The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-12-17
THE ANNUAL PICNIC
Nv JOSEPHINE MURPHY.
'copyright, 1915. by Mcclure Ne"spape
syndicate)

1900
Copyright. 1918. by Mcclure N""
S~yndicate)
Ar the time of the annual picnic
given by Lovett & Neville 10 thelr
a~mnloyees IT was expected that any
,ncinient romances that the year hau
developed would be hailed forth hto
the cav light Of publicity. Not that
Tho number was so very great, but IL
must he admitted that even the most
distinguished foorwalker loses a Ger
tain charm-the charm, perhaps OF
tbe nroud and unapproachable-when
Won have taken notes on MIN ioF .
tweIyemonth across the counter.
Nevertheless. something was always
70 be hoped for at the annual picnic
A year ago II was confidently predict
od that Kenneth Moore OF the book de-
nartment and Cynthia Gray Of the rib
hon counte were TO ~ord the neces-
cary love interests. mere must have
been an understanding between them,
| certainly: he hardly 50 much as SAID
"Good morning" now to other girls;
thew had been seer together at the
alter and lunch. oh. there were plenty
Of s,gnsi The seal OF finality was all
that was lacking.
The Iong-expected day brought only
confusion to these cherished hopes.
CYNTHIA. who was looked upon as one
of the most refined girls In the whole
store, appeared unusually gay ana
reckless. First she was devoted TO one
man. then to another, with an impru-
dence that set friendly eyes wide with
horror. Finally, when the picnic DIN
ner was over, the party broke up for
games, swan-boatfng and strolls In the
woods. Cynthia flung herself at a GER
tain Mr.. Green, newly Of the shoe de-
nartment, and before the eyes OF all
they had gone together toward the
lake.
"well, wouldn't that frost your"
gasped Florence Small. "Is the girl
crazy? The way she's treating Ken
meth. and he the most refined fellow
in the store, tool"
They saw Kenneth alone, and sent
one of the new men over to him with
an invitation to come TO the skating
rink but he only shook his head with
a wan smile, and replied II have got
sort Of a headache; guess I'll just sit
around a while. Perhaps I'll come
down later" He did not have a head-
ache; but he wanted to be alone, for
his heart was sore. He had not ex-
pected Cynthia to treat him like this.
During the whole trip she had
scarcely spoken a word to him. No
one would ever have thought they
knew each other. And II didn't seem
like her either. He couldn't under
stand it. Why, only the last time he
called on her they had sat together In
her little "den," and had talked on
quite a number Of subjects. There
was nothing sentimental about Gym
thia they had been just good pals
together; that was what he liked best
In a girl.
She sang we'll and loved poetry, both
Of which he also was fond OF. What
had first attracted him to Miss Gray
was the sight Of her buried In a vol
ume Of poems. He had asked her what
she was reading. She had glanced up
at him with a smile he could never
forget. Lucille" she said.
Now, Kenneth had never read "Lu-
cile," so he purchased a copy, which
Mt this very n rlent was In his pocket.
He had brought IL, thinking of how he
and Cynthia-but what was the use OF
thinking. That was all II had come
to. And he unused. as others unused
before him.
In the distance he heard the gay
strains Of the band at the skating rink
and the sound disturbed him. so out OF
harmony was 1t with his mood. He
thought of Mr.. Green. perhaps ever
now padding down the lake with tbs
faithless Cynthia. But Cynthia had
ruthlessly deserted Mr.. Green wher
he went In quest of a boat. and strollet
off by herself.
Kenneth arose from the bench or
which he had been sitting and wan,
dered up the path. Sitting down I'M
der a tree he opened his volume, "Lu
cile." He was glad ven now thai
Cynthia was not beside him
Afternoon sunlight began to peel
through the trees. He got up anC
leaped to the summit of a f~ern-growI
bowlder. and. looking down the path. q
chill of terror ran over him. Cynthia
was walking toward him with down.
cast eyes, digging the toe of her little
boot into the moss every now and
then. All at once she stopped, and
with a cry snatched something. II
was "Lucile." She pressed the volume
to her lips. Its his |" he heard her
murmur-"Kenneth's." There were
tears In her eyes. Kenneth r"-he
heard her murmur again. He took O
step forward. Cynthia" he cried
Cynthia, dearw
He forgot the steepness and height
of the bowlder; he slipped, lost his bal