The Parker post., 1912-04-06

mo, still like good smoke. You
and father taught me that"
"Wha: have the years brought
your"
"Knowledge-of 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 its usual
matter-offact way. | was the only
one, 1t appeared, who had been left
out of the scheme of things"
II would have come to you If l 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 a 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 substitute You see
have closed my gate of Paradise with
clean though faltering fingers
could not marry man whom didn't
love in the same foolish unworldly
way that | loved-that man."
You haven't moped about, that's
certain, for have travelled bit and
have known many women but l have
never known beauty and brilliance to
be as well blended as | have found
them in you.''
Don't flatter. pleased" begged Gym
thia
Il want tO-tO know about the man
He was fool not to care. How dc
you know that he didn't carer
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
| carer"
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 you
told me goodbye" sobbed Cynthia
suddenly You laughed
But Thorne's arms were around hel
and he was holding her as IL he never
meant to give her up again so speech
was impossible.
Women have way of letting mer
know. Why didn't you give me q
chance. Cynthia?"
Tom" said Cynthia then. "Fathel
told you about Bob Mcconnell to find
out your own attitude. 1t has come
to me. One birthday you gave me
your picture In little silver frame
! remember that teased you for it
kept 1t on my desk and one night
Father came into my room when hal
it in my hands looking at it. I be
lieve,' he said, that old Tom is your
not impossible he, daughter. Is Il
true? he asked and | jumped VI
than and threw my arms around his
neck and told him that-that I be
lieved so, too"
Little girl of my heart! Oh. Gym
thia, love YOU"
Across the garden came the voice
of the lady of too many words.
Il suppose they're somewhere ou
there in that mad moonlight. I knew
that elder brother business was al
talk. tell you. Jim, Thorne's the
man. | saw it in Cynthia's eyes"
"How?" asked Cynthia softly "Tt
keep a secret for three years and ther
to give 1t away to dinner party"
Trust woman to find out anothe
woman's secret! | hate gossipy OLE
women but you know think that an
going to love her"
so am l." said Cynthia promptly.