Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-30
THE INITIATION
By BELLE mANIArEs
ecopyr.sht, lsos, by Daaly seory rub. oo.,

By BELLE MANIATEs A
 tcopyrsRht lso4, by Daily Story Pub. O., TT ELLEN WHITE, most becomingly
 gowned, came into the music room after dinner, shaded the lights, turned on the gas logs and arranged the music on the piano.
 Nell, see you are making elaborate preparations to receive callers, said her brother Fred, banteringly. T am sorry to convey to you the disappointing intel- ligence that there Is no prospect of your receiving a call to-night-that is, from a man. All the men you know are other wise engaged" a
 Helen's face fell perceptibly.
 "Oh, Fred, what is going on?"
 Cant tell you"
 ''Stag?"
 s'Nell,,' he laughed, putting on his outer coat and taking a cap from his pocket, you always ask too many aues- tions. Would 1t give you ray of com- fort if I told you 1t was purely stag 2?
 But Helen swept from the room with. out condescending to speak further on the subject. Fred was surely the most provoking of brothers. He was so mean about introducing her to the new man, 7 Wendell Lane, who was friend of Fred's He was not a society man. so she had no prospect of meeting him at dances. He was extremely good looking and so desirable in every way, but Fred i. a S r,,,,,1xr x.n@,,und oIl hA~ an1ronf- ies to bring him to the house. ,o Ir
 He doesn't care for girls sensible fellow--and besides you've turned down hard two or three of my friends whom I have introduced to you."
 CT wonder what's on tonight" she thought, going to the library window and fiattening her face against the pane. Through the dusky gloom she discerned Fred's vanishing figure faintly outlined. He wasn't going toward the street. but across the lawn. m
 ITO the stable!" she thought ..And the cap! He only wears that when he drives or goes on expeditions Perhaps he is only going for a drive with some other man and said that about no one's calling to tease me"
 She hoped devoutly that some one would call. The time was so propitious. Her father and mother were away on n journey and now Fred out for the eve- ming. She did everything she could think of to pass away the time of that awful interval from seven to eight--the hour of suspense. She read the evening paper, played the piano abstractedly with her foot on the soft pedal that she might hear the doorbell. Finally she went up- stairs to see what her little brother Tom was doing. She found him putting on his coat and hat. \
 "Why, Tom, where the you going7"
 .'Out with some fellows. Mother said might have one night out, you know. ]"
 "Yes. Everyone is having a night out but me-" said his sister, with g mirthless laugh.
 Well, guess Fred'll be back soon. . said Tom, consolingly.
 What makes you think so?" she asked. curiously.
 You just look in the den and you'll see," he replied, with chuckle.
 Helen quickly sought Fred's den and gazed in consternation at the prepara- tions and supplies for spread that she encountered.
 "The plot thickens!" she thought, fol- lowing Tom down stairs. He went out the front door and from the window she saw him, too, cross the lawn and go in the direction of the barn.
 Well" she exclaimed to herself, "the whole White family seem to be drawn barnward. think I had best follow suit''
 She sat down for few minutes to plot and ponder. Fred had evidently planned sub rosa feast, else he'd have asked her to help in the preparations. He prob- ably counted on returning after her re- tiring hour, which was early when there were no callers. It occurred to her that he was going to drive first. We'll, she could prove or disprove that suspicion right away.
 She stole out across the lawn, down the graveled walk, around the curve and out to the stable which was at considerable distance from the house. It was entirely deserted, She had a key with her and easily found a lantern in the carriage room. investigation showed her that the team of dapple grays were quietly resting, as was Fred's own horse.
 She locked the door and extinguished the lantern. When she came out she was startled to see three or four men come out of the, oldroot cellar. She drew back into the shadows with palpitating heart and felt quite faint from fear until, as the men passed. she recognized Frad'A