Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-05-16
By TRAY ALLISON.
,pyright, 1907, by Homer sprague.

~N~N~C~~~C~>O~O
"Am 1 the joy to your soul that you
are to mine, Roger"
cvnthia's drawing voice could lend
stself to bits of sarcasm in way that
uould have maddened Jess inflam-
mable person than Roger Somers.
Roger was enveloped in a scowl that
made it seem incredible he could ever
have entertained thoughts Of being the
1ov Of anybody's soul, Cynthia's own
particular soul being beyond the limits
Of possibility.
"Did you-address meY His cool
ness added decidedly to Cynthia's in
+erest. She raised herself in the ham
mock and arranged the cushions with
the care of one who is determined to
get comfort out Of life.
81 was trying my voice sweetly. It's
been growing rusty for the last hour"
Roger sat stolidly on the doorstep,
his back eloquent with offended dig
nifty.
zone labors under such an inconven-
fence in addressing the back of ones
audience"
The audience, however, kept its eyes
upon a distant spot on the lawn, try
ing to concentrate its mind upon the
exact spot where the driveways met
and wondering why the place didn't
week before upon entering through
that driveway to become one of Mrs.
Keeners guests.
81 feel such an inclination to-er-
babble, Roger, that if you don't mind I
will continue to put it into sentences
for-er-my own entertainment Do
you mind my saying that never have
back represents? l cannot, without
making an effort that the warmth Of
the day forbids, see more of you than
the back of your blue serge coat, a
slight glimpse of profile and the tips
of your patent feathers where the sun
strikes them.'
She leaned back in the hammock
shamelessly convulsed with her own
wit 1t was clearly evident that Gym
lnla was enjoying nefSelr.
"Well, if you are waiting for an an
swer to that psychological problem
you propounded' d''-Roger sat erect, de-
lighted with the alliterative impressive
ness of his opening remark-"we can
probably reach the answer with less
difficulty if we go about it logically.
The statement that am joy to your
soul-we will let that remain undis-
puted until it is clearly proved that
you have soul.''
Cynthia looked at him in frank de-
light an appreciative smile curving her
lips. She thought it possible the audi
ence might face her soon, so she
changed the cushions and put the rose
colored one next her face.
you have such beautiful flow Of
language, Roger'-there was a sweet
ness in her voice that caused the au-
dience to turn and look at her quickly
to discover the possibility of latent sar-
casm-T often wish. could talk
"Good Lord"--his fervor left no
doubt as to his sincerity-'is it really
a fact that you have recently lost your
joking"
"You had sulked for an hour.
might as well talk to a stone wall as
the back of serge coat Now, I ad.
init cheerfully that I have a fiendish
temper. You, according to your own
showing, are never moved by stron-
ger or less meritorious feeling than
righteous indignation. AS for me-
Roger, did you ever see me when I
was really angry"
That Cynthia was an adept at facing
an audience no one of her acquaint-
ances would have denied. Perhaps the
possession of an adorable nose and
fluffy mass of curly hair strengthened
her innate self confidence. Anyway,
Roger, having once looked, had a feel
ing that he had in some way weaken
ed for the fray-not that he intend
ed giving Cynthia any inkling of the
slight feeling Of modification that
stole over him, but the ruff1es fell
around her forearm in q most distract
ing manner.
His eyes softened into pity, the poor
girl had had so little opportunity for
learning self control. Taking course
as trained nurse had at one time
been her fad-not that she ever expect
ed to be one, but because desire for
knowledge and an everlasting pro-
Density for making experiments seemed
20 have been born in her.
Roger in the depths of his soul had
always disapproved of trained nurses.
her last escapade had completely con-
Vlnced him that there was nothing
more unsuited for a woman than such
profession.
Was there any other circumstance,
NE asked himself, that would have
made it seem proper to Mrs. Keener's
household that Cynthia should sit in
that man Harding's room all the morn
ing, administering little doses Of med
lcine simply because Hardings cold
mad given him fever that made him
talk out of his head?