Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-15

The following day threatened to be the longest had ever spent Finally. in despair, I resolved to go to the Metropolitan agency and see what was doing" although all interest in my assignment had 1apsed. t
 My deah boy, I've just what ye want,'' exclaimed Hobson, the man. ager, as I entered. 'tParIor B, and get theah quick ave been a-holdin' it for ye all the mornin'."
 Half pushed, half walking, wholly disgusted, stumbled in, and there, right in front of me, fresh, dainty and allurfng as before sat Elsie Norman
 What does this n1ean?" I demand ad, stern1y, tragically lly-meloslr ally, will now admit You make a date with me and tiren go galfvant- ing around these cheap agencies What does it mean?'
 s'And as to you, sir?s' she asked, de- murefy, in reply.
 "I am trying to pass the ttne.' I replied, sternfy.
 '@ARd I,'' she replied. smiling. !
 As we emerged from the building, I called cab and handed her in Be fore let it go. I safd:
 Come, now, no more agency busi- ness until after the supper - if you please"
 Agreed" she replied, a merry smile lighting her face and thought saw a hint of downcast eyes and hint of responsive comradarie which wen- nigh sent me into fit of vertigo. !
 That supper was a red-letter occa5 sion. had never been much of fa- dies man, but had met many women of all degrees, and never had I met one with the charm of thia mystifytng product of the matrimonial agencies She was so evidently up-to-date, so well-informed, so wise to everything going on in the world, so thoroughly posted in affairs and so we'll able to discuss current topics, that I could not reconcile her actual self with her posi- tion as woman of fortune seeking husband through the mountebanz agencies Why! without 8 cent, she was a prize for a prince.
 While we sat at the little table in the cozy corner, a party consisting of newspaper fellows and an actor or two came in for bite. AS nodded care- less1y to them, and they returned my salutation, puzzled expression crossed Miss Nurman's face.
 .'Who are those people'?" she asked. sharply
 .sOh, Tom Bates, of the Universe: Jimmie Burns, of the Recorder; Louie Drake, of the Clarion, and Harold St Hubert, the actor replied.
 "Do you know them?" she asked. Then recovered my balance and re- piled:
 'sI-T met Bates, casually, the other night, and he pointed the others out.to me-
 Then I changed the subject.
 Later on we went to the theater, and before leaving her made an engage ment to take her riding on the follow ing afternoon.
 I lay in my room and smoked that night until far past dawn, buried in visions. The evening had strengthened and vivified every imRession of my first meeting with tue girl. There was no question but she was lady in every sense of the wOrd-and her alert intelli- gence was not the least of her charms. There was no dodging it, I was madly in love with her. All my doubts based on finding her at a matrimonial agency were cast as-ide.
 'Iwould marry her without question as to her object in being there said.
 Then I groaned as thought of the barrier of her wealth and the cheap part ! was playing. For, of course, must be honest with her.
 Finally I made my resolve. I could not remain in so equivocal position. I would make clean breast of it, and nope for her friendship at least. More dare not dream.
 Perhaps years would efface the mem- ory of my 1uplicity, and when should have attained high position in my pro- fession, perhaps-whc knows?
 The next afternoon, far out on lone- some drive. pulled myself together and told her the whole wretched busi- ness.
 Il owe you an apology as abject as man can make, Miss Norman" :" started in, tragically. Then I hurried on: II am compelled to confess to you that am not what I have pretended to be. My name is not Hiram Adams, but Stewart Vincent. am newspaper re- porter doing the matrimonial agencies, getting material for a story for the Clarion. It was good enough fun be- fore I met you, but I am heartily ashamed of myself TOW, and I humb1y beg your pardon. I desire your honest friendship too much to go on with the deceit longer"
 had kept my eyes resolutely on the horse. I now turned to her, and was surprised to find her face suffused with blushes and her eyes downcast.
 Then she uttered merry little laugh and looked at me with a mischievous glance that nearly caused me to drop the reins and gather her in my arms.
 "It's tit for tat,'' she said. "I am on the same assignment for the Universe, and-and I was just thinkinghow dread fully cheap was. My name is Eleanor