Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-17

and everywhere, taking no one into my confidence, and of course getting no reward. Finally I gave up. For 20 years have been-wel, you knoW what I have been, captain; moder- ately successful man, as the term is used; modest patron of the arts and sciences and of the manly sports; but to woman-adamant This afternoon in that picture of New York street gathering saw her face, and upon her bonnet was a rose. It may have been white or it may have been red-I could not tell it's color. I recognized the locality by the buildings. It seems to me more than likely that she lives in that quarter of the city, and, such be- ing the case, it will not be difficult to find her. go to New York tonight. It may be-
 The captain involuntarily extended his hand and the colonel grasped it warmly. Then they arose and passed into the street.
 Ut may be- continued the colonel. clearing his throat and throwing back his shoulders, ssthat I am to come in for a share of love's young dream aft CT all. I am no longer young, to be sure, but it is the same dream. Ah-er -ahem-captain, will you oblige me by informa tion relative to the state of my cuticle? Do blush?"
 You do not" replied the captain. frankly.
 'Is not my pulse somewhat accel- erated?" asked the colonel presenting his wrist to the others grasp.
 Mary" returned the captain; 'it is like an eight-day clock"
 1T go to New York tonight, at any rate," said the colonel, bit disgust edly. s'I shall write you, captain; and in the event of my bringing home a bride shall look to you to make fit- ting arrangements for our reception. See to it personally that we have the bridal suite at the Grand Union, nicely warmed and ventilated and perfumed and all that sort of thing, you know. And a good carriage waiting at the station for Us. And your wife and a few female friends to smile at us when we step from the Pullman might have a good effect and convey heap of joy to the young wo-er-the brides heart"
 II shall be only too happy to make the arrangements" declared the cap- tain. II trust you may have your fondest hopes realized, my dear friend. You certainly deserve immense happi- ness. God bless you, sir"
 May He bless you, sir" returned the colonel.
 Ana +bop +bax ,,orfad +ha charging home at a double quick to tell his wife the story, while the col onel marched rapidly but with dignity to his apartments to prepare for his journey.
 He was absent six weeks. At the end of the second week letter came from him to the captain. It was very brief:
 Have not found her yet" it said. Have obtained copy of slot machine photograph, and am determined to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer"
 At short intervals thereafter other letters came, all brief, all to the same effect, and the captain began to fear that his friend was doomed forever to disappointment. But at last, at the close of the fifth week, came a letter the very outside of which shrieked triumphantly. The captains hands trembled with much violence as he opened it. and thrice his eyeglasses sprang from his nose.
 q have found her." were the first words that greeted him from the has tily scrubbed page. ''I have found her, and the rose she wore in the pie ture was white. I have talked with her face to face after all these years, and I have seen her face di1nple as it used to dimple, though, alas! the dim ples now are all but lost in wrinkles and the sparkle of her yeis but sug- gestion of the long ago. She wept when she saw me, and I wept-d-n you, sir, did, and am proud of it. when she told me that she had worn white rose upon her head every day for 30 years. And after awhile she introduced me to her husband, a re- tired sea captain, comfortably pro- vided with this worlds goods, whom ssee met in California; and to her chil- dren, of whom she has three; and to the five of her nine grandchildren, who are at home. She has been the companion of her husband in his yoy- ages. else I should probably have found her and made laundering ass of myself. She has been around and around the world--and she has not failed for single day to wear white rose. Talk of fidelityi Great heaven! Is it not wonderful? I seem hardly worthy of it. I have enjoyed my trip. Shall return next week Do not trou- ble yourself about the bridal suite. Want to see you. Want to rest. I am not so young as l once was, but, by George, I have got a big load off my mind! Have not felt exactly right about that girl for 30 years. Do not suppose she has felt exactly right, either. She gave me the rose she had in her hair. She is not going to bother about wearing it any more. Thirty years is very long time. Whoop!'
 Well, I'll be blowed!" calculated the captain
 He handed the letter to his wife, xnd then departed, somewhat precipitate- ly, for the nearest telegraph office, where he scrawled upon blank the word Congratulations" which action he has been ever since at loss to ex- plain.