The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-15
THE EVENING STORY
Cynthia's Extra Session.
(By A. Maria Crawford.)

(By A. Maria Crawford.)
| Bob Lawrence was disturbed. He
struck savagely with his cane at the
tender flowers along the country road.
He had been promised a degree of
happiness here and he had failed as
usual to find 1t.
Say, mister" said a small voice,
81 wish you wouldn't knock the heads
Oft those flowers. I want about a
bushel of daisies to decorate our
schooIroom tomorrow. Miss Cynthia 8
| invited the board to hear us speak"
"Cynthia?" questioned Bob wonder
iDgly, Cynthia who?"
She's just Miss Cynthia, that's ALL
answered Jimmy Green. she's about
the best locker we ever had in this
country. Pa said so, and pa knows"
Does she teach SCHOOL,"
you bet she does and we're learn
ing, too, cause we love her so we just
study our heads off to see her smile"
said Jimmy boyishly. "You must be
at Three Oaks. My pa is the gardener
there"
you've guessed right. What's
your manner"
Jimmy Green. Green and garden
go together, pa says
well, they ought to, at any rate.
Now, Jimmy, where do you go to
SCHOOL,"
'I don't like to tell you cause pa
said to me, I hope Mrs. Golfers
brother don't see Miss Cynthia,
Jimmy, for she's too pretty not to
you're learning so well at school, I
don't want you to have to change
teachers Pas right about that.
Why, her face is the just the color of
sisters orchard" Jimmy pondered
for a second. Seems like I ought to
answer you civil you being a
stranger here. The schoolhouse is
about a quarter of a mile straight
down this road. She's there all right,
Miss Cynthia is. She keeping Pete
Murphy and Tom Vance in to learn
their speeches for tomorrow"
Cynthia! What train of mem
cries and pleasant dreams the word
conjured up for Bob Lawrence, who
thanked Jimmy for his information
and kept on down the road toward
the schoolhouse- This time the way
side flowers were free from his bruis-
ing cane. He was thinking-thinking
intensely of the only girl who had ever
stirred any emotion in his heart. She,
too, was called Cynthia, and her cheeks
were like the apple blossoms in his
sisters orchard. He had met her al
most year before, a few hours out of
Liverpool. She had been touring the
continent with very wealthy aunt.
The girls beauty had attracted him at
once, and later her superb health had
been added to her list of other charms.
She was the only woman on board,
so the steward had told him, who did
not miss a meal
The last night out there had been a
moon Lawrence recalled how eagerly
he had waited for her on deck while
she went for wrap after dinner. They
had stood together watching the
waves and listening to the soft strains
of Hungarian waltz. His love for
her, none the less intense because of
its short duration. had stirred him
love aRd asked her to marry him.
NO" she had answered, forcing
back his arms, sit is not possible. We
belong to different worlds
What difference would that make,
if it were true?" he had demanded.
What do you mean by different
worlds?"
him. "I belong to the broken down
aristocracy of the south. 1 work for
my living. Aunt Lydia took me for
this trip because 1 was her brothers
ty.' He remembered with bitterness
how ne had begged, stormed and
argued, but all 20 no purpose, for
Cynthia had remained deaf to his en-
treaties. protesting that his people
would be disappointed.
When they landed, although he had
tried to find out where she lived and
follow her, she evaded him. His pride
stirred then, and he had turned to his
work determined to forget the girl,
but in that, too, he had failed The
following spring his sister wrote to
him: your letters sound as if you
were blue. 50 leave your affairs-they
are too numerous for young man,
anyway-and come to visit me for ten
days. The fishing is fine near here,
and you can count on mending your
depressed spirits
A voice, young and vehement, broke |
into his meditation. "Yes'm, I'll do
my best. Both of uc will. won't we,
Tom?"
Lawrence looked about him. There |
was the school house, and out the door
rushed the two scholars who had been
kept in to learn their speeches. He |
watched them out of sight. wondering |
what excuse he could offer to the |
country teacher if he dared go to the |
door just 70 look at her because her |
name was Cynthia.
He heard a sound that made him |
listen intently. The pretty school
teacher was crying. Lawrence walked !
quietly to the door. over by a win
dow. her profile turned to him, stood |
the girl of Jimmy Green's dreams, and, |
incidentally, of his own
"Cynthia!" he called.
'FWhy. it's you," said Cynthia, max |
ing futile attempt to efface all signs
of tears. ''will you-wilI you come
imp
'T WILL" said Lawrence promptly.
''Why did you run away from me in
New York? %
tt had to go. I mean that I had
to come home. / told you enough to |
make you want to give me up, any