Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-24

pleaded a headache and went to her room, and Betty looked troubled as she left us, but did not offer to follow. suggested a stroll in the convent gar den. whence came tho click of the bowls, for that old world game was al- ways in full swing after tho days work was over. The garden. being large, served as an open air club to the towns people. Betty agreed, and we were soon in the cool. high walled pleasanoe-a quiet spot, where all wo heard of the players was the click of the ball and the distant sound of laughter and talk.
 The sun had set, and Q cool breeze was whispering among the broad leaves of the fig trees. In the grass the drono of the grasshopper made n sleepy mur- mur. Betty was curiously silent, trifle embarrassed in manner, and somehow this unwonted shyness and taciturnity gave me confidence in myself. l talked to her about many things, as if were entitled to her sympathy, told her of my struggles, of my ambitions, of my hopes talked as man rarely talks save to the woman he loves and hopes to win for his wife.
 Somehow or other-made bold, l think, by tender softening of her face when spoke about the hardness of the struggle for fame when tho struggle is made single handed-I blurted out my secret. loved her, and life would be a desert without her love.
 Then in tho gray twilight l saw a white, astonishcd face and two large frightened eyes look at mo almost in horror.
 "Mr. Aslehurst," she panted, ''you are surely madl It is not you love. It is''- sho stopped and bit hor lips. Good heavens! It was the old ccmpli- cation. I read her unspokon thought ill Q flash. Sho believed it was Kittie 1 loved; that it was for Kittie's sake that I had dangled at their heels all this time.
 was about to protest that it was she Betty, and she only that 1 loved- when she resumed. in a calm, self pos sessed tone:
 "You must forget that you have ever spoken so to mo, Mir. Aslehurst; that you have ever thought of mc-in that way l-fGr am married already. My hus- band is coming to join US at Pontre- | sina.
 I stared at her incredulorsly for a momont.
 But, Miss Blount'-
 l II was Miss Blopnt once. I am Mrs. Field now. Perhaps you know my hus- band. He Is n barristor too. He could not get away sooner, because ho had some important caso to work up, " she went on rapidly. Ut is all Kittio Mori- son IS sfault-this-this dreadful mistake. Kittie was my greatest chnm before married last year. She was very angry with mo for marrying, and she per5Uad- ed me, just for the sake of old times, when we used to como abroad together for walking tours, to be Miss Blount again. It was she who wroto tho name ill the hotel book at Bormio, and when you called me Miss BlUunJ kittic was delighted and insisted on keeping Cp the joke.
 That was little rough on me-" said ill crestfallen way. The cumical side of the situation was apparent to me, and for the moment l forgot the bangs of despised love.
 We did not mean any harm, she murmured humhly. "Wo used to have such splendid times together whun we toured about, Kittie and 1. When 1 heard you call mo Miss Blount. almost forgot that had a husband in London. '
 Poor Field! He would not bo flat. tered"
 You know my husband?''
 Slightly. We meet pretty often il hall, answered dEyly.
 "Oh, Mir. Aslehurst, what must yor think of mo? But I do love Edward and I-I shall be so happy to see him d Pontresina We are n model couple, ant ever so contented. I-I thought tha you admired Eittie Morrison. Sho il such a dear, good girl. Sho has alwayt been very independent and high spirit cd, but Again she stopped, and read in Mrs. Fields beautiful face tn, gist of little romance that had n, doubt been simmerinG in her brain eve since our meeting in the rain swept pas of Stelvio.
 Alas. how easily things go wrongl had fallen ill love with the wife instead of with the maid, thanks to Miss kitti Norison's little freak. Betty-I mus call her by the name 1 have called he always in my thouShts-Betty had al lowed the freak to be indulged. and was q broken hearted man-for fully 8 hours But I could not i'll mere civilit leave the two forlorn women to trudg together to Pontresina, especially nov that knew ono of them was the wifi of brother barrister. By tho time w reached our Alpine Mecca we werc tn best of friends again. Field turned up day or two later, and staid on. fo we all found four pleasanter numbe than three in our mountain expeditions and really, Kittie MOrison-she has aI other name now-was and is yer pretty girl, and sho is certainly muc loss independent than when first mad her acquaintance Strand Magazine.