leaves on which she had pen
ned q poetic swan song Of affection
were pinned together with black pin.
Miss Cynthia had old fashioned ideas
about love. She had loved once, and
hence there could be no other affair.
It mattered nothing that the man IN
the case was married and had grown
fat and puffy and uninterestng. 1t
was not the man, but the idea, and to
that idea Miss Cynthia was true.
To be sure, no second suitor had en-
tered her life, so that there had been
no severe tax upon her constancy.
But the roses had gone out Of her
cheeks when she was twenty, and she
had twisted her hair in an uncom-
promising knot and had at that early
date given herself up to mourning and
to memories.
you're silly" Martha Ann told her
one bright September morning as Miss
Cynthia, with her black diary In her
hand, prepared to ascend to the attic.
why don't you go out and visit and
have a good time instead Of writing IN
that dark old placer
Martha Ann was an old and pr1Vl-
legged servant, but Miss Cynthia would
brook no interference with her acts OF
aMictdon.
.I don't think good times are my
psrtion. Martha Ann" she said and
went up the stairway thoughtully.
Halfway up she paused to say:
'eliake a good vegetable soup for
lunch, Martha Ann. I'll throw down
b1nch of my herbs. Soup will taste
good on cool day"
Love" wrote Miss Cynthia In her
little book, lis of mans life thing
apart; It's woman's whole existence"
When she had rounded of the Last
psim letter she bit the end Of her pen
ca and sighed and looked out Of the
peaked window.
Far down the road she could see a
cloud Of dust. Coming nearer, the
cloud showed itself the forerunner OF
an automobile.
The big machine swerved out Of the
read and into Miss Cynthia's own
drive. 1t stopped at her door, and she
had to lean far out Of the peaked win
dow to see Martha in her 2ingham
APRON speaking to the occupant
Hiss Cynthia could not hear a word,
and she almost fell over the sill in the
effort to satisfy her curiosity. She saw
Martha Ann go in, and presently she
felt pull at the back Of her dress.
Goodness" Martha Ann said cross
II, II called and called, and couldn't
make you hear. That man wants some
thing to eat"
"What?" Miss Cynthia gasped. "But
he doesn't look like a tramp, Martha
Ann"
'sTramps don't ride in automobiles,
Martha Ann snifled. 'He says he's
been riding all the morning, and he
Just couldn't find a place to eat, and
he would be glad to pay for meal.
He understood that we took boarders,
he said"
well, you go down and hurry the
SOUP and make an omelet and some
hot biscuits, and I will talk to him.
Martha Ann"
you'd better stop In your room and
primp a little" Martha Ann advised.
sHe's awfully good looking"
'The ideaw said Miss Cynthia, with
dignity.