Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-16
By EDWIN CASKODEN [CHARLES MAJOR1

more, actually climbed to the very apex of idiocy and declared myself. well knew the infinite distance between us; but, like every other man who came within the circle of this charming load stone, lost my head and, in short, made a greater fool of myself than l naturally was, which is saying good deal for that time in my life, God knows!
 I knew vaguely, but did not fairly re- alize, how utterly beyond my reach in every way she was until opened the hoodgates of my passion, as thought it, and saw her smile and try to check the coming laugh. Then came look of offended dignity, followed by a quick, softening glance.
 Leave me one friend, pray you, Edwin. value you too highly to lose, and esteem you too much to torment. Do not make of yourself one of those fools who feel, or pretend to feel, care not which, such preference for me. You cannot know in what contempt wom- an holds man who follows her though she despises him. No man can beg a woman's love; he must command 1t. Do not join their ranks, but let us be good friends. I will tell you the plain truth. It would be no different were we both of the same degree. Even then I could not feel toward you as you think you wish, but can be your friend and will promise to be that always if you will promise never again to speak of this to me-"
 promised solemnly and have always kept my word, as this true, gracious woman, so full of faults and beauties, virtues and failings, has ever since that day and moment kept hers. It seemed that my love, or what supposed was love, left my heart at once, frozen ill the cold glint of her eyes as she smiled upon my first avowal, somewhat as dis ease may leave the sickened body upon great shock And in it's place came the restful flame of friends love, which so softly warns without burning. But the burning! There is nothing in life worth having compared with it foi all it's pains and agonies. Is there2
 "Now, if you must love somebody A continued the princess, "there is Lady Jane Bolingbroke, who is beautiful and good and admires you and, think, could learn to''- But here the lady in question ran out from behind the dra- peries where, believe, she had been listening to 1t all, and put her hand over her mistress mouth to silence her.
 Don't believe one word she says, Sir Edwin" cried Lady Jane. If you do, never will like you" The emphasis on the ".wilH' held out such involuntary promise in case did not believe the princess that at once protested total had said about her and vowed that knew it could not be true; that dared not hope for such happiness.
 You see, had begun to make love to Jane almost before I was off my knees to Mary, and therefore I had not been much hurt in Mary's case. had suf- fered merely touch of the general epi- demic, not the lingering, chronic disease that kills.
 Then knew that the best cure for the sting which lies in luckless love is to love elsewhere, and Jane, as she stood there, so petite, so blushing and so fair, struck me as quite the most pleasing antidote could possibly find, so began at once to administer to my self the delightful counter irritant. It was happy thought for me, one of those which come to man now and then and for which he thanks his wits in every hour of his after life.
 But the winning of Jane was not so easy mn+far qa my vanity had prompted me to think. I started with handicap, since Jane had heard my declaration to Mary, and had to undo all that before could do anything else. Try the same thing yourself with spirited girl, naturally laughter low