Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-28

E X e 5 < tempt, but couldn't help noticing that the flush deepened.
 We'll, as it's not Mollie, l" she observed with dignity, "and as you've called on purpose, perhaps you'll be obliging enough to tell me who tis, so that may congratulate or condone with you, as the case may be-
 You'll condone," said I, with conA viction.
 F'Why, p1ease?"
 Because she-this girl, who isn't Mollie Richards, you know, doesn't care straw for me--in that way, and the whole thing is hopeless.s' Elva softened instantly.
 How can you tell if you've never asked herr" she demanded. .She may be simply pining away for your sake, If you only knew'-her gaze wandered through the window and settled on a bed of brilliant begonias in the front garden" girls don't always wear their hearts on their sleeves, even in these matter-of-fact days, Monty
 raised my eyes. They had been busily engaged in tracing the pattern of the carpet.
 Do you think it's likely" asked, "that any girl would really fall in love with man twice her age, if--'
 "Oh,l she's young" interrupted Elva, hastily. Do you know. I'm rather glad of that"
 held up deprecating hand
 Please let me finish" I implored. Twice her age, when she's tyrannized over him, teased him and looked upon him as an old fogey for the greater part of her natural life?''
 Elva eyed me sharply. The color came and went in her. cheeks in a way that had never seen 1t before I put my eyeglass in order to better admire the effect.
 You said you'd seen her only once or twice. [ she resumed, severely; but the quiver in her voice robbed the se- verity of any sting.
 waved my hand
 TLovers' license!'' said airily. "T couldn't divulge everything at once"
 If you've known her so long, how comes it that you only well discov- cred the state of. your feelings yester- days"
 ""There is tide in the affairs of men, quoted. Likewise, there is a psychological moment when man sud- denly realizes fact that may have been staring him in the face for years"
 "And that psychological moment oc- cured at Lady Follet's?"
 Occurred at Lady Fo1let's,' I echoed. And then there was a long si- lence.
 I let my eyes wander slowly round the room. They fingered vaguely on the ridiculous blue cats with which Elva adorns her mantelshelf, and skinned the photographs of her numerous ad- mirerss some of them thrust carelessly into the overmantel, and some, the more fortunate, smirking at me from elab- crate frames.
 think Elva,s eyes must have been wandering. too. for they came to am chor at the same moment as mine, and then, without any rhyme or reason, they filled quite suddenly with tears E Now can never see woman cry without feeling that something some- thing drastic must be done at once
 started up, and then the rest seemed to follow as a natural and easy conse- nuence.
 In less time than it takes to chronicle, Elva was crying quietly on my shoulder, and the blue cats were grinning diabol- ical1y from their several coigns of van- tage.
 "And when,'' I asked, after we had become more or less normal, and re- turned to earth once again, when was your psychological moment, Elva?''
 Elva fingered gardenia in my but tonhole-took it out-smelt it, and re- placed 1t carefully.
 When you pretended-I mean, when I thought you were pretending, and that 1t was Mollie Richards, you know" she said, incoherently. ! And the blue cats grinned more than ever, as much as to say: we know something about human nature, though i we are only china. Free Lance.