Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-06
A MAIDEN'S .JOUST WITH q THE WORLD V
By HOPPER STOUT
tcopyrisht, 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Co,

IF SHE had dreamed the world was 1 so hard and pitiless she never would have ventured from the shelter of the convent on her Quixotic mission. And had she dreamed how hopeless her mission was she would not have under taken it. But then she was only II and had grown up within the quiet ters, ever watchful that no taint of worldliness penetrated the little domin' ion within their keeping.
 Accident had thrown into her hands information regarding the circum- stances of her advent to the convent and the relationship between her par ents which had led to her separation from them.
 It was only letter intended for oth- CT eyes which had accidentally fallen into her hands. It explained what had puzzled her sorely for many years why neither of her parents had ever been to see her or had sent for her to come to them. It told of blaze of jealous anger on the part of her moth CT, aroused by some incidents in the husbands office. and naughty refusal to explain on his part. It informed her of the separation with agreement on both sides, that neither was to see the daughter and to keep from her the knowledge of their separation.
 The fugitive letter explained, too, the circumstances which had aroused the mothers suspicion--a pure matter of business with client, the nature of which the husband could not in honor divulge at the time.
 'I will seek them out and reunite them" she exclaimed, crushing the let ter in her hand.
 Then she had hastily made up a package of few things necessary for q short journey, gotten all the money she dared ask for on the pretense of desiring to make gift to some chari- table purpose, and quietly slipped away.
 The letter had mentioned the name of certain lawyer, Hiram Stapleton, in the great city nearby, in whose hands funds had been left for her care. She would go straight to him and, of course, he would know where her fath- CT and mother were. He would direct her. The rest would be easys she was sure.
 The ride to the city in the rushing cars had been a great delight to her. She was bewildered and somewhat frightened at the noise and rush and crowds In the city, but clung bravely to the address of Hiram stapleton. The elevator had startled her and the great office with Its clicking typewriters and luxurious somber furnishings, and mysterious private ofices and rows of massive books and clerks and tele- phones filled her with awe, but she chung to her plan tenaciously.
 When the boy brought Hiram Staple ton a card upon which was written ''Miria Lansing" he looked puzzled, then alarmed.
 Send her in," he directed. l So Marian Lansing was ushered into the private office and told the stern faced old lawyer of her plans and pur- l poses. M
 My dear girl" he exclaimed in alarm, when she had finished. 1t is impossible, worse. than Quixotic. You must not think of such 8 thing. The sisters were very careless to allow you to leave. I shall look into 1t. A young girl like you to be travelling about the country alone-especially In the city, 1t Is scandalous. Let me see, how old are you?''
 "sevepteen," she replied, with spirit. "Quite old enough to see my mother and father and explain things to them. Where are they? Oh, tell me where they are?"
 Tt is impossible replied the lawyer again. .The agreement was plain that neither should see you until you were 21. am charged with your care, too, This is very unhappy affair. You must return to the convent at once l will so with you myself and take this matter up with the mother superior. Let me see. There is a train at 4:30. We have just time to catch 1t. You must not do such an indiscreet thing again"
 With her heart full of grief and an- ger, she accompanied him down the elevator and into the carriage he sum- moned. On tue way to the depot she recovered her possession and renewed l her resolution to reunite her parents She had made a mistake and fallen into the hands of the enemy. She must es- cape and readiust her plans. At the I depot the lawyer went to the ticket window to purchase the tickets. Ap- preciating her opportunity she darted out o& the door and into an electric 1 street car about to start Looking back she laughed to see Hiram Staple I ton rush out of the door of the station and look wildly in every direction
 Realizing her ignorance of the city she resolved to ask policeman where she could safely seek shelter for the night. Realizing also the danger oi pursuit, she changed her name and in vented story about coming to the city to seek employment. She was directed to very decent place, where lodging was secured for nominal price and then she figured out a new campaign | Chn Ix,1nuy 4hn ,YhIIrh xuhnrn hn,. 4s