Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-09-07
B-E67763E---3W
Cynical Cynthia
By Dorothy Blackmore
(oOpyright, 1911, BY Associated Literary Press.)


look into the eyes of a man whose
sister he had treated so badly?
Luncheon was well under way when
Danvers looked up at Ardsley.
Rem. old man, you've always been
a friend of the family, haven't your"
Ardsley nodded, a pang Of shame
darting through his whole being. "Of
course" he said.
We're pretty proud. you know,
Rem. as a family, but sometimes I
think it's false pride and-well. Gym
thia is suffering from 1t all"
-Cynthia?" repeated Ardsley. in q
low tone. How so?"
The pater, as you well know. mar
ried a woman we did not care for
not that any woman living could have
taken the place of our own mother
but Sis and | decided that, for Dads
sake, we'd make the best of It. And
we have. It's harder for Cynthia than
for me for she has Mrs. Danyers all
day. and now that she's home from
college for GOOD it's beginning to tell
on her. Last night / found the poor
girl in tears out in the honeysuckle
arbor all by herself. She said she
had tried. in the four years that she'd
been away at college, to acquire q
hard, cynical view Of life so that the
little things at home would not jar
on her and upset her SO much. 1t
seems that 1t is hard and she is I'M
happy in being unable to be her own,
old self. Now-what shall we do? l
hate to raise a scandal and break up
the family by taking Cynthia away
from home-and father-but. you
know, old man, you can't sit back and
see your only sister unhappy because
Of family pride"
The young man pushed back his
chair and wiped his forehead. 1t had
been hard-this coniding Of a family
trouble, even to so old a friend as
Remington Ardsley.
tt hate to make q fuss, you
know, Rem, but l had to speak OF 1t
today. Our family is SO old and SO
! proud" he added, his chin uncon-
'sciously elevated.
Ardsley did not speak for a full
minute. Il appreciate your situation
and l respect your confidence, Bob.
but-you don't know how it has ma1o
me feel. | would like to disappear on
the face Of the earth at this minute"
You? But it's not your family.
Rem" said Danvers in surprise.
mo; but you don't know how much
l have to do with it," Ardsley. re-
marked, meaningly. It'll try to
tell you more about it some time.
Now-I must rush off.
The two men separated as was
their custom after lunch. Ardsley,
sought the Danvers home and Gym
thia. He could not wait another hour
before telling her how he had mis-
judged her. how abjectly sorry he
was for his unwonted criticism Of the
preceding day.
Words absolutely fail me, Cynthia.
to tell O how woefully | m~idjudged
you. Can you-will you try to-for-
give me?' He spoke earnestly and
looked down into her eyes as she
stood with him out on the big YER
anda.
Cynthia did not answer for a mo-
ment. "Why-what have you done?'
she asked, the old trick back again.
Done? l accused you Of being
anything but the sweet, womanly girl
you are, Cynthia. l -~hought-in Ey
great egotism-that I was the one to
name your faults, to Judge you. ! did
not understand what you have to-tc
put up with. / did not know 1t was
all done for a noble purpose. Oh
Cynthia, ! am sorry"
Don't be. Remington" she said
generously. II forgive you for think
| ing | had put on silly airs just tc
show that l had been away at col
: lege."
; Ardsley smiled gratefully and tool
her hands. do you? And-will 70,
prove it by promising to be my wife?'
Cynthia drew back-not too sal
back. Am l not too cynical?" she
: asked.
You're Cynthia" he said. 'That'i
enough for me-" 81