Year: 1879

81 don't know why you should say such
things, said Cynthia, growing angry and
nearly ready to cry. 1t was the first time
any offer had been made to her which had
not left behind it a selfsatisfied feeling OF
triumph; and yet here was Frank Handy,
as incomparably superior to any other
suitor she had ever had as -. Well, nc
matter.


Miss Cynthia" said Frank, when a
man loves woman, as have long loved
you, he singles her out from the whole
world as his representative Cf womanhood;
and there is that in her before which he
bows down, doing homage to the woman s
nature within her But this does not imply
Inconsistencies Of ber faults He may see
where she comes short Of her own capa-
bility. And that marriage is true union in
which the husband, up to whom she looks,
and on whom she should lean. strengthens
her better in its struggle against her worser
nature.


They were walking towards the home
stead, and walking fast. Cynthia was
angry, disturbed, and mortified. Was this
a time to dwell upon her faults7 She ad-
mitted that she had some. Vague confes-
sioni by no means implying that Cynthia
knew that, at that moment, she was proud.
vain, insincere, and petulant, and that she
was crushing down the better feelings of
her heart, to give the victory within her
to the worst. If Handy wanted her, she
thought, he might WOO her with more re-
spect to her pretensions. And he should
WOO her. If he loved her as he said he
did, she knew her power was great. He
chnn16 hrinc cr hfc homo ,,n on1dlx- IN. f1.r
womanhood within her, but to herself-to
Cynthia Susan Simpson, in spite of the
full display of all her faults, and even in
opposition to his better reason. She was
not to be defrauded of her triumph, and it
would be great one, indeed, if she forced
him, by her faults themselves, to osurrender
at discretion.


They reached the steps over the stone
fence which led on to the highway. In
their path lay disabled grasshopper.
Frank set his foot on it and crushed it
firmly. '.Miss Cynthia, said he, ''few
women have the courage to treat reject
ed suitors thus. 1t is the true humani-
ty.'


He helped her over the steps, and
paused. He took the hop wreath carefully
from his arm, and gave it into her hands
She took it with an Indifferent air, and, as
she took it, crushed some of the green
blossoms. She would have treated him
with more courtesy chad Frank but known
it), if she had been entirely Indifferent to
his admiration.


miss Cynthia" said he, now in a
grave and measured tone, which, in spite
of herself, impressed her with sense of
the powerlessness of her little arts when
brought into conflict with his self posses
sion and sincerity, Il know very well how
you have dealt by many men, and | am
not disposed to fall into the ranks, and
take my chance among your many other
patient suitors. 1t is true, that the wound
til t you inf1ict on me will leave its scar
for life; but cannot make my selfrespect
an offering even to you. And if you have
the feelings of true nobleness, which l
have always fancied l discerned in you,
you would respect me, esteem me, love me
less, for such a sacrifice | shall never
offer myself again to you" Cynthia
started. Slight and rapid as her move
ment was, he saw it, and repeated, II
shall never offer myself again to you.
And | leave this place tomorrow, never
to return to it, till have subdued this love
for you. Tonight shall be at the we'd
ding. l am groomsman to Seth Taggart,
and shall stand up with you. l am going
home to consider fully what has passed, to
convince myself (fI CAM calmly, whether
my love for you has been an error in my
life, for which my judgment is response
BILE, or only its misfortune; whether the
Cynthia have loved is really capable, as
have dreamed, of scattering. the clouds
that dim her beauty, and shining forth in
her sweet queenliness upon the lonely
darkness of the man who can teach her
what ii is to love. do not know what I
shall think. To-day has shaken my con-
fdence in you. As l said before, l shall
make you no further offer; but, if make
up my mind 10 renew the one l have Just
made you, shall say Snipl during the
evening; and if you answer Snapl shall
understand it is favorably received by you.
Mind" he added, Il think it doubtful
whether, Notwithstanding my love for
you, shall think it right to say it. I am
going into the fields to mediate till even
tide upon my course, and | may bring
back the conviction, that for the present
rejection of my suit ought to be much
obliged to you. Nor shall l say Snip!
more than once. In this uncertainty
leave the matter to your consideration.


''What impertinencep' thought Cynthia
Il never heard of such a thingf' And she
began to cry, standing alone upon the
highway, holding her hop-wreath in her
hand


Il don't know what had better do. /
wish he had taken some other way of
speaking to me- Oil why should he be
SO very unkind2 don't care. 1t is his
loss a great deal more than mine. if he is
really in love with me.


The evil spirit was coming back, and it
whispered. He will certainly say Snipl
but you had better not say Snapl too
readily"


She walked on thinking, imagining a
triumph, when suddenly the thought came
to her that she was confessing to herself
she wanted to say Snapi-and whyf 1t
was not possible that the tables of her
pride were turned upon her; that she was
in Frank Handys power, to refuse OF to
take: that she loved himl 81 don't care
for him at all, - was the suggestion of the
bad angel 81 only want to teach him for
the future to behave. He is presuming,
exacting, self-conceited fellow