Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-13

plained sufficiently the sudden extinc. tion of the fire which had puzzled me. It needed no more than pull upon the chain to send the fire down into the rift. .'.'..;<'" ..~> +.@
 Behind the rearward powder the ledge rose ten feet, rounded like the inside of a cup and from it's summit there was a gentle slope to meet the descending grade of the orchard. At the little cliffs foot was a singular conformation of the rocks where one might recline in great comfort, and upon taking my place there discov- cred that it was possible to look out upon the lake without being greatly dazzled by the fire and still be almost entirely shielded from observation.
 This intrusion was most agreeable sin, thing to enjoy in the doing and be pleasantly ashamed of afterward. I lay some minutes in this nook of the rocks, curious to reconstruct our little romance as the girl had seen it. saw how the freight was screened by the rocks so that I had not been able to discern it until I had drifted into the proper field. In the same way my boat must have appeared suddenly to one sitting there. I was fattered by the idea that she had watched for it.
 In the midst of this thought I expe- rienced a sensation familiar to every one, but almost beyond rational ex- planation-the consciousness of being observed. I neither saw nor heard; my own senses gave no tidings-the five with which we are ordinarily credited. With what faculty we apprehend an- other persons observation of us have never been able to guess. It happens, however. It happened then.
 I glanced upward. The curving lip of the ledge made a clear gray line up- on the sky There was a singular f1lu- sion of height; the rock lowered above me as I lay almost prone. Then sud denly I was aware of something dut- tering downward. It startled me be- cause it seemed to be falling all the way from the sky. I thrust up my hand and caught rose, also very large and competent thorn, but that is a matter of no consequence.
 In an instant I was upon my feet, posed like the lady martyr in the fa- miliar picture of ''The Last Token" looking, as she did, for my love who had flung the rose. forget what luck she had in this matter, according to the legend. As for me, had none. Even when I had scaled the rock I saw not so much as the hutter of a skirt among the shadows of the orchard. One thing, however, I saw clearly enough in the light of the moon. The rose was one of those that had gath cred on Copperhead hill. >,>s @ a,@.:t
 It may have been nearly Il o'clock when I got back to the house. There was a man sitting alone on the door steps of my segment of the structure, and when he lifted his face to the moon I recognized Scovel.
 Been out on the lake, suppose" said he. Another serenade, ehg' ..:
 Then he began to laugh, softly, nerv- ously, as if he didn't mean to do it. A half consumed cigar, fell from his fin gers, and he put his foot upon it. ."...
 Come inside" said I, "and get a fresh one."
 "Thank you," he replied, eve smok- ed enough"
 Yet he arose with alacrity and fol- lowed me into my room. ...
 Perhaps you. smoke when you're nervous, as I do,'' said L. For in stance, if I were, wandering over that hill and had seen two or three snakes"-
 Two or threer' he echoed, throwing up his hands.
 "So you were there? I was sure of it. And I know why you went"
 His countenance expressed increduli- ty, but something that he saw in mine seemed to convince him.
 Well" said he, with faint note of defiance, what do you think of it?''
 q don't think it was quite right" I replied
 ''Now, look here.' said he, ''how long was I to go on in that way? How long was I to permit myself to be a com plete idiot about girl without know ing whether she was black or white?'
 Did you see her?' I asked.
 He arose from his chair and tried an other, arising again to walk to the mantelpiece for 6 match, though there were plenty on the table beside him in plain view. He struck the match and then forgot to light the cigar that I had given him.
 "I've enjoyed this foolishness," he said. That's the main thing, after all. The emotions were given us for self deception. We were to use them wise ly to gloss over this world, for the plain sight of it would drive us away. It is love that makes woman beautiful; love in us, you know. It isn't really neces- sary to see them.''
 Tn that case" said I. "why did you go out on the hill with those fieldglass- es? Your philosophy must have chang ed since morning. :"
 Not my philosophy" he rejoined, .tbnt there's limit |