The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1912-12-26

laughing before her, and Mrs. Gallo
way. never slow of speech. rallied her
"Welli see now why you were il
such a hurry to get home, How many
beaux you sot. any way? Don't blame
you for sn sakin' off to meet a good
lookin' man like Robert Jackson. but
say. who's the good.lookin' other fellow
down the road apiece. who asked us
the way to your house? There he
goes now, up to you porch. We told
him you was ccmin'. Who is hep"
Cynthia laughed. but a queer pre-
sentiment gripped her.
Perhaps he wants to sell some
thing Or insure the house, or me-
or any enc of a thousand things. I'm
going to see,' she said pleasantly.
She started past them when MS.
Galloway broke out in a new place.
Guess n or two of us ought 70 go
with yea stranger like that
Anger and perplexity shone in
Cynthia's face as she turned to look
at the woman but Robert Jackson
came to her rescue. He tool his
stand beside her.
81 think a man would be better.
I'll go with her, and you need not go
to the trouble. Mrs. Galloway" His
firm, courteous tone was a dismissal
that would have no denial.
Calling q goed-by to the women,
Cynthia and her escort came to the
gate. The little house was set far
back in a green yard. and up near
the house the stranger, seeing her
approach, stood and waited. Some
thing in his bearing disturbed. al
most %smothered her.
I'm afraid think-it's some one
l used to know" she faltered. There
both fear and hope to the heart of
the man beside her. He stood in her
way a moment.
Cynthia" he said, now is my
time to speak, If this is a man whom
you nee thought you cared about-if
ne has left you alone all these years
without the s~ternest of good reasons
don't allow yourself to think you
still love him, unless you really do
now for what he is now. An old
flame is not always as good to warm
your heart at as a new one. You're
sure of me. Cynthia. Now-shall l
go away, Or"
Her thought chung to him. but there
was that about Mark that had always
fascinated and held her. Now it left
her weak and trembling.
you might come with me, Rob-
For the first time she had
unoOncoiouc1v mead hic nan0
Together they went to meet Mark
He came toward her with a
medium of height, of good
bearing. the old half insolent, conf
dent look on his handsome fair face,
4 look hat had better become Mark
he boy than Mark the man. He held
)ut his hand.
Cynthia" he said, %uncovering his
head with its fair, heavy hair, 81
lave come back. You knew l would
back, didn't you?"
"How-could - l know You -
lidn't write" she faltered the words
tut in her excitement. unaware that
he was not introducing the W
men.
Tit took me a long time to make
God. I wouldn't come to a woman
haven't" There
vas a little swagger in his voice and
nanner. ".And-women are faithful.
knew that you"
'You knew" she said quietly,
that you went ava and left me-
airing for you, but not even reilly
ngaged-you never asked me to
larry you-and still you expected
lie to wait-without even q word. to
pend my life waiting until you"
He came closer. the old light in his
ice. triumph in his voice
but you have waited"
Cynthia's glance met the gaze Of :
ebert Jackson and found in him a
sfuge. ;,
Il have not she said for Robert !
ad come close and had taken her
and as a lasting possession into his. +
ark Carter looked at them silently
moment. 81 am going to marry
ebert Jackson"
well" answered Mark Carter, Il Ii
less l deserved it all right. | guess h
IS worth it-and I have learned to h
low men. Cynthia. Good-by.' He II
rned and walked away. d
1912, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.) =,