Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-11-11
A RIDICULOUS MUDDLE.
How It Game Near Separating
 Two Loving Hearts.

mirers, each of whom endeavored to court her while the other tried to do the same thing. The experience is not uncommon, but it is always exciting. It is scarcely necessary to say that Lucy was like most other girls and en. joyed the excitement. At heart she was an honest maiden, but she was ad- dicted to harmless irritation. She gave each suitor little encouragement,b but not too much, and excused her conduct on the ground that she did not yet know which she liked the better. In fairness to our heroine it must be confessed that her excuse was not 8 bad one, for her admirers happened to be as nearly equally desirable as they could be. Each was fairly good look. ing, each could make himself quite | agreeable, each had average intelli- | gence, each had a good business and attended to it in commendable man. | ner, and neither had any glaringly bad habits. By anxious mothers and pru. l dent fathers they were both considered l good catches for daughters. To the young men the double court 1 ship was not so pleasant as it was to Lucy. They were often on the tenters and regarded each other with jealous | eyes whenever they met. But fate had l decreed that their charmer also should l have her feelings not slightly disturbed | after she had for some time contributed | to their torment without any compunc- l tions of conscience.
 | Her punishment was meted out to her one winter evening. She had beenl | to the theater with Jacob Walters, the suitor who at that time was to a small extent more in favor than his rival. | The couple were strolling along watch | ing for horse car on which they could ride to Lucy's home. While they were chatting to their mutual satisfaction they became involved in jostling | crowd that was pouring out of another thcater The girl became separated l from MT. Walters, and hurrying for | ward in search of him in the indistinct light, found him, as she supposed, and | linked her arm in his with that conhd- l ing and affectionate touch which men | like to receive from those whom they adore. She walked contentedly in si- lence for about a minute, when for the l first time she raised her eyes to the face of her escort. She gave a little scream and quickly drew her arm from | that of her companion. He was not J a. | cob Walters, but John Hutchinson, her | other admirer.
 "Oh, excuse me; did not mean to. l."
 "No excuse is needed. am delight ed, assure you," replied Hutchinson, | who had concluded from the charming manner in which she had attached her | self to him that she intended at last to show a marked preference for him.
 "Oh, what shall dol How shall ex- | plain my conduct?" she continued, not needing his words.
 No explanation is necessary. Tell me-" and he bent over her eagerly, "were you not about to- reward my de votion when you were frightened by your own boldness. Oh, tell me there is hopel"
 He attempted to place her arm in his and to walk as they had done when they met.
 'Eou must not; you do not under stand" she cried, as with q, a,desperate effort she extricated herself from hi grasp.
 "What does all this mean9" was the inquiry in excited tones.
 | Jacob Walters was again by her side after an anxious search.
 The rivals glared at each other.
 ''It is none of your business" shout I his sweetheart how doughty a cham pion he could be.
 "You must not quarrel" exclaimed the girl as she ran between the angry men. Overwhelmed with distress, and confused in her mind, she extended her hands toward Walters. "Forgive me- she cried. ''It is all,a dreadful mistake"
 Do you suppose l am fool? You :, deserted me to go to my rival when you were bound by every rule of pclitcness
 to allow me to escort you home. Your conduct is amazing"
 Your language is amazing, also
 desire you to understand that l shall
 protect this young lady from insult, '
 said Hutchinson with dignity.
 Lucy turned toward him and said: ''l
 beg of you to keep still. You do not know what you are talking about" "Please enlighten me, then"
 "Mr Walters was escorting me home if from the theater; we became separated
 in the crowd just before l met you. e searched for him and when took youl 10 arm thought you were he. You were
 the last person whom I desired to set
 under the circumstances"
 ''Thank you, I shall endeavor tC ,r avoid meet you hereafter" ,r Lucy saw her mistake, but knew no
 how to rectify it. Her intentions were
 good, but in her confused attempt tt
 make a satisfactory explanation sh'
 had been guilty of woeful lack of tact = Naturally at this disagreeable momen
 she turned to her other lover for sym
 pathy.
 You at least must understand tn n situation and must know that am no
 to blame," she cried, in appealin Y tones.
 v "I am not satisfied" he replied
 gloomily.
 = Out of patience she exclaimed: ''Yo
 are both so stupid! shall ask no nor sy favors of either of you" d, She stepped into the street, and be a. fore they could recover from their SUI thn prise a passinp horse car was cara-yin