Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-01-24

mo, still like good smoke You
and father taught me that"
What have the years brought
your
acknowledgment everything
Il wanted to be near you when your
father died. The thought of you new
er left my mind
Thank you for that 1t was hard,
harder, | think, because there was no.
body to whom | 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 it's usual
matter-of-fact way. 1 was the only
one, it appeared, who had been lett
out Of the scheme of things"
Il would have come to you if | had
dared to believe l could serve you"
4 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 a 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 l have known by his standard
and finding them to fall short, l have
not accepted a substitute. You see
have closed my gate of Paradise with
clean though faltering fingers
could not marry man whom l didn't
love in the same foolish, unworldly
way that l loved-that man."
You haven't moped about, that's
certain, for l have travelled a bit and
| have known many women but l have
never known beauty and brilliance to
be as we'll blended as l have found
them in you
Don't f1atter, pleased" begged Gym
thia.
Il want TOTO know about the man.
He was fool not to care. How do
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 and
he urged an answer.
How could you know that he didn't
care?"
Because he never told me-
But perhaps-Oh, Cynthia, dear, l
ran away from the pain of losing you
Maybe he was like that
why, why, you laughed when you
told me goodbye" scbbed Cynthia
suddenly. You laughed
But Thorne's arms were around her
and he was holding her as if he never
meant to give her up again so speech
was impossible.
Women have a way of letting meI
know. Why didn't you give me &
chance, Cynthia?"
Tom" said Cynthia then, Father
told you about Bob Mcconnell to fine
out your own attitude. 1t has come
to me. One birthday you gave me
your picture in little silver frame
| remember that | leased you for it
| kept it on my desk and one nigh
Father came into my room when | hat
it in my hands looking at it, I be
lieVe,' he said, that old Tom is you
} not impossible he, daughter. Is i
true? he asked and [ iumDed III
than and threw my arms around hi
neck and told him that-that l be
lieved SO, too"
Little girl of my heart! Oh, Gym
thia, [ love YOU"
Across the garden came the voic,
of the lady of too many words.
Il suppose they're somewhere GU
there in that mad moonlight. | knew
that elder brother business was al
talk l tell you, jim, Thorne's tn
man. I saw it in Cynthias eyes"
Howe asked Cynthia softly ct
keep secret for three years and thel
to give it away to dinner party"
Trust a woman to find out anothe
woman's secret! I hate gossipy oil
women but you know | think that | an
going to love her"
So am L. said Cynthia promptly.
r. ~