Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-30

and lreamlike, and yet he had her promise.n 'sYou may adjust my shawl for me-" His yexation fled, and he smiled with the sweet of possession as he laid tho deli- cate bit of lace about her warm shoulders. Tonight would be good time to turn his idea into reality, and ask her when
 ..But you must promise me ono thing,n she said. standing close to him for one moment. syvhat is that, Bertha, dear?" he asked with guilty uneasness.
 She put her soft white hand in his so charmingly that he was suddenly sure it could be nothing hard she would require
 'sI promise" he assented
 ssNo love making in the ruin, if I let you take mo there."
 "Why, Bertha!n he exclaimed so sorrow fully that he showed his whole plan. The girl laughed
 "You are too cunning by half, MT. Philip, but then you know love making in the saw mill is too common. Why, it is the rendez- vous of all tho factory hands, No, couldn't think of it for moment"
 "Then won't insist on taking you to tho old saw mill"
 ''Oh, yes! it is charming by moonlight"
 "One would think you hadn't any heart." Philip did not confess the peculiar charm this woman's very coldness had for him; there was some quality in it that was ire sistibly exciting to his nature. Perhaps it was the presence of an unconscious reserve of passion, never yet revealed, that he felt in her, that kept his heart ever warm, and his eyes ever tender for it's unvelling.
 The round faced servant girl had come up from tho kitchen, and stood awkwardly ut the door.
 "Yes, you may light the gas now, Annie; we arc going out" She laid her hand lightly on Philips arm as they went down tho walk II must really have maid. That Annie is too clumsy for mo to endure in the parlor or dining room. Oh, yes, probably have got a heart; some time it will frighten you, per haps."
 They walked slowly along the street, pass ing tho very spot where Tonnlic Bowler had offered his poor little all to Jane Graves only an hour or two ago. Their feet trod care lessly on the bits of grass the nervous lover had scattered along the path.
 But you haven't told mo about the meet ing. Did tho agitator have auburn curls, as I said? That is the dearest idea have got of hero"
 As hc told her his adventure they reached tho ruin and went in. The moonlight poured through tho diSmanJled roof, and made white track for itself over tho uneven floor, leaving the rest of tho interior in tho shadow. Such as remained of tho fallen rafters mad, convenient benches for visitors, who m;ht easily enough imagine themselves in some old world ruin. And tho young mill owners son and Bertha, tho hem of whose garment had never touched poverty, seated themselves wherc many penniless young fellow had woocd some pretty weaver maid to sharc his destitution, all for love-soon starved out of both i4eir lives.
 Philip felt all his last nights enthusiasm coming over him again, as he described the meeting of tho hopeless poor and the life of tho family that had taken him in. He seemed to be again thrilled with Currans eloqucncc as he pictured his noble presence, and tried to repeat his vivid sentences. Was Bertha listening so patiently to him or only idly watching the shadows as they shifted with the moon! He hoped she was touched. She could help him so much to do something for the thousand souls in the mills if therc was anything could be done And then it seemed so sweet to have an earnest thought and hopc in conlmon-one moro bond to unite them ''But what can I do, Bertha? It is all so mixed up. Do you suppose my father would listen to mo. But if ho would, what can propose? If I tell him the people are poor and unhappy, he knows all that. | can't ask him to divide all his wealth with them; that wouldn't last SO many very long, and then he couldn't employ them any more-they 1 would be spoiled for work, and we would all l starve together"
 ':I wish I could sse him." said the girl slowly.
 1 He looked at her blankly. "Why!"
 Suddenly double tread of feet without, and the forms of two men, one much taller than the other, blocked the doorway. 1 '!Eush, then" whispered Philip eXcitedly. sThere he stands.''
 The men came forward till they stool di 1 rectly ill the path of tho moonlight, which seemed to cloohc them with its silver sheen l No need to tell her which was he; the girl bent eagerly forward and fixed her eyes o1 tho majestic figure that stood with folded 1 rrnS.
 q am very late," began the shorter mar upoloSetically.
 Curran did not reply, and the man went or Jn a minute moro. "What is tho nowss want to report your village, you know" l 'Therc is no ncws It i1 tho same old story What is tho good of reporting and reporting mnd then doing no1hing:' The words escapei between his teeth lilo tho s5accato tones of { cornet. 1T am sick of tho word waltz it i; tho resource of tho weak"
 ''But we gro weak. Give us time"
 Curran unfoded his arms with q gesture o inpatiencc.
 ''The injustice has got its growth; it ha fattencd on our flesh and blood, and sucked out the life of untold generations before us. His eyes shoae fiercely on tho man of caution II believe tho time has como to destroy it and the crime of murder lies at our con sciences for every crushed soul sacrificed fol our delay"
 Philip fancied Bertha trembled.
 "But," began tho stranger, in the metallic voice of the objector, 'the officers of the league think the laborers are not ready"
 "No, nor will they ever be; they havo sub mitted too long. But they are always gooe for action if somebody will lead them. They hang on our lips, but we do not speak,"
 "Yes, we are spreading intelligence, send ing out orators like you; we are arranging political campaigns By and by capital vii be more reasonable"
 Do you fancy then," retorted Curran, bit terly, ''that the rich will willingly open thei coGers to the logical workman, out of whost earnings they have filled thema Isn't it tot delightful to be able to build palace for home, and create another paradise for gar den; to marry off their sons and daughter
 when the first COO of love trembles on thei young lips: Then will they divide," and h. raised his voice with terrible emphasis