Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-04

alone knows how well understand it. v.
 T am glad you see it so, the other replied. Ut might have been better if you had seen 1t so years ago. But all that Is of the past. All have tol say now is that she must not be dis- turbed."
 "she shall never be disturbed-bya me-"
 ':sAnd she must never see you again. a,
 "She never shall"
 "she is free. You have no right now.''
 t'I know" There was a long pause. then the cook added:
 But about Conard? Does she still- care for him?"
 Yes. came to see him to explain. Where Is he2''
 "He has gone.'
 "Gone? Where7''
 esI don't know. He said he was going away. Perhaps forever"
 The other turned aside with bowed head, his heart heavy with disappoint-. ment. The cook watched him for a, moment in silence, then, with an air of greater manliness than he had ever shown, he said:
 Her happiness shall not be further, wrecked. Conard shall know and come back"
 But, how?" the other asked.
 ssI will follow and tell him."
 "You!"
 'Yes. Great Heavens, man, don't you know love her? L."
 He tore himself abruptly away and. ran out to the corral. Five minutes, later he emerged on horseback and set, off across the prairie in the direction Conard mad gone. It was ten miles to the station and only an hour till train time, so there was no time to lose.
 During that ride he recalled many things of the past. He saw himself a young man again, with a promising future, making ardent love to 8 young, and beautiful girl. He recalled an evening in June, when, with the roses in bloom about him, he and she had plighted troth, and sealed the sweet compact with their first kiss. Then, there was that day when they had stood together before the old, minis ter and had been made one. How he had thought that event the crowning one of all earthly bliss!
 Then he thought of what he was doing at that moment, and, with a groan of heart-wrung anguish he cried: f
 For her sake! For her safe!"
 As he galloped into the little town and down it's one street he saw Conard standing in front of the station and the train pulling up. Springing from his horse he ran along the platform and, just as Conard was stepping on the train, laid his hand on his shoul- der.
 Don't go." he panted. "she wants you-here.'
 Conard turned and stared inQuir- ingly at the cook. The train moved on without him. She" To him that could mean but one person in all the world. After awhile he said eagerly:
 What do you mean?"
 Mary the other replied "She wants you. Go back to her..
 Conard grew calmer.
 What do you know of herr" he asked ssHave you seen herr"
 ''Me see her!" Then growing strangely quiet: "No. have not seen her. But 1t is all right"
 How do you know?"
 s'That doesn't matter. I know she loves you. Go to her and make her happy"
 You have no right to say that. She has husband
 The cook shook his head slowly.
 You are mistaken he replied. "she has no husband-not now"
 Conard looked quickly up, wonder ing not more at the cooks words than at the pathos in his voice.
 "I saw her husband with her,'' he said. "He came and placed his arm about her."
 No, not her husband" the cook re- piled Ut was only her father
 "Her father! Then where is her husband?"
 The cooks head dropped and for a long while he was silent. Finally. in low tones he murmured:
 "der husband, he-he is dead"
 AS Conard rode back across the prai- rie there was new hope and new joy in his heart, but on the station platform a man sat all alone, his life dark and barren, and his heart empty of everything save sorrow and regret.
 Looking after Conard, away out across the level plain, the cook slowly shook his head and murmured:
 Dead to her-and soon to be dead to all the world"
 The next day man was found dead on the prairie.
 Conard nor any of the cowboys knew the mans name, so they buried him and set up at his head a board on which was carved the single word, "Chucky.'' Mary never saw him, so she never knew that he had ever been anything to her; but ar old man looked on the dead face and softly murmured to himself:
 "He had his chance. but he failed.