Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-21

sHu WILL lHWdxu sE6JOlcluS. where enere is anger there is hope. She left the room saying:
 Now just put those letters in tho wrong envelopes, Peggy, and you'll have things mixed badly enough to suit even you"
 Peggy addressed the envelopes and gayed at them though,fully. She MS small and brown-eyed, with golden hair, and a radiant colnplexion; her smile was entrancing. She picked up the letters and re-read them. Then she calmly tore them to bits.
 Eve notion to do it. she said tc herself. Things are getting mixei They re ready 10 fly off the handle each so jealous of the other! I've got to calm them down. till I can decide which Hike"
 Then she wrote to each man an hon. est, casual, friendly letter, with no trace of filtration, or any sentiment beyond friendship. They were much alike. She told the news, hoped she might see each man sometime before long addressed each as Dear Mr.---'' and signed herself, Sincerely your friend, Margaret Benton
 She deliberately but Bobby's letter into Ned's envelope, and Ned's into Bobby's Each, she thought, would. after proper qualms read the other mans letter. return 1t to her with the assurance that he had not read it, and take fresh heart from her frankly un- sentimental attitude to his rival. Thus would she gain time, and peace. She r,od noi1 hn with relief, and little mischievous glee in her heart
 But she reckoned without her hosts. Up to certain point her calculations were correct however: each /man re- ceiyed the letter belonging to the other, resolved virtuously not to read it, and succumbed in the end, jubilant that the lady of his desire had evidently no love whatever fer rival; each put the letter in his pocket intending to return it, not to it's owner proper, but to Peggy herself For on the spot each decided to run up Friday and sur prise Peggy. Each decided to declare his love, and each, thanks to the letter in his pocket, was sure the other had no chance with her, and was confident of winning. They received these let ters Wednesday.
 About the same time Mrs. Benton wrote note to John Burton, 100 miles north in Clayton.
 Dear Jack: promised to write you when thought 1t would do you any good to come. think this is the time. When a girl finds it hard to choose 7 between two men, it is ten to one she wants a third man, and doesn't know 1t. You are the third man, and the right one. Yesterday Peggy grew very angry when mentioned Nell Forest. Hadn't you better explain?A Do it by force if necessary; make her listent She deserves punishment for her treat ment of you. And am SO tired of having Ned and Bobby about! Sim cerely yours,
 ELEANOR BENTON" \ Friday came and found Peggy all unconscious of three approaching sur prises. Jack Burton was speeding along on south bound train; Bobby from the east, and Ned from the west, were complacently approaching her, and-each other. For as fate and poor railway connections would have it. Ned had to pass Bentonville by Is miles, and change cars at Flat Juno tion, where Bobby also changed cars for the city of his lady-love. The trains of both men were late; they missed connections, and met, aston ishedy but friendly, on the platform. It was raining in floods, end there would not be another train till morning. :.
 They took room together at the little place that called itself hotel, and decided to make the best of it- Thus it befell that gradually and eau tiously they compared notes. It all began by Bobby 1pagnanimously re- turning Ned's letter, with the assur- ance that he had not read 1t, by Ned's astonished reciprCcation of the com. pliment. and the perusal by each of his own letter, which ne saw, with dis gusted amazement, was almost the du- plicate of his rivals
 Then there were explanations, and from being angry at each other, they became angry at Peggy for the whole story came out--how each had been to see her every two weeks, and how each hoped to get her now that she had broken with Burton.
 rinally they went to bed, having agreed to give her a thorough surprise Together they would visit her, declare their love almost in unison, and make her choose between them; each was to abide by her decision, and to bear the ' victor no ill-wills They agreed that they had been friends too long to quarrel about girl But in his heart each man was sure that he would sue ceed
 They slept; so did Jack Burton in a Bentonville hotel; and Peggy in her dainty room at home Saturday morn- ing Ned and Bobby, immaculate, and not suspecting the surprise they were to spring upon themselves, sauntered out to Peggy's. They went by the back road to the old orchard. She might be there, and they could take her entire ly unaware. She was there and una- ware of them with vengeance. N As they came to sudden turn in the winding path, they stopped and