Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-05

'TBeautirul voice, isn't it?"
 ''I heard 1t when I first came out" said I, "and hSd a vision of an angel flying over the house. Who is it?"
 '-The girl in the orchard" said he. That's the extent of my information. She was here when came day before yesterday. Wanted the place for my self, but it wouldn't work. I told Mrs. Witherspoon that it wasn't safe for girl to live out there all alone, and she said 'M-m-mv or Well, nowv forget which. She always says one or the other. It's blamed sight easier to tell Mrs. Witherspoon something than itfis to get her to tell you anything"
 ''The girl isn't alone in the orchard, said I. HThere's Miss Scott"
 Speaking with all possible respect, rejoined Derringer thoughtfully tits a simple fact that in an emergency good dog is worth dozen old maids. I've been tempted to send her one. Of course she wouldn't accept him."
 Tt is customary to make the gentle mans acquaintance first" said I, and Derringer kicked the stile softly, re- fiectively, as if there might be another
 
 I continued, was to buy some blood and thunder stories-some of these his- torical dime novels that sell for dol lar and half in cloth. An armful of those things ought to drive her out of that cabin in "A hours. But, to be seri- ous, I'd rather she'd stay, though really do want the place very much for myself. The girl is perfect; she fits the orchard even as the blossoms of the trees. I've seen her at a distance, and''-
 Well" said Derringer, as if I had hesitated, what did you think?'
 "Why, nothing in particular" said I, except what I've told you.''
 He had got down from the. stile, and as it seemed to be his intention to re- turn to the house fell in beside him. His room was directly over mine, and at my invitation he inspected my quar- ters before ascending to his own. When I struck a light, it happened that the print of Sibyl was lying on the table beside the lamp, though I had SUD- posed that had put it away. I se- Derringer glance at 1t and start.
 Any one you know?" queried.
 He took it uD.
 Charming girl" said he, ''for much as one may see here"
 When n photographer takes the back of girls head" said I, ''the cir cumstance is suspicious
 "T've seen her somewhere" said he. ''Would it be intrusive to inquire"-
 "Not the least in the world. She is 1rr 1NxyfN fathers ward from her youth"
 Derringer shook his head.
 ''I can't have had the honor of meet ing her," he said. q always remember names much better than faces. She's not staying here? Well, that's odd.''
 He turned to his study of the picture
 'It's matter of perfect certainty" he went on, "that I've seen this young lady recently-within a day or two, I should say, yet the times uncertain. She hasn't been out here? would have said"-
 He paused and stared up at the cell ing.
 Strange how one forgets''- he be- gan.
 ''The picture doesn't show much ex. cept an ear," said I.
 He tapped the print lightly with his finger.
 Its the hat" he said. Pretty bit of millinery, isn't it? I have an eye for such things, though you'd hardly believe it. Yes, sir" he added slowly, "I'ye-seen-that-h hatm
 He seemed to take a deeper interest than the facts warranted. By my way of thinking the matter was of impor- tance to me rather than to him. How ever, he was not in possession of all the facts, and could not know my mo- tive for treasuring this picture. had contented myself with explaining to him that there was a young woman in the world whom I wished to meet with a perfectly free heart and mind, and that therefore had come to Mrs. Witherspoon's for the purpose of shak- ing off a certain fascination, spell of modern witchery, under which had fallen.