Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-10

y'yge. But one good Wreck cured me, an p'raps twill them"
 "Yes," said the old grandfather, laughing half to himself T guess he'll be glad to git back on to the land ag'in."
 T wouldn't wonder If it all turned out for the best" said Louisa, who had come down from the hill with her sew ing.
 But Captain Harding had no doubts on the subject. First thing, some clothes," said he. "Pve heard say there's nothin' succeeds like success, an so you've Gotter look successful An I'll say one thing-if there's any body that'll be credit to fine clothes it's my wife,
 And yet, as his wife walked through the corridors of the Fifth Avenue hotel, after returning from the far west, little awed by the velvet carpets, the satin curtains, the gliding, the mir TOTS, the splendor of the other women, she was conscious of something about herself not as it should be. Her hus- band was all well enough, bluff and ready man of business in a business suit But either she had on too much or she didn't know how to put 1t on. She felt she was unlike these grandes danes who talked and laughed and moved at ease Her hands troubled her and made her uncomfortable; her ? hair lacked the touch. But still she knew it was only a matter of time; she would catch on Charlie, anyway, looked at her with admiring eyes when he had any time to look at her at all. She was more lonesome than at first, for her husband had become entirely absorbed in his schemes.
 Meantime she was seeing the world. It went by her in the beginning like panorama; it almost made her dizzy. Yet, although at last she was part of it and as eager in the rush as any, she was never quite at home in it.
 Captain Harding had indeed had some measure of the luck he had hop ed for, and he was floating the shares of the Nimble Dollar mine in a way that made his wife hold her breath when he reported his successes to her. Ee had been on the ground, he had seen the mine, he knew what he was talking about, he was not anxious for too large a price, and he came out of the transaction with small fortune.
 Now he said, If I did what my folks and yo--' folks. would approve of I should this down to grass that means interest-and go home and build a house with bow winders and French roof and be the rich man of the region.'
 "Yes," said Grace.
 But you believe in me, don't you" asked he anxiously.
 "Yes." said Grace.
 You'd like to see me one of the mil lionaires? I've as good a right to big money as the best of 'em, and I'm goin' in for it. I'm goin' into Wall street in earnest" And Captain Harding had a sense of assured success which made him the happiest, best natured and busiest man alive. "'Tain't luck" he 1 said to his wife. Its long head. I'd 1 look pretty hidin' such knack of busi-
 ness in the corner store. wouldn't l? ! And as for you, I'm proud of you ev- ] cry day"
 ! But Mrs. Harding was not proud of 1 herself. She would not let her husband
 know 1t, but she felt herself wholly unequal to meet the women of society
 with whom her husbands affairs brought her into some association, in- ! vited now and then to their houses, to their opera boxes-women who had ac- uuaintance with each other. with for eign life, who knew what to do and how to do it and who without the least { ill feeling often overlooked and ignored her and made her feel herself out of 1t. l She sent home boxes of gowns and oth- CT things to Louisa and her mother (of which in their private talks they said { they would have preferred her own things to make over for themselves,
 without dreaming how unsuitable they
 would be-, and she sent grandma ] gray silk wrapper in whose ruffies and i lace she would look like little old ! flower, as Grace pleased herself by ! thinking. and she sent her grandfa- i ther a fur coat and wonderful meer- i schaum pipe. She had a feeling that such things were. as her husband ] phrased 1t. so much to the good. Now | and then she sent her father a little
 money, but she did not have much money. Captain Harding needed all ! his ready mopey. but she had generous | credit-and bills. Pile 1t on.' said | her husband. "One must look success ! full In order to be successful, you ! know,''
 I They still lived at the hotel. where | they had what seemed to her royal rooms. although she never grew used | to them. and. although entertaining there those who accepted their invita- ! tions. she always had sensation that | one day those people would find her out | for a fraud.
 ! She laughed sometimes when she saw
 herself in the glass. with her bare 1 shoulders and jewels. her satin and [ lace and nlarshOu, with a kind of
 mockery. But she never let her hus- ! band know that this was not what her soul Ionged for. that she was afraid of 1 the other women or that she felt al.
 their own new way of life to he of very
 uncertain tenure.
 She did not have so much chance as . As... Na,- .E rrsT