The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-04
mo, l still like good smoke. You
and father taught me that"
"What have the years brought
vOu9

and father taught me that"
VIVA have the years brought
you?"
"Knowledge-of everything"
Il wanted to be near you when your
father died The thought OF you new
err left my mind"
Thank you for that. 1t was hard,
harder, ! think, because there was no
body to whom l could turn. 1t seem
ed SO strange TO me that the sun kept
shining and the little world OF human
ity that daily passed my door went by
unheeding even though my heart was
shrouded in grief. 1t seemed so cruel
for the world to go on in its usual
matterof-fact way. | was the only
one. it appeared, who had been left
out of the scheme of things"
Il would have come to you If ! had
dared to believe | could serve you.
Il tried to interest myself In bust
ness, travel and books. 1t kept my
heart from breaking"
In all this time, Cynthia, has there
been no man whom you could love
and trust?'
Cynthia's throat was tight. She
waited minute before answering.
Yes, there was man. There is
always man, you know"
Can you, can you tell me about
him."
There is nothing to tell He didn't
love me. | have measured all the
men have known by his standard
and finding them to fall short, ! have
not accepted a substitute. You see !
have closed my gate of Paradise with
clean though faltering fingers
could not marry a man whom l didn't
love in the same foolish, unworldly
way that lOved-that man.
You haven't moped about, that's
certain, for have travelled a bit and
have known many women but | have
never known beauty and brilliance to
be as we'll blended as | have found
them in you
Don't flatter. pleased" begged Gym.
thia
II want toto know about the man
! He was fool not to care. How dc
YOU know that he didn't care?"
The look in her eyes at the table
when she had said that she wished he
had loved her burned in his brain anC
he urged an answer
How could you know that he didn''
carco"
Because he never told me"
but perhaps-Oh. Cynthia, dear,
ran away from the pain OF losing you
Maybe he was like that"
why. why, you laughed when 20,
told me goodbye" sobbed Cynthia
suddenly. You laughed"
Blu. Thorne's arms were around he
and he was holding her as If he neve
meant to give her up again 80 speed
was impossible.
women have a way Of letting mel
know. Why didn't you give me [
chance. Cynthia!"
"Tom." said Cynthia then, "Eathe
told you about Bob Mcconnell to nm
out your own attitude. II has com
to me. One birthday you gave M
your picture In little silver frame
remember that | teased you for Il
I kept II on my desk and one nigh
Father came into my room when l ha'
It in my hands looking At it. I b.
lisve." he said. that old Tom 10 you
not impossible he, daughter. 10 I
true!' he asked and jumped Vi
than and threw my arms around hi
neck and told him that-that / b
uevsd 90. too"
Little girl Of my heart! Oh. Cyl
thia, love you"
Across the garden came the voie
Of the lady Of too many words.
Il suppose they're somewhere on
there In that mad moonlight. l knev
that elder brother business was q
talk. l tell you. Jim. Thorne's tn
man. saw It In Cynthias eyes,"
How" asked Cynthia softly. IT
keep secret for three years and the
to give 1t away to a dinner party"
Trust . woman to and out anothe
woman's secret! hate cosby oil
women but you know think that at
going to love her"
so am l." said Cynthia promptly.