Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-14

first loves. IT they did, this would be somewhat melancholy world. But to her it was real enough and remained so for many years. And if a thing is true to the heart it avails little that reason should give it the lie.
 In short, now in the hour of their full prosperity Leonard and Juanna were mak | ing acquaintance with the fact that for. tune never gives with both hands, as the French say, but loves to rob with the one while she bestows with the other. To few is it allowed to be completely miserable; to none to be completely happy. Their z, d luck had been so overwhelming in n2.ny ways that it would have partaken of the rnatural and might well have ex cited tl cir fears for the future had its completeness been unmarred by these drawbacks, which, such as they were, prob ably they learned to disremember as the years passed over them, bringing them new trials and added blessings.
 Perhaps a peep into the future will tell us the rest of the story of Leonard and Jlanna Outram better and moro truly than any further chroniCling of events. Ten years or so had gone by, and Sir Leonard, now member of parliament and lord lieutenant of his county, comes out of church on the first Sunday in May accompanied by his wife, the statelicst matron in the countryside, and some three or four children, boys and girls together ns healthy as they are handsome. After a glance at a certain grave that lies near to the chancel door they walk homcward across the budding park ill the sweet spring afternoon till, n hundred yards or moro from the door of Outram Hall, they pause at the gates of n dwelling shaped l-a hpO f1Sh nf Sfr nl sticks, known as the kraal and built by the hands of Otter alone. Basking in the | sunshine in front of this hut sits the dwarf himself, cutting broomsticks with knife | cut of the straiJhtCst bundle of ash sap | lings that lie beside him. Greeting, baaS, he says as Leonard comes up. Is Baas Wallace here yet:' No; he will Dc down in time for dinner Mind that you arc there to wait
 II shall not be late, baas, on this day of all days"
 "Otter," cries little maid, you should not make broom>tcks on Sunday. It is very wrong
 The dwarf grius by way of answer, then | speaks to Leonard in n tongue that none | but he can understand
 What did I tell you many years ago, i h;Ias?" he says. Did not tell you that ! by this way or by that you should win the ! wealth, and that the great kraal across the | water should be yours again, and that the l children of strangers should wander there | ru more: See, it has come true, and he | points to the happy group of youngsters. | Wow! l, Otter, who am a fool in most | ,!.jngs, have proved to be the best of l i'nphets, Yet I will rest content and | rl1phcsy no morc lest I should lose my | rame for wisdom.
 \ few hours later and dinner is over in | larger hall All the servants have l gone except Otter, who dressed in n whit, l smock, stands behind his masters chair | There is no company present save Mir. Wal | lace, who has just returned from another African expedition and sits smiling anC ubservant, his cyCglass fixed in his eye n: | of yurc. .Juanna is in full evening dress | however, and n great star ruby blaZCS upOI l her breast.
 Why have you got the red stone on to I night, mOthcr:' asks the eldest son | Thomas who. with two of his sisters. ha come down to dessert.
 | Hush dear, she answers as Otter ad
 vanccs to that stand on whi ,h the Bible i
 chained, holding q glass il led with DOT
 in his hand,
 "Delivcrrr and Shcphrrirss, he says
 speaking III SlSutu, on thlS day II year
 7, nc Baas Tom died out wonder l. wh,
 drink wine but once a year, drink Ia tn
 n,m mory uf Baas Tom, and swallow in!
 Il. port with a single gulp he throws tn
 E ss behind him, and it shattcrs on th | Icur.
 Amen" says Leonard Now. l"Nr | lu ? toast.
 drink tu the memory of Francisco
 WL1 died to save me, says Juanna in
 A.N voice.
 N Amen" repeats Leonard
 Snr q moment th"rr is silence. Then th
 5, Thomas lifts his glass and cries: An,
 l GI ink To Olfau, the king of the P>Vpl
 of the Mist, anl Ia Otter. who killed ih
 :n:.kC god. and whom I love the best of al
 uf them. Mother, may Otter get the spc;l
 and tho rope and tell us the story of hoy
 he pulled you and father up the ic
 hridge'"
 I