Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-04
The Intervention of "a Kindly Fate @ *
Copyright, 1908, by Daily story Pub O.,
By JOHN RAINE

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 Copyright, 1908, by Daily story Pub oa>
 r HE waiter-girls were piling chairs
 atop of the cleared tables, the cashier was arranging her money, the few remaining diners were preparing to depart. Y Esther Newton, listening to the story of her companion with faint smile and wide, impenetrable eyes fixed on the outer darkness beyond the bril- liantly lighted street windows, slipped her black coffee with apparent placidi- ty but an inward feeling closely akin was far more thrilling than that which her companion was relating. Hers was rapidly approaching dramatic climax which his was not.
 Nearly year before-to take up her story-Esther Newton, lest free and all but penniless--by the sudden death of her father, had come to the city with ten dollars in silver and & port folio of clever drawings for capital. A sublime hope and confidence, support ed by almost incredible ignorance of the world and her possible chances, had upheld her in the beginning; the draw ings, by good luck, had taken the fancy of & certain newspaper editor. The moderate success that followed seemed to the delighted girl most delightfully."- certain. Sure, and safe, as she be- lieved, in the present, she had lived in the present only, saving never pen ny. When, with a suddenness as nat xro1 a aIY 0S "a hars markable, the editor who liked her work was supplanted by the editor who didn't, her income suddenly ceased. Six long, dreary weeks of anxiety and bad luck followed, and now, tonight, she was close to despair. -,... .+-.- .-..~
 For six long, dreary weeks her board- bill had been unavoidably neglected. that her room was closed to her until the arrears were paid. "No trunk nor nuthin' till | gets my pay,' the landlady had called after her miserable ex-boarder. Her only con solation lay in the knowledge that a small sum of money awaited her at the newspaper office whither she was going; with this sum she could at least pay a weeks advance board to some other proyider of poor food and lodg- ing.
 Tn the city, however, disappointment awaited her. The editor who had used the pictures was sorry, but he had quite forgotten to make mention of her work on the pay roll. Would she come around next week?
 She went out into the street slow Iy, her face pale and strained and she greeted Bruce Darke, who sud- denly bowed low before her, as one in dream.
 He begged her to dine with him, pressing the request most eagerly. The sister with whom he lived was to be away from home that evening; he hated solitary meal. He reminded the girl that not once, in all the eight months of their friendship born in the studio of mutual acquaintance, had she accepted the smallest. slightest courtesy from him. He did not re- mind her how many courtesies had been offered, extended, but she remem- bering, knew. The stern rules laid down when she entered the city were by no means disregarded, but a certain concession she did make.
 s'I have never dined in public with a man yet" she told him. "but we will dine together tonight if-you will al- N low me to pay my own bill.''
 Because he could not overcome her gcrupulous determinati he agreed, and they went to dinner. A feeling of mild recklessness overlook Esther, and she refused to remember that to dine alone would cost much less than the N ssdollar table d hote" of which they were presently disposing. She enjoyed the meal and the merry conversation moreover, until it was time to go.
 Still, smiling bravely, she slipped from her fiat pocketbook the lonely dollar and pushed it, hidden by her cur-ing fingers, across the table. Tn the reluctant taking, Bruce felt the touch of the little fingers, and, was con- scious of a strange, mysterious thrill He was wondrously happy as he paid the check, adjusted her wraps and led the way to the street. The girl, ap. parently calm and untroubled, evolved a sudden, desperate idea.
 Her companion must be somehow disposed of. Obviously, he could Ii
 take her home, since she bad no home since she knew not where to go. Stay! She would spend the night on the ele vated railways, if nothing untowart prevented. and if her money held out Which line, she wondered, gave the longest ride for one fare?
 You may take me to the neares1 elevated station" she explained t him, sweetly, but with nervous, i'm pasgable desision, ..sbut nQ -Ssrthex