Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-17
Kent1and's
 Devotion .&
By HENRY HUMIsToN.

Van Dolah's house party accepted with great enthusiasm Violet Har- woods proposal that they all go over to the park and skate on the lagoon.
 Kentland looked around the snug lit- tie den on the second floor, with the open grate fire burning cheerily in one corner. He glanced through the half drawn curtains into the billiard room beyond, which was foggy with smoke, and which resounded to the merry click of the billiard balls and the laugh ter of MT. Van Dolah and Judge Stern, who were in the old people'sclass. and, therefore, exempt from going to skat- ing parties when they didn't want to go. Helooked ruefully at the dim little alcove at the head of the stairs and thought of how he had planned, after he had beaten all of the conceit out of MT. Van Dolah and Judge Stern at bill hards and smoked three pipefuls of to- bacco, to sit in this alcove and have a nice, long, quiet talk with Violet. Then he pulled aside the curtain and looked out into the dark winter night with the gaslights faring in the wind and theI snow. sitting gently down. The winter spectacle~was more than he could bear. Kentland groaned and dropped the curtain with a shudder.
 "Tom Kentland," said a voice at the door, 1T think you're an idiot"
 Kentland looked up to where Kitty Clover was standing in the doorway.
 70, thanks" he! said, in his slow drawl. You're too kind"
 ''I don't care, "went on Kitty; "some- body had to tell you"
 "And you; considered yourself the chosen instrument?"
 Well" said Kitty, as she came into the den and sat down by Tom, T really believe am. I have known you so long. O, ages and ages, and because am such an old friand can say things to you that others don't"
 'tSo careless of the others" said Tomp ashe gazed sadly at the sparkling fire.
 'TomS Kitty looked at him severely; 'I know that you are much in love with Violet"
 Fancy" said Kentland.
 "Yes, you are, and there's no use de- nyingit. And know she likes youvery much.n
 Docs she ?" said Tom, $50 much that she looks at me about three times a day. Where is she now, sitting on the steps with that little Harvard boy or singing at the piano while that fell low Towner, or whatever his name is, turns the music and looks like a COW whenever she happens to glance up at him? 2"
 "It's your own fault" said Kitty. "A man is supposed to try and please the woman he loves. He should study what she likes and doesn't like and govern himself accordingly. While you, with all your supposed experience, act as though you didn't know the first prin-, ciples of love making"
 ''No," admitted Kentland, "I suppose I am what they call poor performer"
 Ut would be so easy," went on Kitty. anything else. That is why she likes that Harvard boy, as you call him, and MT. Towner. They are devotion itself, while you-well, you don't know what devotion means"
 Devotion" said Kentland, "means the state of being devoted to any one thing, person or object. Strong att tachment. Ardent love or affection. P. F., of Latin devovere, de-vovere, to-"
 70, nonsense" put in Kitty. "Why can't you be sensible? Other men are devoted to Violet. She has grown to expect it. If man isn't devoted to her then she thinks he doesn't care. You are so exasperating. Now, just the other evening, when we were talking about the fires and the Harvard boy had told how he had rescued chum from the third floor of a blazing dor mitory, and Violet had asked if anyone would rescue her in case the house burnt up, and all the men had eagerly volunteered, what did you say?"
 ''I don't know" said Kentland, shak- ing his head. Something silly, I'll be bound.'
 1T should say it was,'.' said Kitty. "You said you wouldn't rescue her un- less she was in, tobacco warehouse, because you didn't like any smoke ex- cept tobacco smoke. Then, to make it worse, you said you didn't believe in rescuing people anyhow. That that was what fremen were paid for, andh that you belonged to a union and couldn't rescue people because you were forbidden by your rules to do the work of other union men, which included the Amalgamated Bremen and Rescuers' association, and that if this house burned you would be com pe1led to sit in saloon across the, street and watch fat fireman in a gum coat and 8 black helmet carry Violet from out the devouring flames to the safety of the street below.''
 ''WeE, that's what fat firemen are paid for" gently interposed Kentland.
 And, went on Kitty, "it made Violet angry. You might have pretended, anyhow, as long as there isn't the faint est chance of your being put to the test. Now, there's the skating party tonight. It's Violet that proposed to go. Hardly any of the men care about it, but because it's Violet's plan they