Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-22

.'You do not seem to remember mef' he said, with little sadness.
 ''Oh, remember you," said Rebee, lifting her frank eyes "But you know speak to @ many people, and they are all nothing to me.
 'Who Is anything to your" It was softly and insidiously spoken, but 1t awoke no echo.
 "Varnharts children" she answered him. instantly. And old Annenie by the wharf. side-and Tambour-and Antoine's grave and the starling-and, of course, above all, the flowers"
 "And the fairies, supposef-though they do nothing for you"
 She looked at him eagerly
 'They have done something today. Ihave found box, and some stockings-such beau tiful stockingsl Silk onesl Is it not very oddf"
 Ut is more odd they should have forgotten you so long May see themT
 'I cannot show them to you now. Those ladies are going to buy But you can see them later-n you wait"
 II will wait and paint the Broodhuis"
 ''So many people do that. you are a painter thenr'
 "Yes-in 8 way"
 He sat down on an edge of the stall. and spread his things there, and sketched, while tho traffic went around them He was very many years older than she. handsome. with q dark. and changeful, and listless face. he wore brown velvet. and had red ribbon at his throat. he looked little as Egnaont might have done when wooing Claire
 Bebee, as she sold the flowers and took the change fifty times in the hour, glanced at him now and then. and watched the move ments of his hands-she could not have toll why
 He spoke to her rarely, and sketched on and on In rapid bold strokes the quaint graces and massive richness of the Maison du Roi
 The painter took long time He set about it with the bold ease of one used to all the in tricacies of form and color. and he had the skill of a master But he spent more than half the time looking idly at the humors of the populace or watching how the treasures of Bebee's garden went away one by one in the hands of strangers
 Meanwhile, ever and again, sitting on the edge of her stall, with his colors and brushes tossed out on the board. he talked to her. and, with the soft, imperceptible skill of long practice in those arts, he drew out the de tails of her little simple life
 There were not always people to buy, and whilst she rested and sheltered the flowers from the sun she answered him willingly. and in one of her longer rests showed him the wonderful stockings 5..
 Do you think 1t could be the fairiesr' she asked him a little doubtfully.
 It was easy to make her believe any fan tastical nonsense, but her fairies were ethe- real divinities She could scarcely believe that they had laid that box on her chair
 Impossible to doubt itl" he replied unhes- ttatingly "Given belief in fairies at all, why should there be any limit to what they they can dol It Is the same with the saints, is it notp'
 "Yes," said Bebee, thoughtfully
 The saints were mixed up in her imagina- ton with the fairies in an intricacy that would have defied the best reasonings of Father Francis
 Well, then, you will wear the stockings, will you noti Only, believe me. your feet are far prettier without them"
 Bebee laughed happily. and took another peep in the cozy rose satin nest But her lit tie face had a certain perplexity. Suddenly she turned on him.
 Ibid not you put them thereg'
 "I-neverI"
 Are you quite surel'
 Quite; but why aska''
 Because" said Bebee, shutting the box resolutely and pushing it little away, "be- cause would not take it if you did You are a stranger, and present is debt, so Antoine always said"
 Why take present then from the Yarn hart children, or your old friend who gave you the claspsT'
 "Ah, that Is very different When people are very, very poor. equally poor, the one with the other, little presents that they save for and make with such difficulty, are just things that are pleasure, sacrifices like your sitting up with sick person at night, and then she sits up with you another year when you want 1t Do you not knowr
 Il know you talk very prettily But why should you not take any one else's present. though he may not be poorf'
 "Because could not return it."
 "Conld you notF'
 The smile in his eyes dazzled her little, it was so strange, and yet had so much light in 1t; but she did not understand him one whit
 No, how could IT. she said earnestly. "If were to save for two years, 1 could not get francs enough to buy anything worth giving back, and should be SO unhappy, of the debt of it always Do tell me if you put those stockings therer'
 "No;" he looked at her, and the trivial lie faltered and died away. the eyes, clear as crystal, questioned him 90 innocently
 Well, if 1 didr' he said frankly. you wished for them, what harm was therel Will you be so cruel as to refuse them from mew
 The tears sprang into Bebee's eyea She was sorry to lose the beautiful box, but more sorry he had lied to her.
 "It was very kind and good, she said, re gretfuny. "But l cannot think why you should have done 1t, as you had never known me at all. And, indeed, could not take them, because Antoine would not let me if he were alive, and If 1 gave you flower every day all the year round should not pay you the worth of them-it would be quite impossible, and why should you tell me falsehoods about such a thingi A falsehood is never a thing for 8 man."
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