Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-18


 count. We were as one, why not?
 She told me about 1t when got home. It seems she had certain misgivings by that time-probably the promptings of subconscious memory of banking mat ters and a cashiers arbitrary require ments in the matter of characteristic signatures. It was too late to do any, thing that night. The bank was closed long ago, and did not think it wise to spend the night in looking up the presi- dent or even the cashier, to explain.
 Besides, such explanations as could invent quickly did not suit me. Iwanted to sleep on the matter and take it up fresh in the morning. Then, maybe, I could make up something that would keep the little woman in the back ground.
 don't think she slept great deal. She had some idea that an officer would be waiting downstairs in the morning, ard that she would never look on our precious ones or her silk waist again. consoled her with the suggestion that while ignorance of the law was regard ed as no excuse, there were certain ex- tenuating circumstances that I thought the precious ones would bard- ly be grown. and that the silk waist might be in fashion again by the time ,she returned to gladden. our hearts once more. Still, there was an uncertainty about the outcome that made the brish. morning, the new waist. and our gen. eral assortment of furnishing goods as ashes to the little woman She was sor- ry now. She wished she had let me buy the chair. We had sn early breakfast
 The barker regarded rue rather doubt. fully when had finished my statement He had known me on both sides of the ledger for some time, but this was a rev phase. y.ak .s
 "You say your-~eh, housekeeper made a check, without full knowledge of the seriousness attaching to the signing of names in that promiscuous way?'' k "I-yes, that's about it." .. I was covering the little woman's identity and 8 lack of knowledge, not altogether unnatural to the sex, but which<I felt that he, as banker. might regard with scorn.
 sOf course" he proceeded, "as one not directly related to you the mat ter appears somewhat more serious Had it been really one of your family now-your sister. for instance, or your" ..
 "Oh, but it's just the same, you know" put in. 'I mean, of course, that she that she's really one of the family-that is, of course, it's all right, I m ean." had not explained my plan to the little woman before starting I had an undercurrent of wonder, now, what she would say if she could overhear my ef- forts to get her decently out of the pitt fall into which her pride had tumbled us. I hoped she was enjoying her new things.
 A clerk brought the check at that mo ment- It had come in from the clearing house, having travelled safely through several miles of circumlocution. The six inches between the bankers hands and mine would be it's hardest tug The banker scrutiniZed the signature se- i verely.
 Rather delicate hand for a-hou.e- keeper, How long did you say she had been in your serrice?" s,
 I named the largest mum Der of years within human limits, and reviewed the proprietary interest she had always felt in our affairs-the amount of receipts and things she was daily called upon to indorse-and gave another and inn : proved version of the episode with the intelligent driver who was willing to give any amount of eoods for my check, but no change, I abused the driver there was no harm in doing that-he wasn't there, and 1t wouldn't have hurt him, anyhow. think the driver saved the situation. The banker took a hand with me, at abusing him. Then we were united against common ene- my, and the little woman was safe. thought she would be fearful and contrite and grateful when arrived with the news that it was all right, and that she was to remain with us. SUD- pose she really was grateful, and know that she was glad, for she went and put on all her new things and was so proud and had such an air that didn't dare for the life of me tell her the Housekeeping" details of my inter view with the banker and have not men, toned them till this day.-Pearson's s Magazine