Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-02-22

Other word or two. Under the circum-
stances Cynthia considered 1t advisa-
BILE to teach It the word Mamma"
It would save the situation.
Cynthia reveled in the possession
Of bit of humanity that, for the time
being, was all her own. She made in
Vulnerable sketches and when they
arrived in her villa in France she
hung them about the walls and made
her selection for the prize portrait.
1t was all Of Eve months later that
John Winthrop took his first stroll,
in those FIVE months, along Fifth ave
nue.. The pilgrimage of illness was
evident in a short cropped blonde
head and vanishing scar on one tenn.
pie.
He stopped at the window of an
art store that Haunted it's latest treas
ure.
For long time his eyes rested on
the central picture. IL was a golden
haired baby standing on tip-toe and
trying to reach the yellow head of a
sunfiower.
"Joyce!" burst from his lips.
And with the movement of his lips
something snapped within John Win
throp's head. Mists cleared and the
light OF understanding swept into his
eyes; he drew a long draught of
spring sunshine and realized that
memory had returned to him.
Inside the shop he was informed
that the portrait was not for sale.
1T is the prize picture from the In
stitute contest" said the man in the
art store.
Cynthia" Winthrop bent over the
name in the corner Of the canvass. Il
don't make out the last manner"
'Ross-Cynthia Ross-she has
villa in Normandy" vouched the clerk.
Have you the exact address?"
questioned Winthrop.
Another fortnight and John Win
throp made his away through the
lanes to villa in Normandy. Mingled
emotions burned within him, but he
had determined to give Cynthia Ross
a chance to defend her action before
putting the matter in less lenient
hands than his own.
He saw her then as he approached
the garden with the sun of glorious
France shining on her hair and in her
eyes. Toddles, some few feet away,
was playing in the big sand hill.
Winthrop watched them for a long
moment with peculiar Tightening OF
the jaw.
Daddy" the baby's high pitched
voice rang out. She started toward
him, but trippled over her little pail.
Cynthia cast one swift, hunted look
into the blonde mans eyes and
clasped the child convulsively in her
arms. She turned defiantly toward
him, then slowly her entire being
dropped pitifully and very slowly she
came toward Winthrop. Without rails
ing the heavy eyelids she put the
baby in his arms; her hand brushed
his and the man quivered. Cynthia
turned away.
Mammal" walled Toddles.
A hot flame darted through Gym
thia. She turned to meet the surprise
in the blonde mans eyes.
Nobody came to claim her!" she
cried in self defense.
Il got a rap on the head-the
week"
you have been I'LL" put in Gym.
thia swiftly, contritely, land l am the
cause of it."
mo, mol" Winthrop pushed the
blonde hair from his temple. II was
knocked down. This scar proves it.
My memory only came back when /
saw the portrait Of" He touched the
baby's curls-"Joyce."
"Joyce!" Cynthia laughed more or
less Historically. 81 am afraid she
won't know that name -
What have you been calling her?"
"Oh-Toddles, Darling Sweetheart
anything that came into my head
Gentleness, tenderness, all that was
beautiful swept into Winthrops eyes.
1T Is rather strange that one who
can love children so-should remain
unmarried" was his quiet remark.
Il have never-liked men," said
Cynthia, and slow smile dawned.
The surprise In Winthrops face
turned to Quizzical humor. Cynthia
was not aware that her eyes were ex-
pressing things quite readable to the
masculine eye.
Nor I women" laughed Winthrop.
Not even the mother OF ToddlesY''
Cynthia couldn't help asking.
''Toddles' mother was my brothers
wife" said Winthrop; the baby was
orphaned when she was i've months
old-my sister and / have done the
best We could. but my sister is not
fond OF children. You may have seen
her on the porch"
"You have known I lived"
"Since the nrHt. I have watched
you q hundred times" He caught her