Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-01-24

presence of her handmaid-supposcd to be potent in nursing and hcrb-lore- whom she had detached to wait upon him, and he had returned politely for mal acknowledgements to her inquiries. He had determined to continue this personal avoidance, as far as possible, until he was relieved, on the ground of that JUSincss cNpedirncy which these events had made necessary. S1e would see that he was only accepting the argu- mcnts with which she had met his previous advances. Briefly, he had re- course to that hopeless logic by whicha man proves to himself that he has no reason for loving certain woman and is as incOntCstably convinced by the same process that he has. And in the midst of it he weakly fell asleep, and dreamed that he and Miss Sally were walking in the cemetery; that a hide ous snake concealed among some lilies, over which the young girl was bending, had upliftrd its triangular head to strike. That he seized it by the neck, struggled with it until he was nearly exhausted when it suddenly collapsed and shrank, leaving in his palm the limp, crushed and drlicatelY- pcrfumcd little thread glove, which he remembered to have once slipped from her hand.
 When he awokc that perfume seemed | to be still in the air, distinct from the | fresh but hOmCliCr scents of the garden which stole through the window. A sense of delicious cOOlnCss came with | the afternoon breeze that faintly trillcd | the slanting slats of the blind with a slumbcrous humming as of bees. The golden glory of a sinking southern sun was pcnciling the cheap paper on the wall with leafy traccry and glowing arabesqucs. But, more than that, the calm of some potent inllucncc-or some unseen prcscncc-was upon him, which | he feared a movement might dispcl. l The chair at the foot of his bed was empty. SOphy had gone out. He did not turn his head to look further; his languid eyes falling aimlcssly upon the carpet at his bedside suddenly dilatcd | for they fell also on the smallest foot In the state."
 He started to his elbow, but a soft hand was laid gently yet firmly upor his shoulder, and with faint rustic ot muslin skirts Miss Sally rose from aI unseen chair at the head of his bed anc stood beside him.
 Don't stir, connlc, didn't sit wherC I could look in yor face for feaI of waking yo'. But I'll change seat now" She moved to the chair tha Sophy had vacated, drew it slightly nearer the bed. and sat down.
 Tt was very kind of you to come, said Courtland, hcsitatinTly, as, with ; strong effort, he drew his eyes away from the fascinating vision, and re gained a certain cold composurc, but am afraid my illness has been grcatl. magnifed I really am quite wei enough to be up and about my busi ness, if the doctor would permit it. Bu I shall certainly manage to attend t. my duty tomorrow, and l hope to be a your service"
 Meaning that yo' don't care to se me n01c, co'nnlC," she said, lightly, witt faint twinkle in her wise, sweet eyes
 T thought of that, but as my bushes
 wouldn't wait. 1 brought it to you.
 She took from the folds of her gown
 letter To his utter amazemcnt 1t wa the one he had given his Oversccr t
 post to the commandant that morning
 To his greater indignation the seal wa
 broken.
 "Who has daredl" he demanded, hal
 rising.
 Her little hand was thrust out hal