Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-10

''The woe," said Toddles, 'sis connected with lady"
 1T thought so," said Sparkle. "Is she another's?"
 ''No, mo-" said Toddles, s.no; but there is coldness in her manner that has prevented me from speaking. l have known her twenty-five years-she is about my age but have never dared to address her, never shall"
 "Courage!" said Sparkle.
 q have none where Henrietta Maria Evergreen is concerned,'' said Toddles
 "Do you ever see herr" asked Sparkle.
 "Once a year," said Toddles "I have a farm down there which let. I go to collect the rent lalways call on Miss Evergreen She asks me to take tea. I do. I take her hand. We part. That is all."
 "Do you never write?" asked Sparkle
 "Yes," said Toddles ''She is very char itable. She holds fancy fair every sum- mer on her grounds for the benefit of an old ladies' home I send check By the way, have just addressed my envelope con- taining 1t. It's there on the desk say: Itrust you are well, etc. ; no more."
 "Say more next time?" said Sparkle
 Toddles only groaned.
 Just then the breakfast bell rang, and Sparkle hastened away. As for Toddles, he gathered up some sheets of paper on his desk, put them into the envelope directed to Miss Henrietta Maria Evergreen, added the usual check for the old ladies' home, and put it in his pocket to post on his way down town. He reached home again, as usual, before dinner time, and was touching him. self up in his room when Sparkle knocked at the door.
 "Only to ask you If you saw a sheet of my manuscript on your desk this morning. It is the one read to you-the soliloquy."
 "Yes, yes; remember. But it is not here," said Toddles, rummaging his desk 'No, nothing here-nothing. Why, what Is this?-what is thiss What have done?- great heavens what have done?"
 'What2" roared Sparkle, catching the contagion of horror.
 i've done what must cover me with shame to my dying day!" roared Toddles Here is the letter wrote to Miss Henri etta Maria Evergreen-I have left it out ot the envelope and put your manuscript in in. stead. Oh, Eve done tive done it: and she will think I have gone mad. Why, I'd rather have died than send her that mass of stuff and nonsense-theeing and thouine her. Oh, Lord"
 You said you admired it. Toddles," said the indignant author.
 'From a literary point of view do," said the bachelor "See here, you explained to me that age was considered differently from literary point of view to that which 1t was in life; so is love-making. What is charming, Pm sure, in a story Is not suit able for serious business man in real life. Oh, I'm disgraced forever. She'll thirk l don't know what-I' I'll shoot my. selfr'
 ''Toddles," said MT. Sparkle, gravely, "don't do that yet. Wait. Fate has helped you out of your dilemma The fragment is somewhat disjointed, 1 am aware, but It will 20 to that cold woman's heart. It will win her; see if it doesn't"
 "She will never speak to me again. said Toddles. ''You don't know Miss Ever green"
 'Oh, know women in general" said Sparkle.
 Whether he did or not, twenty-four hours of frightfuI anxiety on MT. Toddle's part ended in the receipt of letter from Miss Evergreen in which she expressed her surprise at the depth of his attachment which she had never even suspected, and confessed that the touching language' in which he had portrayed it had won her heart; in fact, she accepted him.
 They are married, and Sparkle was best man at the wedding.-Fireside Companion