Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-18
treason to have discovered that her
 hair was mass of curls and clustering

ringlets.
 That is only what you were saying to yourself, not what I am thinking. When called you tchild' absolved you from all the crimes of wonanhood. There are many actions that flow nat urally from childish hearts which carry not the slightest flavor of immodesty; and yet woman may not copy them. So in this, my young friend"
 "Ah, you do not say my child now!"
 "No, you have passed into woman hood with the consciousness of this error I say error, because it is sit- nation that you should not have been placed in-no, not to save human life not even to save your own; for the unscarred whiteness of woman's soul is the priceless pearl of eternity, and not to be staked on earth. But the thought behind it all was not your own. You yielded under the pressure of fear and advice. Your objections were overcome, and you obeyed an elder per- son in whom you had implicit confi- dence That is all and I understand
 ..Then they did not tell you about mel" she whispered, breathlessly.
 'No; you have told me all that know of you. here in the dark. You are ten der. modest, true and pure; and were you my wife in truth, I would not be ashamed to tell this story to the world myself and own you as such after" The words fell from his lips so tender ly, 90 kindly. she took his hand in both of hers, and laid her face upon it, cry ing silently.
 The blame of it all is on our friend, the doctor.' he continued, deeply touched. and his voice little unsteady. What a tumultuous, hesdlong, hurri- cane sort of fellow he is. There is no blame for you: for look, if I am here, how could you have resisted him? And it is only his judgment that was at fault, after all-on!y his judgment. Why. trner heart never beat than Brodnar's."
 Would it offend you if I ask ques- tion? 9" She had waited for composure, and now did not lift her head.
 Why, no, of course.'
 You are right sure?@
 Right sure.'
 Then. how could any gentleman consent 70 be placed in such a position as yours? You must have known how embarra ssing it was 10 be for me" His first inclination was to whistle out his astouishment. but he restrained him self.
 "Iou forget, my child-I see you have backsliGed into chiidhood-you forget that in the first place l was appealed 1t in behalf of a woman and 10 gentlema Ia D may resist that. And then had no req son to suspect that l was to marry a girl. It might have been an expert enced widow. Indee5-'
 But you are glad it wasn't, are you noi?'' she asked. anSiously.
 "1es. my child
 "Dces my question then indicate that l am a child:"
 "Ies. my child" x
 ''I don't see why"
 ''Because you are still-a child" She was not satisfied.
 MT. Somers, 1 want you to think well of ne always, and the thought Il a | l may meet you sometime doesn't enl barrass me now. It would not embar. rass me if l did meet you-even if l should meet you tomorrow. But l wish l you to know all about me, and l am go | ing to tell you everything from the be. | ginning.'
 No. indeed, you shall not" he said | quickly. She lifted her head, startled Why motif l choose? l am no1 afraid 10 trust you.'' "No! no! Miss Frances" l "Ah, l am woman again." "1es. a woman of a charm so sweet and 8 heart so true that Richard Som CTS must arm himself. Not your honor | f, mine the honor Nf hn Sl,3 n is at stake, and you promised to regard that always"
 And I shall, sir; only tell me how.
 ''Why. l have promised my friend no to seek to find out. or permit anyon, to tell me anything about you. l ma, not let even you inform me. You mus not''
 She was silent, disturbed, and won | dering at his intense earnestness.
 Then she said, in awe at the myster, of it all: "When we part tonight WI are to meet as friends no more? Yo1 may never take my hand in yours ant 1 speak kindly to ne again? Oh, sir, yol do not know, you do not know wha i your tenderness has done for the girl no, the woman you call child. 1ol do not know what it is to have missed 8 fathers care, a mother'A-" 1 'Hush.' he cried. mot one wort more. You are making it. hard-har' for me to keep faith with my friend You are betraying his secret" Sh threw off his hand and arose suddenly with an abandon of passion that over whelmed him.
 What mockery! what mockery I an ashamed-ashamed! It is I wh am betrayed!' He had arisen also full of emotion and almost unnamed
 ''Never-at my hands. l chose tn words deliberately. I will honor an protect you-to the best of my ability but my ability ends where my promis began. All is based upon my contrac with Francis Brodnar, my friend"
 @'Friend-friend!" she said, bitterly "inGod's name, sir, what am I to you ? He was too deeply affected to answer a once. When he did his voice was ur steady.
 ''This: In the hour I have bee here you have found an untrodden wa to the heart of Richard Somers. Ikno' l %1,ox hnr