Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-24

never know where it'll lead you. Here was I-just clever little lie or two and the dear old bishop would be hap py and contented again. But no; that fatal habit that I've acquired of tell ing the truth to Fred and you mastered me-and l fell.
 You know. bishop said, shutting my eyes and speaking fast to get it over-as I imagine you must, Mag, when you confess to Father Phelan- that was all a-a little farce-comedy the whole business-all of it-eyery last word of it"
 "A comedy"
 I opened my eyes to laugh at him; he was so bewildered.
 q mean a-a fb; in fact, many of them. I-I was just-it was long ago and I had to make you believe"
 His soft old eyes looked at me unbe- lieving. You don't mean to say you deliberately lied."
 Now. that was what I did mean just what I did mean-but not in that tone of voice. - But what could do? just looked ct him and nodded.
 Oh. Maggie. I felt so little and so nasty. I haven't felt like that since I left the Cruelty. And I'm not nasty, Maggie. and I'm Fred Obermuller's wife. and
 And that put a backbone in me again. Fred Obermuller's wife just won't let anybody think worse of her than she can help-from sheer love and pride in that big, clever husband of hers.
 Now. look here, Bishop Van Wag- enen," I broke out. If were the abandoned little wretch your eyes ac- cuse me of being I wouldn't be in your carriage confessing to you this blessed minute when it'd be so much easier not to. Surely-surely. in your ex- perience you must have met girls that go wrong-and then go right for ever and ever. amen. And I'm very right now. But-but it has been hard for me at times. And al those times sh. you must know how sincerely mean it-at those times I used to try to recall the sound of your voice. when you said you'd like 10 take me home with you and keep me. If had been your daughter you'd have had a heart full of loving care for me. And yet if I had been. and had known that benevolent fatherhOod. l should need it less-so much less than I did the day I begged a prayer from you. Butts all right now. You don't know-do you?-I'm Nance Olden."
 That made him sir up and stare. tell you. Even the bishop had heard of Nancy Olden. But suddenly. unac countably. there came a queer. sad looE over his face. and his eyes wouldn't meet mine.
 looked at him, puzzled.
 Tell me what f. is said
 You evidently forget that you havt already told me you are the wife 0 Mr.-Mr. Ober-"
 "Obermuller Oh. that's all right. I laughed aloud. was 80 relieved 'Of course am. and he's my manager and my playwright, and my secretary and-my-my dear. dear boy. Therei | wasn't laughing al the end of it. never can laugh when try 10 ts' what Fred is to me.
 But-funny?-that won him
 There, there," he said. batting n CT the shoulder. Forgive me. n dear. I am indeed glad to know tha you are living happily. I have ofte thought of you-'
 "Oh. have you?"
 "Yes-I have even told Mrs. Va Tagenen about you and kOE Us attracted to you aEd believsd-ahem.
 -Ch-oh have youI" gave a Eris gle zs I remembered that Maltese lac Maria wanted and that I-ugh!
 But. luckily. he didn't 1Otioe- H had taken ny hand and vas bOkin a; ne over his spectacles in his deal farhsrly old way.
 Tell ne noE. ny dear. is there any thing that zn old eIergyusu can q for you3 I have sa srgzzs1sE. zsa here and we nay not meet again can't hope 0 find y0z in Ey ezrrieg many E0re -fmsz TO1 are hsppF- Fou are living woTthily. chiItt PzrdOi 1 1e. but the s-zg-
 Oh- the gentle courtesy Of his nan ae-. I Ioved his soIicftsds- Father