Coniston, Book III.

reading aloud to him an article (about the war, of course) from a Washington paper, which his friend, Mr. Beard, had

um Prescott

red Ephraim,

the roll, but Ephraim took it as th

them war records f

imed Cynthia, excitedly

don't I

y," and he held it out to

out a large document with seal

it under his nose, "Cousin Eph,

his eyes swam, and he could onl

!" he exclaimed

Ephraim got to his feet; it was very difficult for him to realize that his troubles were ended, that he was to earn his living at last.

ou, Cousin Eph," said

Jethro, "I didn't have

he Pres

d at the White House. For the art of literature largely consists in belief in what one is writing, and Ephraim's le

at I was aching to see you." Aching! Cynthia repeated the word, and remembered the glimpse she had had of him in the dining room with Miss Janet Duncan. "Whenever I have been free" (Cynthia repeated this also, somewhat ironically, although she conceded it the merit of frankness)

d of the spirit of the letter, she liked the tone of it less. Cynthia did not know a great deal of the world, it is true, but the felt instinctively that something was wrong when Bob

me room, with its high windows and lace curtains, its long mirrors and marble-topped tables. She established herself under a light, on a sofa in one corner, and sat, with the book on her lap watching the people who came and went. She had that delicious sensation which comes to the young when they first travel-the s

Cynthia had expected-but then most people are not. Janet Duncan was, in fact, one of those strange persons who do not realize the picture which their names summon up. She was undoubtedly good-loo

and got up, not without a little t

hia Wetherell,

Duncan seized both her hands imp

beautiful," she sa

s a blush. She wondered if all c

me up and speak to you

've been making up

med Cynthia, draw

velist, because I'm always weaving stories about people that I see people who inter

th was now qui

ad never thought tha

all sorts of possibilities in your face-yo

exclaimed Cynthi

wish you could see what I've written about you already. I can do it s

ked Cynthia, not

only you are really of a great family, although nobody knows it. A rich duke sees you one day when he is hunting and falls in love with you, and you have

had to," said Cynthia, "

t it needs it," she added hastily. "And I could write another story about that qu

's eye

d man," she said; "he's the

unconscious kind. She knew that she had

idn't mean to hurt you. You liv

ia, not knowing whet

ome you very well," said Miss Duncan, "although I don't know why. They're not at all in style, and yet they give you quite an air of distinction. I wish I co

t peculiar flash coming

as very fool

renade me. I think it was the most romantic thing Bob ever did. He's wi

e was natural

said, "they wouldn't

to have seen it. Now that I know you, I think you a more remarkable person tha

lp liking Janet Duncan, mere flesh and blo

an educated man," she said; "he taught

a person out of a nove

to have added that William Wetherell would have been a great man if he had had health, but she

you once at the state capital outside of our grounds the day Bob ran after you. That was when I was in love wit

is disclosure, she did not betray it. J

your mind?" asked Cy

to. He's just been out West with us on a trip, and he was always looking at locomotives and brakes and grades and bridges and all such tiresome things. I should li

ing appropriate to say, and just then four people entered the room and came towards them. Two of these were Janet's mother and father, and the other two were Mr. Worthington, the elder, and the

," she said, coming forward and throwing off her

, "this is Cynthia Weth

ard at Cynthia in a ne

ho she was; "you haven

t? They were to be he

again to Cynthia and sca

vered such a beautiful creature," she went on, in a voice which she did not take the trouble to lower. "Do look at her, Alexander. And you, Mr.

reatly pleased this evening in every respect, and even the diamond in his bosom seemed to glow with a brighter fire. He could afford

, who knew and cared nothing about

village not far from Clovelly. A good girl, I believe,

e in your district, including the women and children," said the l

e Heth clear

staring at Cynthia through his spect

membered, and recalled a

opposite sides in the

e the door, and remaine

lieved Mr. Merrill's ex

etherell'

she's more dangerous than Jethro, now that we've clipped his w

by a certain curiosity to inspect the girl. Though what he had seen and heard

. Duncan, who was bored because her friends had not arrived; "a congr

hy that lady and her daughter seemed to take more than a passing interest in the girl. But if they could afford to notice her, certainly he

. Sutton. Had he been in Coniston

o Mr. Sutton's annoyance. A certain respect was due

. Sutton?" said Cy

rked Mrs. Duncan t

ynthia?" Mr. Sutton persisted, with a p

This was not precisely the answer Mr. Sutton expected, and

said Mr. Sutton, kindly, "a great treat for a Coniston gir

ay to get to Washin

hia had been very polite, but there was something in the quiet manner in which the girl's eyes were fixed upon him that made him vaguely unea

ght pause. "Uncle Jethro taking you and Mr. Prescott on a little pleasure trip?" He had not meant

le Jethro to do things for others," said Cynthia, quietly, "a

fortable, indeed. How much did this astounding yo

the big men, although not many of 'em are here," Mr. Sutton ran on, not caring to notice the little points of light in Cynthia's eyes. (The idea of Mr. Sutton introduci

happy," s

Ephraim's always happy, in spite of his troubles a

and Mr. Sutton suspected strongly that she

ll Jethro that I'm downright sorry I coul

. Sutton," replied Cynthia, gravely,

had been condescending enough, that somehow he was gaining no merit in Mrs. Dunca

t extremely that my sense of justice demanded that I should mak

nthia's turn

but Cousin Ephraim is p

den by his whiskers seemed to pale, and Mr: Worthington, usuall

is mean, Sutt

imself together, an

of the district usually arranges these matters, and th

ynthia; "it was sent to him this afternoon, and he is up

e matter?" cried Mrs. D

emen present. Mr. Duncan had jumped up from his seat beside the door, and Mr. Worthi

!" he exclaimed,

powerful gentlemen were so excited over a little thing like the postmastership of Brampton.

ain his composure, "the girl's got it mixed up with so

ing about, and Mr. Duncan and Mr. Worthington had some such impression, too, as t

ieved, Mr. Sutton," she

elf. You mi

rceive Jethro Bass standing behind them with his hands in his pockets,

Er-still got that appointment

n I tell him that Cousin Ephraim has been made postmaster of Bram

parlor of the Willard House he has not to this day a very clear idea. As a matter of fact, he followed Mr. Worthington a

, to Cynthia's surprise, the lady took her by the hand. "I can't imagine what you've done, my dear,"

that Mrs. Duncan was

eiresses ar

aking both of Cynthia's hands, "and

ooked af

to have some sense," he

n' some fun with Heth

, indignantly; "it serves him right for presuming to

Mr. Sutton was very real, and it was some time before she could compose herself sufficiently to tell Jethro what had happened.

ed suddenly, "why do th

ause of a pain around his heart-had she

hey treat y

loss to describe the attitude of Mrs. Duncan and her daughter, though her instinct had registered it.

ur enemies?"

s in real

an't treat me as-as your daughter ought to be treated, I'll turn my b

ed hers roughly, and his voi

d, "you-you're all I'

ed his han

king. You-you have done everything for me, much more than I deserve. And I shan't be hu

ply that he could not speak, and scarcely breathe because

or the peaceful life in the shelter of the great ridge, and she thought of the village maples all red and gold

at her, because

after a little pause,

st

, Uncle

one-to-morrow-lik

used to walk with Daddy, and the funny old streets that went uphill. It w

pointed postmaster at Brampton. Copied in the local papers of the state, it caused some surprise in Brampton, to be sure, and excitement in Coniston. Perhaps there were but a dozen men,

the people who passed her, looking at the big houses, and wondering who lived in them. Presently she found herself, in the middle of the morning, seated on a bench in a little park, surrounded by colored mammies and children playing in the paths. It seemed a long time since she had left the hills, and this glimpse of cities had given her many things to think and dream about. Would she always live in Coniston? Or was her future to be cast among those who

thia half rose, and then sat down and looked at him again. He wore a light gray, loose-fitting suit and a straw hat, and she could not but acknowledge that there was something stalwart and clean and altogether appeali

ly. She had an instinct that only pain could come from frequent meetings, and she knew now what but a week ago was a surmise, that he belonged to the world of which she had been

till-it was too late, then. In less than a minute he was standing beside

. Worthington?" sa

aven't called me that before. We ar

rence does

id Cynthia, not ca

g down on the beach and facing her, "do

aid, "or I should have

ed such q

why couldn't you have answered my letter yesterday, if it wer

for another questions which o

voided you,"

morning," said Bob, with pardonable exaggerati

u call him an idiot

laug

d he; admiringly. "We both found ou

you fin

itating, "we asked th

ation that made him quail, "do you think it rig

hink of it that way-and he won't tell. Despera

ia was no

hy didn't you send your card to my room

note, and waited

he note she objected-to the hint of a clandestine me

see me in the parlor?" she asked

ould have given my head t

y wh

have came in a

led w

fidg

t stupid-far from it. Of course you know

very glad to have se

he exclaimed. "I shoul

ur friend?"

'd care to talk to him." And he looked around for fear the vigilant Mr. Duncan was alread

ccount that you didn't ask me to

s at Cambridge. He had seen many young women, and many kinds of them. But the girl beside him was such a mixture

you all to myself," he sai

mercilessly to the root of the matter, but the notion of what t

t day. "I heard the way you handled Heth Sutton," he said, plunging in. "I'll bet he felt as if he'd been dropped out of the third-story window," and Bob laughed again. "I'd have given a thousand dollars to have been there. Somers and I went out to supper with a classmate wh

rike?" sh

not only laid out Heth

n laughed at 'em-she is

word all through break

to have known better tha

th

t Uncle Jethro?" asked Cynt

" exclaimed Bob,

ia, "or I should

Jethro tell

nything about his af

hase, and he was very hard put. He had heard, casually, a goo

ent going back on them when they had telegraphed from Chicago and come to see him here. And maybe they didn't let Heth in for it. It seems Uncle Jethro only had to walk up to the White House. They ought t

n't believe you

t?" he

nature, I suppo

exasperated though he was,

est girl I've eve

y origina

ying a great dea

hy

have kno

tter how much they'd knocked about, were able

esist saying. She saw that she had scored; his ex

know about

usly, "I heard that you were

e had mentioned the matter a flaw in Cynthia's armor, as indeed it was.

er," said he; "most fellows have to take a cou

e very complete,"

"no wonder you made mince-meat of the Honorab

d be drifting out to sea: might, indeed, soon be drifting out to sea in spite of it. It was one thing for Mr. Robert Worthington, with his numerous re

by," s

od-

clock, and Uncle Jethro will be worr

st luck I've had yet. But I'm g

ted together out of the park. Bob, for a wonder, was silent awhile, glancing now and then at her profile. He knew that he had a great deal to say, but he couldn't decide exactly what it was to be. T

ore I do, let me know,

lip. "Why shou

e alone together, at best. If we see him

rom Mr. Duncan if we met him-even if we

true that is," he re

though you'd t

ttention to

ook at her, "I shan't see you until the Christmas holidays. You might be a little kind, Cynthia. You know I've-I'

a good many years," said Cyn

nt away to school and colleg

es separated,

to be like-like this," he went on,

e wh

e is," Bob declared, "or how much she may have traveled." He was running into deep water. "Why a

red Cynthia. They were very

en years older than I," he

to him, smiling. They

ve seen something of its troubles. Don't be foolish. If you're coming to Bram

d, taking her hand and squeezing it. "

hen passed on without a word or a nod of recognition. It was Mr. Worthington. Bob looked after his father, and then glanced at C

wer her she was gone into the hotel. He did not attempt to f

e voice of the genia

you would, suh. T'other young gentleman come in while ago-l