Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-01-24
Rynthia's
Au1harrn
By Maria A. Crawford
Isis it really YOU o.

SCuOOl gil DIT n0r unexpected SuCOuu
ter with Tom Thorne It is not an
easy task, even for woman of the
world, to receive graciously a man
who has failed to return her love.
Three years before, at her coming-Out
party, young as she was, she had sud
denly realized that Thorne himself
and his indifferently bestowed atten-
tons meant more to her than anybody
or anything else in her life. Stimuli
taneOusly with her knowledge OF con-
ditiOns had come his announced de-
termination to travel for several years.
He had worked hard for long time
he told her in his thoroughly imper-
sonal way when he had asked her to
sit out a dance and he had decided to
play for a while There were certain
cOnditions-he had said-which made
long trip imperative.
Il daresay,' he had laughed as he
told her goodbye, that l shall run
across you on your honeymoon some
where in Europe. l WISH" he had
added seriously, that something
have watched you since you were a
little girl and your mental calibre is
too fine to be wasted in an ordinary
life, talking and dancing with these
little fellows who caper to the sound
of society's music. Goodbye and good
luck to you!"
A few months later when her father
died, note had reached her from
Thorne, dated in Egypt, assuring her
of his sympathy for her and of his
sense of personal loss. When her af-
fairs had been adjusted, she went
abroad for two years and then, return
ing home and finding the weather Sc
we're, she decided to spend the winter
with a party of friends in the south.
A few days after her arrival on &C
certing an invitation to dinner, he
was surprised to find Thorne there.
Cynthia" he had echoed, lis it
really you? What a long, long time
since l went to your party to offer
queen! Life has certainly been gen,
erous to you," he said, noting her ma
ture beauty.
"Oh no. she interrupted, Life took
all | had two years ago."
You have never married them"
Cynthia saw a sudden light in his
dark eyes as he bent almost eagerly
toward her.
No. she answered quietly. Then
dinner was announced.
Before the dinner was over Thorne
reflected that Cynthia had made the
most of her possibilities. He had nev
er heard a woman talk so entertain
ingly. She easily dominated the con
versation; in a quiet unassuming way
| she tactfully steered the talk into
! interesting channels-art-cur
events-travel and matters. of genera
| interest. The men, he knew, were Sc
| cretly thankful that for once they haC
not been forced to discuss or to lis
| ten to gossip and to the small tall
that is too prevalent. Cynthia was {
! type Of the possible new woman, pro
| gressive without sufragette tenden
cies. She was wholesome, she wa!
! sane, she was sincere.
Thorne became conscious of the fac
that woman was questioning him.
You have known Cynthia Wayne
for long time, haven't your" she
asked curiOusly.
Yes, ever since she was a littl,
girl in short dresses"
How interesting! It's funny how
she has remained single when all tn,
she sat on your knee and showed yol
her dolls in those old days?" question
ed the woman archly You reall,
look awfully young to have been cas-
in the elder brother role to a beauty,
went on the facetious one not grant
ing him time to answer.
Cynthia" called his loquaciou
neighbor, Il bet Mr. Thorne was il
love with you. That's why he wen
abroad for several years. He admit
that he assumed an elderly >attitud
too soon to awaken your sentimental
love"
The woman laughed shrilly an
Thorne, seeing Cynthia's face groy
white, felt savage desire to chok
the woman of too many words.
NO." Cynthia's eyes rested on hi
for second. Il really wish that h
had been in love with me-"
Something gripped at the man
heart and a clamorous, primitive in
pulse to take his own in the face @
| every odd made his retort quick an
: intense.
1T isn't too late yet, is it, Cynthia?
He found himself little later wall
,, ing in the rose garden with the cir
A soft yellow moon hung in the soutl
, ern sky and lighted up the fmgran
} paths, sweet with flowers and tn
breath of magnolias. A nightingal,
his breast throbbing with passion
wooed his mate with many a silver
trill somewhere in the dark cypres
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