Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-19
HOW THE SERGEANT
 FELL IN LOVE
By F. Fl. MELOON
toopyrishs. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Go,

Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. co-a
 noLICN SERGEANT JAMES BRY-
 AN, with the humorous twinkle of the ancient O'Briens in his eye, sat fac- ing me in a restaurant stall.
 T was younger once than ami now," remarked the sergeant, suddenly.
 This was a truth I could not deny, though anyone who saw the sergeant at e5 would have placed his age 2 score of years behind what it really was. With 8 half laugh the sergeant, who never hesitated at telling story on himself, proceeded.
 'The days when I first got accustomed to life on the force were full of fun and frolic. Some hardship, of course, but for the most part was about as light hearted a chap as could be picked out in any county in New Hampshire. I was the same sort of fool that many young man had been before me and has been since, and when I looked up to the sec ond story window of house on Essex street and saw Blanche Stirling smiling down at me my heart went faster than ever and walked giddily for quarter of mile thereafter. should have stopped stock still right on the spot, but as soon as I caught a glimpse of her black-brown hair combed up in great wave over her forehead and saw her pret- ty lips part in one of the most taking smiles of pearl I've ever seen the vision vanished behind curtain and saw 1t no more for three or four days. aas.,,trls
 In the meantime wore my back col lar stud in front, mixed up my cuff but tons, went without my suppers and all that sort of thing trying to get off to catch another glimpse of Blanche. I had learned her name within an hour of the time first saw her looking down at me and learned, too, that she lived alone with her mother in the upper part of the tenement. AS pretty as picture didn't express anything in speaking of her un- less you added that it WE 3 picture by one of the old masters, B. .'
 But, sir, If you could see her to-day as she was then, you would understand. As it is I can hardly tell you any more of how she looked to me, and not to me alone, sir, but to others as well, who gazed upon her in the old days.
 'In the next week passed her on the street two or three times and she did not. SO much as deign to glance at me. I began to think must have been mis- taken in believing I was the object of her smile the week before. But one night as she was walking home unescort- ed Blanche Stirling was accosted by a half-drunken fellow. In an instant, as 1t were, had him by the collar and he was thrown into the street with no gentle hand. I can be tolerable rough at times, sir" And Sergeant Bryan smiled as he bent his right arM in the manner pecu- liar to youngsters who show off their muscle"
 Then came another of those entranc- ing smiles, and I tell you, sir. l actu- ally felt faint all over. Just the way Elijah must have felt when they lifted him up to heaven in 8 golden chariot Branche thanked me very prett3ly and invited me to call at the house the foi- lowing day, if were off duty, in order to allow her mother the opportunity or thanking me more fully. You may be- lieve that I accepted the invitation with an easerness that she saw was too real to be assumed.
 The man who wouidn't have yielded to that invitation under the same circam- stances would have had to have a harder heart than the folks in Seabury, of whom 'tis current rumor that they stone the funerals that pass their doors so that in that place no undertaken can be hired to use an ordinary sort of hearse, sir.
 "Ths next day che Widow Stirling re- ceived me pleasantly and might gay al-
 most overwhelmed me with her efgusive thanks for what I had done for her daughter, which was mere nothing, sir, and all in the way of my duty as an off, cer, not to add as man, sir.
 The days passed on and met Blanche frequently going with her to theaterB and dances and such like and all the while getting deeper and deeper in love
 calf love. mind you, for I'd never loved hefore--and I felt just like rat in a feather mattress that can't tell where he's at till he's come out of it. air.
 "One night when passed the house and saw Ned Remich in the sitting room beside Blanche I grew nearly frantic with jealousy. I had not counted on 8 rival and the appearance of Ned on the street after that always acted on me like a red rag on goose, sir. Don't look as if I'd made slip; I use the word ad- visedly, sir.
 ''Ned, can say now, was good look ing fellow with black curly hair cut go that 1t seemed as if he had cap on when his hat was of, if you came up be-