Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-06
AN ENTRANCE ]: AND AN EXIT
By Tudor Jenks.

l HATE was against their meeting. l N In vain did stmutual friends" con- l suit and advise ways and means for
 bringing the two together; there was
 always "a slip 'twixt cup and lip, an unexpected failure in the best laid plans, and Miss Browne re-
 mained technically stranger to MT.
 Dunn.
 Time and again acceptances for the same social function had arrived from both, only to be succeeded by hastily written apology or excuse from one or the other. Apparently, 1 then, fate was against their meet ing. Each had been willing to for 1 ward the we'll intended plans 'or I bringing them together, but hithe- ys l in vain.
 One evening Miss Browne. having with her visiting cousin, had issued ] cards for a reception, and had sent one of them to MT. Dunn. Upon re- ceiving the invitat he resolved by the nine gods whom Lars Porsena invoked that nothing short of ill- ness or sudden death should prevent I him from attending H | tilious preparation for his appear ance, and when arrayed in solemn black and fine linen he heaved a quiet sigh of relief as he consulted his memoranda of engagements and as- sured himself that no obstacle in- tervened.
 His hand was upon the door, when his man arrived, to thrust telegram into his hand.
 Just arrived, MT. Dunn," said t Pirker, with sympathetic regret modulated by respectful reticence. ] Opening the yellow envelope, MT. Dunn read the dispatch: 1 Arrive by s:so train. Meet me without fail. Am alone. AUNT JANE.
 "AlD right, Pirker. Call cab" said MT. Dunn, after q nerveless glance at his watch. s'I must go to 1 the station to meet Miss Dunn, my aunt. I shall not go to the recep- ton. Wait up for me- l Very good, sir"
 I Once in the hanson, MT. Dunn could not help wry smile of amusement. Anybody but Aunt Jane could have been arranged for" or put off in, some way, or at least disposed of in a hurry, But Aunt Jane dearly loved l quiet supper with her favorite nephew, at which she could rehearse to him all the minor chronicles of the old home town, and Aunt Jane expected 8 certain amount of com sideration and deference from her i'm tended heir.
 Arriving at the station, he awaited the incoming train, meanwhile look ing over an illustrated magazine and wondering why he didn't care to do more than glance at the pictures. After the train had been overdue for the usual time, it came in with 1eisurely carelessness that was most exasperating, and deposited Aunu Jane safely upon the platform.
 Henry greeted his aunt warmly, and told her he had a cab waiting. Miss Dunn, however, turned to lady who had stepped from the train with her, and presented her nephew to @'Mrs. Brant,' explaining that the lady was an old school friend, that they had not met for perfect ages,'' and adding that if Henry didn't mind very much she was going to accept Mrs. Brant's invitation to pass tho night with her.
 \. Henry begged that on no acooun. should his aunt think of missing so great a pleasure, and, in short, bowed himself away as soon as he had se- cured a carriage and had seen the two ladies and their hand baggage safely on their way. Then he stepped into the hansom with gleam of hope upon his countenance, giving the direction, Drive fast to 1102 North End avenue
 1. Alighting from the b, MT. Dunn advanced to the steps, and soon found himself within the house that had so long been to him as evasive as the . desert mirage to the Arab. Once more he reviewed his toilet in the dressing room, and assured that all was unimpeachable, he approached the reception room.
 MT. Dunn was not ordinarily so fussy, but this was an exceptional occasion. More than few were aware of the condition of affairs, and MT. Dunn knew that the an- nouncement of his name would create something of sensation. He ex- pected that his entree would not be unnoticed.
 Nor was it.
 The footman took his card, held aside the heavy portieres, and appre- ciating the newcomers social impor- tance, exclaimed more loudly than usual, ''Mr. Henry Dunn!''
 The hum of conversation ceased. All eyes sought the door to witness his entrance.
 With an easy grace MT. Dunn step. ped brisk1y from the corridor into the reception room, alighting upon a small mat that was upon the thresh- old. The mat slid forward upon the polished floor; MT. Dunn's feet flew wildly forward; he seemed for one brief instant to be executing a spread-eagle amid the ambient air, and then his athletic training came to his rescue, and he caught desper- ately at the portieres on each side