Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-09-26
arc for 1ngotr' cried Althea, incred-

ly care for 1ngoti' cried Althea, incred- ulously.
 Mot perhaps as I should, but shall love the husband marry, rest assured of that" declared Caro2, with a bright pink tinge waving into her cheeks as her eyes sought the floor.
 Althea could net know the double mean ing which those words conveyed. She grew cold after that. Carol had disappointed hex, so let her go the way she had chosen there should be no more remonstrances from her.
 The bitterness still ranked when Norris came that evening for the crumb of comfort which he hoped to get His sorrowful face gave Althea pang of remorse as she told him what had passed.
 for can not see that she ever loved you, after all, and I fed the flame in your heart, know. Can you forgive me for it?"
 ''There is nothing to forgive, Althea. You were in no way to blame. I shall live and be none the worse for this, daresay, after Q little time"
 She looked at him curiously.
 'You are not angry with her"a
 "Angryi Althea, you know the secret of my heart. I loved her-1 love her still. Did she not give herself freely and will
 
 my dying day, but" /. He broke of the words that came in tor rent, choking and rending him, swallowed down the painful lump which rose in his throat, and gave her quivering smile. ] II will be the conqueror when that hap pens, never fear. Until then, be her friend, for my sake, will you nots The worst lies in knowing how utterly yunwor- thy of her he is. have had some hopes of being able to prove him so, and thus sav- ing her, but what you tell me of speedy marriage may make it impossible"
 s'I will be glad when you go into the bank, Norris," said Abthea, with 8 sudden change of the subject, regarding him thoughtfully. l" Ever since that note of warning, I have feared more misfortune there. Of course, you can do nothing until you are regularly admitted, but I shall depend upon your watchfulness then"
 "I will make your fathers interest my own until feel assured that every thing is right"
 Miss Everleigh drew long sigh when she was again alone.
 <. "Why does Fate draw such crooked lines for some of us2" she wondered, inly. "Our paths would lie so clear and straight if things only fell out that way. Why did not Norris fall in love with me, for instance, instead of with one who has not the soul to appreciate his worth? Why must despise my own weakness, hide it as I may, yet cherish it stills The wiseacres say that things always come right ia the end, but doubt if that end repays us for the mistakes we make by the way"
 Norris, meantime, was feeling the full force of Fate's adverse blow. Hope was dead at last. She did not love him, she never had loved him; that point was settled, at last. She would love the hus- band she married and that husband would be Ingot, unless something speedily hap pened to prove Ingot the villain he once had thought him.
 Norris was not so positive on that point of late. With his dislike of the man, he re- alized that he might have done him in- justice, but he was none the less unworthy of her, coarse, mean, essentially vulgar in his nature, how could he fail to repel that pure, delicate girl who was yielding so blindly-if not now, afterward, when it would be too late7
 Norris groaned in spirit over the pros pect Then his thoughts turned. With a sudden leap, they went to the sick man m Maloney's house, whose condition was but little improved, though the physician an nounced his recovery probable. If Uncle Amos were right and this were Edson, might not he be able to let some light upon these doubts and misgivings? A fever of impatience rose within the young mans breast. Some means must be found speedily to rouse the invalid, to make him speak and tell all he knew. If any man had led him astray, let that man suffer, whether it were Hiram Ingot or Lyman Childer, for between those two the choice must lie.
 He was tempted to go straight to the sick man and mako an effort to learn the truth that night, but restrained himself and turned back to his lodgings.
 The first sight that met him as he opened his door, was Uncle Amos, clad in his proper "I thought you never would come," was the testy greeting "He Is gone, Norris