Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-13

red of her cheeks. It was really becom- ing unbearable. She looked about for the conductor, but did not see him, and there was not vacant seat in the car.
 "To think could have been so mistak- en in him." she thought. ruefully. '1 should have put more stress on the tie. I'll not look for the answer to conun- drums again. I like them better un- solved" Her soliloquy was interrupted by his playfully nudging her with his elbow.
 Say, miss, If you hadn't been so dis tant that young feller'd got a quarter out O me"
 She drew away from him with undis- guised disgust, and the thrust from her eyes ought to have warned him not to trespass further upon her forbearance. Possibly. it was owing to his impaired vision that he had the audacity to con- tinue
 Have you friends in Kelsey? know lots of folks in Kelsey" he reiterated My two boys live there-they run the laundry--they' re well to do, both of 'em. My wife's been gone some time-' an effective pause-'and now my daugh- ter's married, it's terrible lonesome life 1 have up there at Sand-Bur Settlement I've got good business-but business ain't everything there is to life. I've got a good house and lot all paid for, too. The paints wore off the house some, but I could paint 1t up little Say, miss, you might do worse than to take mel"
 The denouement was so startling and ridiculous that Miss Kimball found her anger and annoyance giving way to de- sire to laugh. But she managed to gath CT up what shreds of dignity she had left and turn upon him.
 If you address another word to me, sir, you will oblige me to give up my seat, and I shall report your impotence to the conductor, she said so emphat- ically that the words carried conviction. He gazed at her in dumb amazement.
 Well, I'll be hornswaddled!" he ejac- ulated, finding it incredible that anyone could withstand his blandishments. As Miss Kimball showed no sign of relent- ing, he jerked himself together and rose to the occasion. .
 "I won't make you give up your seat, " he said, magnanimously. "I1l give up mine" .-a "That will suit me perfectly" she re- sponded, with uncompromising severity. Miss Kimbal1 was beginning to breathe more freely, and had half composed 8 most interesting "bread and butter letter to the friend whom she had been visiting (there are always compensa- tions if one looks for them-the disagree able experience would afford her friend at least two pages of amusement) when the unmistakable lisp again sounded in | her ear. ! Miss. I've got to get off in a minute; we're most to Sand-Bur Settlement. tell you, you might do worse. I'll give l you & chance to reconsider" "I do wonder where the conductor is.' ? 1 said Miss Kimball. She must have been talking to herself, for she neither saw nor addressed anyone in particular. | The gentleman from Sand-Bur Settle ment evidently gave up the situation He shook his head dejectedly, took up his bundle of stuff, least last languishing look upon his fellow traveller, and de- parted.
 | The last Miss Kimba saw of him, he was trudging down the country road in the direction of lone, weather-worn house on a sandy plain, and her imag- ination lent to the picture a sturdy growth of sand burs to adorn the lawn.
 That evening Gertrude Kim ball, moi being able to think of better story told her afternoons adventure to g group of interested friends, while hel bunch of faggots in the grate snapped and crackled cheerful accompaniment
 "In these days and at your age, Ger. trude?" insinuated one of the audience l at the close of the tale.
 "Yes, and he was undoubtedly disposed to be generous. He was willing to buy 6 whole quarters worth of candy instead of a measly little ten-cent bag" sait another. .-t.
 And house and lot all paid for! Jus think of it!" exclaimed a third.
 Do you suppose can have lost m, last chance?" sighed Gertrude.
 And she watched her faggots dream fly as the greedy flames consumed tht last of them. In their dying embers he7
 solitaire flashed lustriously.
 BIG LOAN TO CUBA.