Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 24, 2025
You talk like a madman, Lans, or a fool and a depraved one at that. You owe everything to Cynthia you'll be held to it, too, by law!" "Aunt Olive," and then Lans laughed a mirthless, cold laugh, "I wonder if either you or I ever really seriously thought we could hold Cynthia? There is no law that could keep her here. She is of the hills.
"Don't, lil' Cyn," he whispered, "you do not understand, but you must not speak so to me." Then she laughed. "Oh! I reckon I know what you mean, Sandy. I've been through it all and run away from it! Sandy, tell me true; before the good and great God, doesn't that poor girl belong to Lans more than I do?" "Yes!" "Isn't his duty to her?" "Yes, yes, lil' Cyn." "Then what is left?
I loved him as only God and I can know! Poor Lans never comprehended why I left but he my husband was ill; dying and I could not help it. Something made me go back. It was the good in me that Lans had created that most of all compelled me to go. If Lans could believe that! oh! if he only could! A woman could, but could a man?" Poor Cynthia was struggling to understand a strange language.
"Lans is not an evil fellow; he is high-minded and will prove himself in due time. I really am only seeking to help you be patient until he has had his opportunity, and not, in the meantime, make a fatal mistake. A new era is about to dawn when men and women, for the good of the race, will attack social conditions from a different plane from what you and I have been taught to consider right.
Over her pitiful, wan face a flood of passion and love surged her lonely, desperate soul claimed its own at last! "Lans! Lans!" she cried, falling into his arms; "you will understand! you must understand and there is our child!" Lansing Treadwell held the little form close, but his wide, haunted eyes sought Cynthia's over the head pressed against his breast.
Never had Lans Treadwell been so dramatic nor such a fool, but he had caught little Cyn, and before she realized what had happened or why she had permitted it to happen, she drove away with Treadwell over the hills one day to see some land Crothers had urged him to look at and, a storm overtaking them, they were delayed in an old cabin where they sought shelter over night and then and there Lans brought her to see that for all their sakes they should be married before going home.
Oh! it was most sure that Lans Treadwell would never care what had brought her into being it was the woman! Sandy might do a big thing from duty; Lans would do big things because with him duty was but love of humanity!
"I am waiting, dear lady, for the thing I am to do, and Lans is mighty kind. He is my big brother and I am his little sister until I can read my way plain. You did not know he was so good?" "I thank God that he is!" breathed Matilda Markham devoutly. "I wish I could make Mrs. Treadwell understand. She laughs!" Matilda felt her ire rise.
He feared, at first, that Treadwell would have a dreary time by himself, but there were books, and Lans repeatedly told him the rest and quiet were doing him a world of good. Then and the desire confused Sandy he wished Treadwell would cut his visit short. The confession in the study had not drawn Treadwell nearer; it had driven him farther away.
Treadwell exclaimed, rising and facing the two; "is it out of such stuff, such dreams, such grudges, such shabby jokes, the life of the hills is made?" "Yes." Sandy whispered, "out of such stuff we come or remain! You can never know what you have done for us, Lans. Father will realize it later he's nearer the past than I am. For myself I thank you!
Word Of The Day
Others Looking