Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-08
A COUPE COMPLICATION
toopyrlsAA, bod. by pally ss0rz Fub. Oo.l
BELLE 1GAM11ATES

l N the tender dusk of an evening in ! the early spring. Vivian Warne called informally upon her friend, Mrs Allen. They chatted for few mo ments and then Vivian resisted all urging to remain longer, pleading an order of menu cards to be delivered to Mrs. Van Altern. who lived on the other side of the city.
 When she came out into the soft darkness she found the unstirred air full of a vapory mist 90 deadly to plumed millinery. She went back into { the house. which was one in a block | of stone fronts, to telephone for car riage. Mrs. Allen regretted the ab- l sence of her coachman, but Vivian was accustomed to livery accommodations. l Presently young Ned Allen came in 1 and brought the information that the I carriage was waiting at the door. l Vivian made a second exit, but when she went out to the curb the driver I remained In his seat.
 Awful lot of agony for a cabby, she thought. as she opened the door of the coupe. T wonder if he thinks I have 8 footmanl"
 Drive to 1215 Fifty-fourth street, :" I she commanded.
 He made no response. but held his l gaze strictly front" with the hxedness of a Tommy Atkins on parade. Stephens & Go. are getting too swell l for me-" she reflected, as she seated l herself and slammed the door. What lovely appointments for livery! I hope they haven't increased their rates along with their style"
 She leaned luxuriously back in the corner of the coupe and dreamed of the l time when the golden days of fame I should wait her from an artist In em- bryo to a painter of portraits. She was called to reality by the halting of the carriage. Supposing she had reached her destination she opened the door and discovered that she was in an en- tirely different part of the city and that the coupe had stopped in front of l the Atheneum club.
 "I didn't suppose Stephens Go ever made one coupe answer for two calls" she reflected, as she closed tha door, sbut don't mind having lon ger ride"
 Tn a moment q man came out of the l club and stood where the light fell full l upon his handsome face. Vivian ut tered little exclamation of dismay l and sank farther into her corner. A year ago she had been engaged to Car ton Leigh. They had first met at a l house party and afterwards she had visited a friend who lived in his city. There had been some sort of a misun- derstanding and he had declared that l she alone was entirely to blame and must make the first advances toward reconciliation. Of course no self-re- specting woman would do that. and she had therefore returned the ring that had once gleamed upon her third 1 finger and had devoted herself to stu dio life and many backward glance tinged with regret but fortified by steadfast resolve to never make any overture She had heard recently from their mutual friend that he was to make this city his home. but she did l not know that f19 had arrived.
 She was seized with apprehension. Was he going to get in this coupe? She would not speak until he did. He opened the door and started to get in. She had turned her face away from him, but she felt his start of surprise.
 Then she heard him say, in his we'll bred, modulated tones:
 T beg your pardon!"
 I There! He had spoken first. and J with little air of triumph she faced him, the light in front of the club shining full upon her face as 1t had on his moment before.
 "You! vivian" he said.sin voice {. chat thrilled old memories and feel ings. In an instant he was seated beside her. the door had damned shut and they were away.
 l ''This is too good to be true." he said, joyfully. l q ordered carriage from the Mv- cry" she said, stifiy, "and they evi. dently thought 1t would answer for your order. too"
 "Oh, that was the way of it. he said. Well. am glad of the mis- take but, are you In much of a hurry? ? If not, am going to ask favor of you. It Is very, important chat see l a man on business who leaves the cen- tral depot at 1880. and there Is just time to make it.'
 "Oh, certainly" she answered. coldly. "It makes no difference,r
 s.sTt makes no difference, you mean, whether you ride one block or a hun dred. Are you as indifferent as that, Vivian?"
 She made no response. Presently he broke the silence.
 "Dtd you know that was living here, in this city, now, Vivian?"
 "No: why did you move here?"
 ''Well. you know my. father has more to say about the business than I, and when he decided to move here tII could not tell him that 1t would be very distasteful to Vivian Warne was afraid 1t would not be business like consideration to him"
 She resented his sarcasm. and he in, terrupted another silence:
 s'I have been here a week, Vivian,