Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-11

didn't wait for him to finish, but valued right in. I danced straight up to that side of beef with the diamonds still on it, and flinging my arms about her turned coy eye on the bishop.
 You said your wife was out of town, daddy" cried, gayly. Have you got another wife besides mum my"
 The poor bishop! Do you think he tumbled? Not bit-not a bit. He sat there gasping like fish, and Mrs. Dowager Diamonds, surprised by my sudden attack. stood bolt upright, about as pleasant to hug as-as you are. Tom, when you're jealous.
 The trouble with the bishops set is that it's deadly slow Now, if had really been the bishops daughter-all right. I'll go on.
 "Oh, mummy" went on, quickly. You know how said it, Tom-the way I told you after that last row that Dan Christensen wasn't near so good looking as you-remember? "Oh, mummy, you don't know how good it feels to get home. Out there at that awful college. studying and studying and studying, sometimes thought I'd lose my senses. There's a girl out there now suffering from nervous prostration. She worked so hard re pairing for the mid-years Whats her name? can't think-I can't. think, my heads so tired But it sounds like mine. lot like mine. Once-1 think it was yesterday-I thought it was mine, and I made up my mind sud denly to come right home and bring it with me. But it can't be mine. can it? It can't be my name she's got. It can't be, mummy, say it can't. say it can't"
 Tom, ought to have gone on the stage I'll go yet, when you're sent up some day. Yes, will, You'll be where you can't stop me.
 couldn't see the bishop, but the dowager-oh, I'd got her Not so bad an old body. either. if you only take her the right way. First, she was sus- picious. and then she was scared. And then. bit by bit, the stiffness melted out of her. her arms came up about me. and there was, lying all comfy, with the diamonds on her neck boring TO- settes in my cheeks. and she a-snifdtng over me and batting me and telling me not to get excited. that it was all right. and now I was home mummy would take care of me, she would, that she would.
 She did. She got me on to a lounge, soft as-as marshmallows, and she piled one silk pillow after another be- hind my back.
 Come. dear, let me help you of with your coat" she cooed, bending over me.
 "Oh. mummy, it's so cold! Can't I please keep it on?"
 To let that coat of me was to give the whole thing away. My rig un- derneath, though good enough for your girl. Tom, on a holiday, wasn't just what they wear in the square. And, dye know, you'll say it's silly, but had a conviction that with that coat should say good-by to the nerve I'd had since I got into the bishops carriage-and from there into society. let her take the hat, though. and could see by the way she handled 1t that it was all right-the thing; her kind, you know. Oh. the girl got it from had good taste. all right.
 closed my eyes for moment as lay there and she stood stroking my hair. She must have thought I'd fallen asleep. for she turned to the bishop. and holding out her hand, she said, softly:
 My dear. dear bishop, you are the best-hearted, the saintliest man on earth. Because you are so beautifully clean-souled yourself, you must par. don me. I am ashamed to say it. but shall have no rest till I do. When saw you in the carriage downtown with that poor. demented child. thought, for just a moment-oh. can ysu forgive me? It shows what an evil mind I have But you, who know so we'll what Edward is, what my life has been with him. will see how much reason I have to be suspicious of all men."
 shook. laughed so hard. What [ corker her Edward must be, See Tom. poor old Mrs. Dowager up in the square having the same devils luck with her man as Molly Elliott dowr ! in the alley has with hers I wonder if you're all alike. No, for there'i the bishop. He had taken her hant | sympathetically, forgivingly. but hi ! silence made me curious. 1 knew h. wouldn't let the bid lady believe fo a moment I was luny, if once he coul' ] be sure himself that wasn't fo' lie. Tom Dorgan. he wouldn't! We'll | But the poor baby. how could he ex ] pect to see through a game that ha caught the dovager herself? Still. could hear him walking softly towar me. and felt him looking keenly dow at me long before opened my eyes.
 When I did. you should have see him jump. Guilty he felt coul see the blood rush up under his eleal thin old skin. soft as baby's. to fin himself caught trying to spy out n secret
 just looked. bie-eyed. up at hin You know: the way Molly's kid doe when he wakes. looked long. Ion time. az though was puzzled.
 Daddy" I said. slowly. sitting ul "You-vorI are my daddy. ain't you2