Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-30


 candid can display of his own duplicity was not proof positive that he was a shameless wretch, making love to an innocent girl without even takino +be precaut1on to conceal his life oblioa- tions.
 And yet she could not suppress the consciousness of pleasure in his pres ence. He quit his gift giving and dic- tated more letters, which proved that his wife was suspicious and had per haps accused him of inidelity of some kind. He never discussed the con- Eents of these letters with Helen, but rattled away as if she were mere ma chine, and then changed the subject to any of a hundred delightful themes of which he seemed to be anxious to hear her talk. When at last he seemed to drift into a more serious frame or mind and habit, Miss Barr found her self unreasonably gratifed. Her heart gave a joyful bound one day when she heard him tell a friend one day that he was lon the water wagon" but an access of yirtuous anger seized her that same evening, when, for the first time, he came to her and asked quite calmly and respectfully, if she would go to the theater with him. She made a pitiful effort to freeze him" with her answer, but her eyes were bfimming before she could turn away, and she said nothing. He walked away, and from the corner of her downcast eye she could see that he went into the buffet.
 The unhappy girl spent sleepless night, for she had neither parent nor relative to share her troubles. A dozen times she resolved to beg of Capt. Baldwin to quit the hotel and go home to his wife. She thought of writing, to him, or refusing to take his letters, of ignoring him, and finally resolved to do his work if he persisted, but remain deaf and blind to his per sonal attentions as she had done with every other man at the hotel. But her tired heart was in futter again the moment she got behind the railing of her little office, for she saw the cap tain strolling nervously about the TO- tunda. She kept her eyes on her work, but she knew he was watching her. Her work was cleared away and she was ready to leave for luncheon when he came suddenly to the desk and said:
 'sTake couple of letters, please, miss?" She did not look up, but she was aware of strange, hard note in his voice. He began with letter to Dear Catherine" as usual, and Miss Barr was wondering what new sub- terfuge he would palm off on his wife, when he began: .'You have been a good sister-in-law to me, and l hope you will succeed in satisfying my brother, that
 Miss Barr's cheeks were afame with excitement. Catherine was not his wife, then! She could hear her heart beat the music of those words. But when he came to the end of that letter and said: 'sThe fact is, I've made up my mind to get married and settle down if the girl will have me- Miss Barr got pale again and trembled. But the worst was to come. She could have struck him when he leaned across the rail and said: Now, want you to write out proposal for me" She didn't hear exactly what followed. Her trained fingers flew mechanically over the keys as he dictated suited and very formal proposal, beginning Dear Miss and ending Your anxious and devoted Hugh Baldwin"
 Whats the address?" she asked, coldly.
 Here's the envelope" he said in frigid tones.
 She picked it up with quivering fingers, said: Fifty cents, please" and read the address, Helen Barr, Hotel Rockingham, City"
 And they stood there smiling into each others eyes.-Chicago Record Herald.
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