The Washington herald., 1907-03-14

thing" refusing to give an iota Of doubt
as TO Harding's general duplicity of ma
ture.
"He talked out Of his head-aH about
a girl" She shamelessly broke all rules
of etiquette as 10 confidence between
nurse and patient.
Rogers Increased scowl annihilated the
possibility of belief that he ever had
been. or ever could be a JOY to any soul.
That's exactly what 1 thought he was
raving about hOtly-"all about loving a
girl"
IT was evidently a very nice girl-he
called her dearest-T think he even re-
ferred 90 her as-er-an angel The
childishness of her smile seemed INSULT
client cause for the symptoms OF apo
pleXy Roger was exhibiting
And YOU sat there all the morning and
let that idiot make love 10 you His
sentence was swallowed in snort Of dis
gust.
Cynthia glanced al the writing paf near
her, woHdering If it would not be salu-
tary 20 Rogers manners II she forgot
his existence and wrote letters the rest
OF the morning.
As the scratching Of her pen became
more noticeable. the audience thought it
owing 10 its dignity TO disperse, and
walked across the lawn toward the gate
ITS hands stubbornly in its pockets
Roger leaned over the gate discous0late-
~. She had seemed so different the last
time they had been on the river. She
had really come so near saying-eyery-
thing he wanted her TO say-that he had
walked around for hours afterward IN q
state OF ecstasy.
He tried 20 possess his soul ia patience,
waiting for the next evening when she
had promised 90 go with him on the river
and perhaps-say exactly what he wanted
her 20 say Roger considered it "A piece
Cf maliUity Of fate that Harding-that
idiot Harding should have been taken so
ill-oT. al least. should have pretended
he was So violently ILL., The soreness Of
his heart added a suggestion that Gym
thia probably jumped al an escape from
giving him the answer he was so anxious
fer.
The pleasant odor from the honey
suckle vines that clambered over the
hedge-the effect .of the soft breeze that
gradually famed some of the heat from
his brow something indused him 20 sauu-
ter slowly toward the verauda. Gym
thia had probably he thought mad time
20 dnish her letter in the half hour that
had elapsed.
He saw that she was fast asleep-evi-
IDENTIFY she had not been worrying much.
There was note cOnspicu0usly address
ed ana conspicuously pinned on a ruffie
Of the rose-cOIored cushion.
He reached for it with an eagerness
ne would never have allowed the waking
Cynthia TO behold. Perhaps. after all, she
might be amenable TO reasoning, her
somewhat highty nature might gain So
briefly from contact with him. Cynthia
with a slight addition of sobriety-he
gave "a sEa that intimated it was more
bliss than one man could properly re-
aliZe. His fingers were nervous as he tore
tie note from its envelope.
Joy of my soul"-it ran-'your moods
are truly q delight They afford all kinds
of opportunities for studies in human na-
ture. After all. we are rather much alike. |
mere matter of temperament. I sup
pose. If you prefer calling yours right
eous indignation, I don't mind-mine can
still go under the name of plain temper
He was really sick, Roger, and the
girl he raved about he called Helen. I
am awfully fond Of rowing. and am ready
to go on the river any time. whether
the sun is shining brOiling hot or the
moon like il was the other night Just
as soon as your righteous indignation /
Gains down to a degree that would make /
il safe for "a person 10 get within ten feet /
of you"
Roger leaned over into the depths Of /
the hammock. his face well mixed with 4
pink cushion and sleeves ruffles.
Wake up. Cynthia" he whispered, /
I'm in a heavenly frame of mind"
Copyright. 1907. By Homer Sprague.l