Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-06

l to analyze. Hatred of the man who | had dared to do this thing and con, tempt for having been so easily trapped were both fighting for the mastery of her mind, while both these l emotions were in turn almost numbed by the sickening recollection that her hair was as she had arranged it when retiring for the night, and descended down her back in the severe sim 1 picity of plaited pigtail. She grew | hot all over with shame as she fancied that she could still feel the pressure of the mans arms about her body, and then her hair-how can an un- fortunate girl assert herself with her hair in pigtail? The position was hideous; maidenly dignity cowed by its own pigtail. Finally vanity won the day, as it is apt to do with men and women alike. Being carried, aft CT all, was not so very dreadful, in i -rather-rather- We'll, at any rate, that part was not so dreadful but the pigtail?" That thought crushed her.
 Her mental torture was suddenly broken in upon by shouts, the noise of grinding wheels, the thunder of hoofs and the jingle of harness. The fire engine had arrived.
 1 Amy Ashton stood by Spencer's side, in the warmth of the summer night, fascinated by the scene. The ruddy glow of the fire turned the tree trunks and foliage of the avenue bright red, and lit up human faces with a curious vivid beauty. The wild | x~%+ | gave place to the cool, methodical strategy of the fully-equipped trained men. There was hardly breath of air stirring, and the fire rapidly died down as soon as the engine got steadily at work The color faded out ! of the landscape, and the threatened house stood out black against the sky.
 T must go in at once, please. MT. Spencer. It feels quite chilly now"
 Please say you will forgive me, Miss Ashton. before you go. The temptation was great"
 q don't want to hear about the temptation. Pray, what would my ideal man say to the confession that I was imbecile enough to allow man to carry me about without any suffi- cient reason?" And Miss Ashton laughed mirthless laugh. l Well, you can at any rate explain to your ideal that the man who car ried you proposed to marry you on the same evening. Any sensible man, ideal or otherwise, will allow for an- other man being bit of an idiot when he is on the verge of pro- posal."
 ''Mr. Spencer, this began by what I l suppose I must regard as joke, though it was in wretched taste, more especially with a guest in your own house; but to carry it further is a deliberate insult.'
 Amy, darling, don't care a fig for the ideal man and his fancies; want you, seriously, myself. I have loved you since the day that you first came here. You always treat me as if were your grandfather, but I love you as dearly as man ever loved woman" ,"
 "Well, supposing that I say for give you for daring to carry me, and that we part in friendly"
 ''No, will accept no compromise; I will have an answer now"
 sIt is very unfair to keep me here in the cold; besides, think of Aunt Charlotte. We'll, perhaps I will then some day-when I have quite forgot ten the fire and all the rest, you know. Frank, you. must let me go, that was the worst part of it, because it was a simply hateful trick to play on girl. Why, never knew it myself until yes terday, when you began talking about ] my ideal man. Oh, Frank, I had quite forgotten my hair for moment. I'll never speak to you again-never, if l you don't let me run away at once l Frank, I said at once!"
 sTooking at the house from the outside, Frank, you really would not think that much damage had been done."
 "No, considering what might have been, it was a very cheap entertain ment."
 Don't be stupid, Frank. When are the builders coming down?"
 'My darling girl, that is just what wanted to consult you about. thought that our wisest plan would be for you to marry me at once. The men could begin as soon as we came home from our honeymoon"
 Frank, you are horrid. I won't hear of it yet"
 ssWe must have a roof on before the winter sets in, but in the meantime a roof is not one of the first essentials l to housekeeping."@T King