The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-07-17
Copyright, 1902, by the

ITALIA never was able to recall just
| what was said by either at first. The
unexpectedness of the meeting made
both perfunctory. Then ITALIA re-
Taxed.
II was determined If it were you that
you should not go out Of town until we
had talked over old times. How Is
| Helen? Did you bring her with your
II am here alone on business" he
said, with grave dignity which SEEM
ed to reprove her flippant manner. 81
shall be here ten days only at the fur
| thest. My mission is to handle the in
terests Of a mining syndicate, and then
| / return to Helena. But tell me all
about yourself. Are you still Thalia
| Lambert, freeY
Thalia was smarting a little. Here
was the old, masterful manner of the
one man in the world Of whom she had
ever been afraid. She gave a coquet-
fish shrug.
IL am none other than Thalia Lam
bert, and a woman is always free until
she puts her neck into the marriage
yoke"
He smiled.
That evening they dined together.
The constraint of their first meeting
had worn off, though the judge had
been told by a mutual friend that Tha-
liza was engaged to Stewart Curtiss,
and Curtiss himself, lunching with
Thalia, had told her that her old friend
was now a wealthy and influential
lawyer, likely to be nominated for the
senate.
The orchestra played Loves Young
Dream" as they dallied with their cof-
fee after dinner. Judge Ballard smiled
across the table at his companion.
"Do you remember all the foolish lit
tie things we used to do in the old
academy days-the notes we used to
write in class?"
"Of course do. But do you remem-
Der the time we got caught? I wrote
you a note-'What time is it? Do you
love meY-and you wrote on the mar
gin: Half past 10. OF course do And
Professor Foster got hold of it and
wrote on the bottom, "A pretty time of
day. and sent it to me-"
"Well, the old man was right. Wasn't
it a nice timer
"Oh, yes," vaguely-''that is, nice for
the first time"
'Have there been other times, Tha-
lia?"
"Why not?" defiantly.
Surely; many other times - times
and half times and times between
times That's woman's record"
The music throbbed in Thalia's veins
Her throat swelled, but she met his
gaze steadily. ..
After that they were more or less
formal.
The last night of Judge Billiards. Wis
it came, and it was 10 o'clock when he
rang the bell of Thalia's fiat. Curtiss
In the act of departing almost ran into
him. Thalia stood near her desk, pale
and agitated.
'Tm sorry Mr.. Curtiss went on my
account" said the judge. ITS not
worth while to spoil your evening by
my brief leavetaking."
Thalia recovered herself with difficult
ty, and her breath was still irregular.
He took both of her hands in his mas
terful way and fixed on her the dark.
powerful look that had always COM
PEELED both men and women. At the
magnetic clasp strange calm fell upon
Thalia. She knew that she would rath-
er tell this man the truth and walk
alone the rest Of her days than to part
from him with a half lie, acted If not
uttered. She met his searching look
squarely.
'Mr. Curtiss has not gone on your ac-
count" she said. "He went on NINE"
Judge Ballard regarded her gravely,
it seemed to her almost sternly.
'Let it be only lovers quarrel. Tha-
liza. Life is too short to waste in trivi
alitiea"
''It is not lovers quarrel" she said
hotly. 1T is final.'
"Don't say that. ITALIA. Very few
things are final in this world"
The warning solemnity of his tone
carried Chill Insensibly she leaned
toward him as If for protection.
"But it is final." she whispered. II
have sent him away. and he will not
dare to come back"
Judge Billiards. tall. dignified figure
seemed to grow rigid.
And why have you sent your prom.
ised husband away?" he asked as IL
cross examining witness.
''My promised husbandy' gasped Tha-
liza. why. I've just refused him."
my darling! My darlingg'
He snatched her in strong arms and
showered on face and hair fervent and
specifically injudicial kisses not pro
vided for in the statutes Of Black
stone. Thalia, half drowned in this
lawless onslaught, finally managed to
partially free herself and to pant indig
nantly, "How dare your
He only said, Il couldn't help it." like
any schoolboy, but he looked totally un-
repentant and remained in dangerous
proximity.
Thalia, her cheeks burning and her
heart humping, gasped: "You have no
right to say that! You should have re
membered-your wifev'
my wife! ITALIA, my wife has been
dead for five years."
He caught her swaying form end
supported her tenderly.
"You inquired about her in such a
way that for the moment / merely said
that was alone, intending to tell you
about 1t later. When I asked you lie
you were free, you gave me an evasive
answer, so when was told on the aft
ernoon Of the same day that you were
Engaged to Stewart Curtiss / thought
you had deliberately equivocated. 1.
met him here. You said nothing. What
twas I to think? Naturally withheld