Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-01-27

upon the party. who were all tired and
little disposed to talk.
'Now, this is comfort. | say" re-
marked young Bardill, at length, laying
down the banjo and waiting as if for
somebody to argue the point with him
challenge which nobody seemed dis
posed to accept. Il can tell you, folks,
it is little different from that night on
the mountain last year when | was lost
"Lostl were you really lost?" some
body drawled with perfunctory interest.
"Great Scott, man! did you never
hear of it?" sitting bolt upright in his
dismay that anybody should have re-
manned in ignorance of the one occasion of
his life when it had been permitted him
to distinguish himself. 81 should say we
did get lost-Mrs. Rogers and when
was in the park last summer; got sepa-
rated from our party as we were coming
down Ute peak, and"-
"Oh, yes" lazily interrupting, Il
heard of that, but thought Bartels was
the hero of that adventure"
"Bartels? WELL should say not" in
unqualified disgust at this flching of his
laurels. "Why, Bartels was hunting
somewhere, forty miles away, at the
time; were you not?' appealing to him.
81 was, thank heaven" with indolent
fervor, as he leisurely clipped the green
tassels from a great pine bough in which
he sat enveloped. "You are welcome to
all the glory of that exploit, Bardill."
"Why, Bartels, heard it was you"
remarked another. turning to him in
some surprise.
"Well, l repeat that it was not" with
| an indifferent laugh. Little did he guess
what this mistake had cost him. "Two
or three people spoke to ME about it at
the time. 1t was the similarity of name
that misled them. Your name is Dan,
believer turning to Bardill.
eyes; but | thought my name was
Dennis then And Mrs Rogers made
her husband take such pains to keep it
| out Of the papersE" modify complained
the one thus defrauded of fame There
was no reason on earth that could see
for being SO confoundedly sly about it."
Anita leaned back in her chair, sick
and faint. She was not surprised;
vaguely she had known herself wrong
long ago, but with stubborn pride she
had been shutting her eyes to the truth.
willfully keeping her jealous anger alive,
But she could no longer refuse to see.
| She knew now that in giving herself up
to the demon of jealousy she had sold
herself body and soul. Of her own will
she had put her happiness beyond her
reach, had thrust her husband as far
from her, had made him as little to her
as any one of those other men indiffer-
emily laughing around the fire. With a
dozen words he could have brushed all
her mistakes away, and she had never
| given him the chance. In her narrow
scheme of revenge she had wished him
to think her possessed of passion for
Gray; and now she knew what was
meant by the curse of an answered
prayer. She started up, walking swiftly
back into the darkness, longing to be
alone in her pain; but Donald was quick
to see her movement.
"What is it, Nita? Do you want any
thing? Can't go and get it?"
81 am going for drink Of water" she
returned, lamely lying, as she walked
aimlessly toward the leafy dining bower.
"Wait; let me get some for you that is
fresh," he said kindly. hurrying to over
take her "Stay here. I'll be back in a
minute" hastily emptying the pail and
plunging into the darkness.
Anita obediently sat down on the
rough bench that had been built along
the side of the table. staring into the
shadows with wide open, unseeing eyes,
lost in brooding thought. Of sudden
her attention was arrested by cracking
among the neighboring trees and the
sound of heavy, plodding feet on the
grass padded turf. Her heart seemed to
stop its beating as, deeper shade against
the darkness of the night, great form
suddenly lunged up before her, while hel
staring eyes could see looming up behind
another and yet another. There was q
strange, defiant snort, and Anita could
feel hot breath upon her cheek. With
q sound that essayed to be a scream, but
was choked by her overnastering terror
she sprang to her feet, and, as fast as hel
trembling limbs could carry her. ran
toward the creek
"Nita, Nita, what is itT' cried Donald
throwing down the pail and hastily
scrambling up the bank
"Bearsl a whole family of bearsr
wildly throwing herself into his arms
There came the quick reports of re-
volver emptied into the air, chorus Of
cowboy yells supplemented by shrill
screams from the ladies' the receding
thunder of flying hoofs. and then there
was only the soughing of the wind il
the pines and tho gurgling song of the
stream.