Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-12
Richard Cathcart's Protective Policye
By M. l.. RAYNE.

4 'LOM. gluIHIHeTs glumIucSG, idSh- N ard Cathcart sat in his club parlor envied of all his friends, but with great grudge against the whole world because the especial preference of one little woman was denied him. Satiated with the favors of fortune, he had possibly taken too much for granted, he was much chagrined when he was refused the second time, and the fnality of his rejection appeared absolute. If he could have seen himself he would have laughed at the picture of de- lection he made. Laugh? He felt more like crying, but men are de- nied the selfish luxury of tears. Mr. Carthart was in love with widow. She had not used any arts to attract him and was dismayed at the violence of his professions-for never to marry again. Why should she? She had been a widow for five years and had found life sweet. With money enough to live as she pleased, it's investments safely guaranteed by the will of her late husband, why should she tie herself down to the dull routine of domestic life with an- other man? She had been vine long enough to be tired of clinging. She wanted to be free to do exactly as she pleased. These were the objec- tions she urged against MT. Cath carts suit-why she remained ,uncon- vinced by his lover-1ike eloquence. ''Were you so happy in your first marriage that you dare not venture again?" he boldly asked.
 "I was reasonably happy with MT. Archer replied the widow, with a | little sigh.
 "Then marry me and let me make you unreasonably happy" said the in | fatuated lover with fond insistence. | But Mrs. Archer shook her we'll l poised head.
 ssTo-morrow am going to New l York;" she replied. "I want to go 1 alone everywhere, stop at hotel l like a clubwoman, have no one to l dictate to me, not even a maid. am leaving mine at home. I shall not l join the bohemians nor become outre in anything, neither will I be obliged to wait the pleasure of some man | alone-why should not I ?"
 Because you are not like other women," rejoined Richard Cathcart, with diplomacy. "Oh, my dar-dear Mrs. Archer, you need strong arm | to protect you from the rude jost- ling of the world, which is very cruel to the helpless and unprotected" Mrs. Archer smiled demurely, look ing bewilderingly charming, and all l though Richard received his conge 1 the second time, he could not but ] acknowledge to himself that some deliverer would always be at hand were Katharine Archer in peril. Nor l did he believe that she would ever, l under any circumstances, lose her l feminine wits, which were double 1 edged. Discreet to the verge of prudery, he would have wagered his head against the possibility of mis- l take on her part He believed that she was absolutely capable of taking care of herself, but regretted any possibility of such an extremity com | ing to pass. He knew the many pit l falls laid down for the unaware and he wanted to be near her to protect her against every man-except him self.
 Mrs. Archer arrived in New York | without the shadow of an adventure, I went to hotel noted for having once entertained royalty and secured an elegant suite of rooms. She regis tered her name with her own fair hand and felt positively delighted to l. 1>I T "a 111- her trunks, being tired from her trip, but decided to wait until the next morning, when she would enlist the services of the chambermaid. It was a new experience to answer knock at her own door, where she found a
 bell boy with two letters.
 | .'sFor me?" she said, surprised, but immediately recognizing the hand writing on both missives. One was from her brother and contained key to one of her trunks which she had
 overlooked or forgotten. Three
 hasty lines accompanied it. The
 other-eight pages closely written,
 bidding her welcome to New York,
 and urging her not to be lonely or
 miss the solacing company of the l WTlLCE bOO u1ucu. begun III a SplT1J
 of friendly humor, it ended 1n most
 passionate appeal to her heart, and
 so accentuated the feeling of loneli-
 ness it deplored that Katharine hur-
 ried on her wraps and went out in
 the sunshine on Fifth avenue. There
 she pulled herself togethe- mentaF
 ly and tried hard to dismiss the feel
 ing that in fleeing from Richard Cath
 cart and his love she had done an
 unwise thing. Then she recalled the
 fact that she had in her purse the
 address of a dear friend who lived in
 Brooklyn, also the number of her
 husbands business address on Broad
 way. Calling a cab, she soon found
 herself at his office. He was in and
 gave her hearty welcome.
 Sophie will be delighted to see
 you, Mrs. Archer, and as this happens
 to be our wedding anniversary,
 promised to eat luncheon at home
 We will give her a delightful sur.
 prise"
 Mrs. Archer made \so objection n | IL A-