Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-19
Five Lost Years of Happiness @
By P. K. SYMES

NKR DUDLEY KEITH left his IVZ brougham on returning from a professional call, and stepped into his club.
 Two men whom he knew leaned against the writing table, by which he hurriedly sat down. The younger-an embryo M. D.-owing much of what suc- cess he had attained to Dr. Keith and standing consequently not little in awe of him, was laughing with his com panion, who just then exclaimed:
 "You're an awful seAundrel, Joyce!"
 70, come, Mountfort! That's 8 big word: it's only joke, you know. I haven't the least idea who she may be. "
 Show it to Keith" and before Joyce could remonstrate Mountfort, handing a photograph across the table, said:
 Look at that, Keith; perhaps you know the original? Joyce got it to-day in answer to a matrimonial humbug. tell him he Is an awful cad"
 In silence, with heart liF stone in his breast, Dudley Keith devoured every lineament of the grave, sweet face of the girl he had met and loved two months ago-he, the guest of Col. Norton, and she the orphan companion of the colonePs nearest neighbor, Mrs. Annes- ley. The girl from whom he had parted one month since under the mutual un- derstanding that he would claim an an swer to that, as yet informally spoken question, when he returned, as he meant to do now, in a few days time.
 Risinug to his feet he confronted the two wondering men.
 You are right" he said, between his ! teeth. "None but cad would play such a low, dishonorabIe game! Sit down." he continued to young Joyce, pointing to the writing materials: "in- close and return that at oncei" l And, awed by that tone of authority, the shame-stricken Joyce did his bid ding, and then, still under that stern eye, dropped the letter into the club let ter box and went on his way anathema- tizing his weakness in letting that dom ineering fellow dictate to him.
 And Dudley Keith drove home to his handsome house, within the shadow of the gray pile of the solemn abbey, in a whirl of anger, scorn, and wounded love He had thought her so pure, so womanly! But she was like the rest, ready to sell herself-whether in joke or in earnest It mattered nothing.
 Half an hour later, with fiercely pas sionate gesture, he flung open his desk, and rapidly wrote a letter to Col. Nor ton, excusing himself from accepting his proffered hospitality for the next week, blind to the fact that the substance of that curt note was weighted with cruel force torcrush the sensitive pride and to destroy the sweet dreams of a gen. tie heart waiting, in trustful security, 8 longed-for tomorrow r It is Mrs. Arnold's "at home" five years later. Her gardens are gay with the brilliant colors of nature and of fashion. She herseif-the gayest of all rests moment from her duties as hostess, with her intimate friend, Harry Joyce, now a qualified M. D,
 'T am surprised to see Keith here" he was saying. He is such a recluse, and a veritable misogynist as we'll"
 Really! Nevertheless, I once knew him to pay marked attentions to the 1 companion of an aunt of mine, but he Jailed, unaccounatbly, to put in an ap- | pearance when expected. My aunt told me the story. She was quite disappoint- 1 ed in him, he had gone so far. The girl never married though, to my knowl- edge, she had two good offers"
 You don't say so! Ishould never i have suspected Keith guilty of fir tation. I recollect, some years ago, he gave me the greatest taking down ever had In my life in connection with an unknown lady" MG
 And Harry Joyce related the episode of the photograph.
 What was it like?" Mrs. Arnold gasped, as she paled with fear before a sudden thought.
 70, an awfully nice looking girl in l white, holding violin. Why, what's the matter?"
 "O. what shall do?" faintly articu- lated Mrs Arnold "It was I sent 1t! never thought of harm!" And hastily she told how, to enliven the dullness of a country visit, she had taken from her aunt's album the pho tograph of her "companion," and posted dt in reply to an advertisement. "Just in fun, you know. It was be- fore met MT. Arnold. and was rather wild. I only wanted to see what answer ! would get, but none came. The photo graph was returned at once, without a 7ine-as, of course, you know. o, what can do?"
 Its awfully awkward" muttered Harry Joyce, 'but of course you must give square account. of the thing there's no doubt of that"
 "You mean-teil Dr. Keith? o! Must If"
 That's it. I'm afraid. You see 1t ] looks as if 1t had worked. mischief. Of course Keith concluded the girl had sent 1t herself, and the fellows awfully changed since"
 Tn a quiet glade, apart from her other guests, Mrs. Arnold made her confess sion, nerved to the task by the keen sting of genuine remorse