Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-07-04

ebe might have formed since last he
saw her It might be that the terrible
longing in his heart was never TO be
satisfied. and then the necessity for
speech became almost intolerable. II
was because of this that he had spoken
In the old fashion, "Cynthy, s'pose we
tell what has h. opened since last we
metY
And Cynthy had not resented the re-
turn to old speech or the use of her
name, but had answered simply,
"S'posin'," and Lem was not disposed
to quarrel about the answer.
But 1t was one thing to decide to
speak and quite another to find the
words one wanted. While he was still
seeking them Cynthy said, "S'pose ]
beglnT
Gratefully Lem accepted their re-
versed positions and answered in his
turn, 'S'posin'."
Cynthy found a comfortable spot and
sat down, while Lem threw himself at
her feet Then she began In simple,
unaffected way to tell the story, which
the man eagerly drank In. So much
depended upon that story. 1t would
either open his lips or seal them for
ever, and he knew It. he composed
himself to listen, determined that mel
Their by word nor look should he en-
barrass her or make 1t difficult for her
to give him this glimpse Of her life. He
could not help wondering If 1t meant
as much to her as to him.
There isn't a great deal to my
story, Lem" said Cynthy. 81 did not
know how fond of the old place was
until we had moved away. They say
that those who are left behind feel
worse than those who go because new
things take up the attention. l dare
say that is true In a way at least, but
there is a kind Of longing for old
places and old friends that is worse
than physical pain when it strikes and
that only the. absentee can feel. True,
it is not always there. One could not
stand it if it were" Cynthy spoke in
reminiscent tone, more to herself than
to him, and Lem felt sort of comfort
in the knowledge that he was not the
only sufferer.
81 went to school and gave my whole
attention to my books, as l had de-
termined to fit myself for teacher.
Somehow l think it always lay back
in my mind that l should return here
some day. l will not deny that the de-
sire became less a conscious purpose
than a subconscious dream as the
years went by, but about six months
ago it famed into a purpose that would
brook no opposition"
Here Cynthy paused and fell to
thinking. Lem noted the fast chang
ing color now, and his heart sank |
little He wondered what had reused |
Cynthy to the sudden determination |
and whether it BODIED good or Ill for !
him and his hopes. Every moment !
seemed to make 1t more a matter of |
life and death that he should know his |
fate.
With heightened color and eyes that |
Cynthy resumed her story, apparently |
unconscious of the anxious scrutiny of |
her companion. About a year ago |
young student came to board with us. |
AS you know, 1 never had a brother, |
and before long we became excellent |
friends 1t was very nice to have some
one to depend upon, ever ready to do
what one needed, to play escort and
big brother That was what we both /
called it at first But it seemed to
grow to be more, and-and-why, then,
he asked me to marry him. 1t was a
surprise to me at first, but after awhile
thought would say yes. Then it &C.
CURED to me that before tying myself |
to promise that l might not be able
to keep I should see more of life l |
was not sure l could be a minister's
wife, and besides / did not know
whether loved him or not. l needed
to prove my feeling to myself.
So that is why l am here. l applied
for and finally got the position of |
teacher, and here l am, out with you
just as in the old days, and 1t hardly
seems as If 1t could be six years since
then. Does 1t, LemT
Something in the question made the
young mans heart leap and the hot
blood rush to his head He looked
sharply at Cynthy, but she appeared
to be merely wondering aloud, and |
hope died down again. But ii was time
FOR his story now, and, moreover, he |
felt as If he could tell it, indeed must |
tell IT, let the outcome ha What a. |
might.
1T seems to me, Cynthy," he said,
that perhaps without my knowing it |
you have always been a big factor in
my life. l had taken your friendship
as such matter of course that if l
thought Of it at all it was as something
that could not be changed. Therefore
your going off to the city that way
was blow that stunned me. i could