The Parker post., 1912-04-06
(ynthia's
\/harm
By Maria A. Crawford
Isis it really You?"

ter with Tom Thorne. 1t is not an
easy task, even for a woman of the
world, to receive graciously a man
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-
tions 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 dance and he had decided to
play for while. There were certain
conditfons-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
would fire your ambition. Cynthia.
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
hoI hor
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
cepting an invitation to dinner. he
was surprised to find Thorne there
Cynthia" he had echoed. ''is it
really you? What a long, long time
since | went to your party to offer
my homage at the court of new
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 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 quiet unassuming way,
she tactfully steered the talk into
interesting channelS-art-curren
events-travel and matters of general
interest, The men, he knew, were Sc
cretly thankful that for once they had
not been forced to discuss or to lis
ten to gossip and to the small talk
that is too prevalent Cynthia was a
type of the possible new woman, pro-
gressive without suffragette tenden-
cies. She was wholesome, she was
sane. she was sincere
Thorne became conscious of the fact
that woman was questioning him
You have known Cynthia Wayne
for a long time. haven't your" she
asked curiously.
Yes, ever since she was a little
girl in short dresses"
How interesting! It's funny how
she has remained single when all the
men go mad over her. suppose
she sat on your knee and showed you
her dolls in those old days?" question
ed the woman archly You really
look awfully young to have been cast
in the elder brother role to beauty, +"
went on the facetious one not grant.
ing him time to answer
Cynthia" called his loquacious
neighbor, Il bet Mr. Thorne was in
love with you. That's why he went
abroad for several years. He admits
that he assumed an elderly attitude
too soon to awaken your sentimental
love-"
The woman laughed shrilly and
Thorne, seeing Cynthia's face grow
white, felt a savage desire to choke
the woman of too many words
NO" Cynthia's eyes rested on his
for second. II really wish that he
had been in love with me-"
Something gripped at the man s
heart and a clamorous, primitive i'm,
pulse to take his own in the face of
every odd made his retort quick and
intense
1T ISM too late yet, is it, Cynthia o.
He found himself little later walk
ing in the rose garden with the girl
soft yellow moon hung in the south
ern sky and lighted up the fragrant
paths, sweet with flowers and the
breath of magnolias. nightingale
his breast throbbing with passion
wooed his mate with many a silvery
trill somewhere in the dark cypress
trees
What became of young Mcconnell