Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-13

l never been but once in his life) he l swung his uncle's lantern and stamped l his feet to keep up his courage. He knocked on the door softly. His heart pounded fercely. "Who is there?" asked a puzzled. 1 half-frightenedf feminine voice through the door.
 Its only Dick Russell" he said, quietly. There's an important matter l must see you about"
 Then she opened the door-haught- fly, fearlessly.
 Come into the sitting-room, Mfr. Russell" said the girl, frigidly.
 There's to be big record frost to- night" said he, blushing like girl.
 How do you know?"
 I've just had news from the weather bureau; and I've come to warn you"
 Have you warned the other neigh bors?" she asked, quietly.
 "No-o. That is, IL"
 Why haven't you?o
 Because I-we1l-bother it a1l!" he stammered, suddenly getting warm all over-"because I thought or you first. And only got the news few minutes ago. And I couldn't, if I wanted to, save all the orchards around here. But I can save yours-and my own-and Uncle Bill's.'
 "How?,
 With the gas plant I've been building, and-and-''
 He hesitated, stopped. 6Navnr r,,irI +ho sell," she said, hurriedly, as she arose to her feet; ssit is late, and there is your own garden to think of. Mine must take it's chances, as it al- ways has done. I thank you---'
 But" interrupted Dick, as he stood up and faced her-sbut"-ho began again-"I-I-"
 Then a sudden comprehension swept through him; he understood her strange expression. The words he would have said died upon his lips. He marched out.
 There must be an unusually hard frost tonight" she thought.
 She looked at the thermometer.
 Eight degrees below zeroi
 She began to feel afraid; she had heard of the damage wrought by cold only tride more intense than this.
 Looking out in the direction of Dick Russells farm, she saw that his orchard was encompassed and crossed by systematic rows of yell low ight-jets, blazing and smoking uncannily in the still air.
 Then the truth came home to her.
 He was not insane. He was mere ly genius. He was right; she was wrong. He had come to her in manly helpfulness, and she had
 The tears came to her eyes. But not for long. Hurrying to the hall, she put on her heaviest boots and warm wraps, and stepped outside. But one thought possessed her--to . find MT. Russell and ask his for giveness. The rest did not matter.
 She found him, as fate would have it-alone.
 Hearing footsteps, Dick raised his head.
 "He1en!"
 \ They looked into each others eyes -hesitating, incredulous, mute.
 Words came at last. sI misjudged you." she said, simply, humbly. That was all.
 That night Dick "did things many things, rapid, clever things. He hurried Aunt William and the two men, Uncle William hurried two horses, and the two horses hurried load after load of spare iron piping to various places on Miss Reming- toms farm. But first, with great joy (and a file), Dick cut wide opening in the fence. Under his vig- orous strokes the wires parted with a vicious, reluctant snap, and the victorious besieger passed through into the promised land. s3as.
 Quickly and deftly the men began coupling the lengths of pipe to- gether; while Dick, with one hand almost frozen, went back to find his lost mitten. Finding it, the pipe laying progressed with greater ra- pidity. Soon the Remington orchard was encompassed and crossed with lines of black tubing laid upon the snow-crust, each pipe-length pierced in the center with a tiny drilled hole.
 Ten degrees below zero!
 Wearied and cold the men stag gered to the gashouse and sank, ex- hausted on the floor. After a short rest Dick consulted the thermometer again.
 Five below!
 i've done it!" he gasped, trium- phantly.
 As weeks and months went by the wisdom of Dicks foolish idea' be- came more and more manifest; and,