Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-10-16

not mistake, but she smiled again and called:
 Aren't you going to dance this even- ing? The music is starting"
 He claimed her, later, for waltz and then asked her if she wouldn't rather sit out on the porch, where it was cool and dark
 Very we'll" she said, If you don't enjoy dancing with me. I'm rather tired"
 He chose to ignore her challenge and led her to a corner where they could be alone.
 T suppose ought not" he said, ito drag you away from the count, but this is probably the last chance I'll have and there's one or two things want to say to you. Of course you don't know that there are people around here who have begun to bet on you, do you?"
 T hadn't heard of any such thing"
 "A wager was made little while ago that involves suit of clothes on each side. The announcement of your en- gagement to the count will have to be made within a week, or some one will lose"
 How interesting. Let me see-a suit of clothes is what a gentleman usually bets on an election. isn't it?"
 Its likely to be-"
 T am immensely fiattered. An cleo tion ought to be an important thing. And if what is bet on an election is bet on me must also be important, mustn't I? The count will be amused when tell him about 1t. He will regard 1t as one of our delightful unconventional ities. Oh, that music is too good to lose. Don't you want to dancer"
 The count was waiting for her when they finished, and it was two weeks later when she and Thornton met again.
 Billey Renshaw had won his bet. Her engagement to Count D'Estreville had been announced within the specified time, and her sister, Mrs. Richmond, was one of the happiest women in the world. It was she, in fact, who had heralded the glad news.
 Thornton had taken dinner at the club and was sitting alone in a corner of the big living-room. She stood beside him before he knew that anyone had en- tered. Well" she said. extending hand, aren't you going to congratulate me?"
 q suppose I'll have to, to be polite. But I'm not sure that you are the one to be congratulated"
 "very nice of you to say that-after you've lost"
 "After I've lost-yes. But I've got SO used to losing that don't expect any thing else any more"
 What a pessimisti suppose you're blaming poor old Fate, too"
 No, I don't believe in Fate. It's just case of people. If other people could find happiness in making me happy the whole question would be solved But there's the trouble. To make me happy 1t would be necessary for other people to make themselves miserable So 1 continue to lose"
 Still. l don't believe you would keep on losing if you always really played to win. One can hardly expect to be vic torious when one gives ones game away. Your tailor probably is glad, though"
 'T don't see where he comes in."
 The suit that you will have to pay for. Isn't he going to make it7"
 After he had explained that he had not been party to the wager they sat looking steadily at each other for a long time.
 But" she said at last, you haven't yet convinced me that Epu always play to win"
 There was something in the way she said 1t that brought him out of his stupor. and he caught her hands and held them.
 What" he asked. when she insisted that they must not remain there alone any longer. will the count say7"
 T don't know" she answered with A sigh. Probably he will call 1t another of our delightful unconventionalities." Chicago Reeord-Herald.