Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-12

ter! In the course of a long and hard I struggle with this problem I was sur prised to find myself whistling the Swiss song and wondering how the girl would sing it, wishing that I might hear her, forgetting that she was really Miss Jones, holding her, as I had done from the first, for half remembered personality, distinct enough, if my mind would only grasp 1t.
 "There is nothing in this" said I aloud, and then I laughed at myself, though the expression was really well chosen, for my state of mind was one from which no impulse to action could | arise-it was mere confusion. '".
 The matter was serious, and had no wish to treat it lightly. It might be that I had begun my letter to my father in the wrong strain. Yet knew not how to do better, though surely there must be way.
 There was & knock '"Come in," I said, and Derringer entered. I turned | toward him and at the same time struck nay hand down hard upon my desk.
 Whats the matter?'' asked my vis- itor, startled by the noise.
 
 hit it hard, when one has reached decision" said I, 'is deep pooted in man and may indicate the nature of the most important decisions which our early ancestors were called upon to ! make"
 ''I .see," said Derringer.. ''It was hit him or run, with them. You mean those cave dwelling fellows that didn't dare even to go into their graves without 1 some sort of 8 stone warclub in each hand'' a
 "I admire them for it." I re1oined ''They were not ashamed of their prin- ciples. They were willing to begin hereafter where they quit here, which 1 is the only honest way"
 Derrfnger slowly nodded his head as he sat on the corner of 8 table. l And what was your decision?" he l said.
 ITO ask your advice in difficulty" said I. You are older than I am, and you have the chin of man who never opens his mouth except to eat, drink or speak judiciously. I wish to do precisely the right thing in a delicate matter. must show that I take a certain problem seriously, and yet not too seriously. am stupid about 1t all, and yet I don't want to let my own father know the fact, though he has had ample opportunity to find out the truth in regard to my intelligence"
 "I think you really are taking this thing seriously, whatever it may be" said Derrlnger, "and for that reason am going to invite your confidence. Moreover. from what you told me a while ago and from my subsequent re- dections, have come to the conclusion that am somewhat concerned in the matter. Does it relate to the girl i'll the orchardF' ...
 ''The girl is Miss Jones' said I. "At l least she so desires to be known at present.
 Excuse me-" he interrupted; 'tyou are writing a letter to your father which deals with his desire that you and his ward, Miss sibyl Wayne, shall unite your destinies."
 That's the fact" replied, ''but was not aware that I had ever stated the matter so plainly"
 Tt was easy to guess" said he, ''from what you did state Now. to re- sume, you have decided that the girl in the orchard fs Miss Wayne when she's at home and Miss Jones when she chooses to appear among us here. But, 1 my friend, whoever she is or wherever she is, do you care for herr" ! "I will be perfectly honest with you" said I. "It happened that I met in New York a young lady''- Precisely" said he, land now Lam prepared to give you my advice. Don't l write that letter" Why notT' Because you are all up in the air. I You haven't a foot on earth. Miss l Jones is not Miss Wayne. The girl in the orchard is not Miss Jones, nor is she any one else whom you have had l the pleasure of meeting on these prem J ises." I ''You know who she is p exclaimed. 'T have known for several days" he replied. 'T am not yet ready to tell | you. When am ready, it will be the I last word you will hear from me in 1 some time. Now don't ask me any questions. There is 8 strange compl- cation here, and it may as we'll be 1 solved all at once-perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the next day. Leave 1t to the future. As to the present, don't write that letter. If you have anything to say to your father, ask him to come out here and have a talk.' I glanced out of the window and saw Jimmy Lamoine in the wagon that | went to town.
 Hold on," called to him. "I want 1 you to take a letter in for me-"
 I wrote it in 20 seconds on the lines | that MT. Derringer had suggested