Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-10

ClOtuGB lIVm LWS BtOIO AVVAs " KAVSSSr them from the dirt and damp.
 Presently Percival found himseli again at the bottom of the shaft Dur. ing the descent of 1,200 feet he had reelected upon the curious and inter. eating fact that her name should bs Milbrey. He felt dimly that this car 'cumstancs should be ranked among the most interesting of natural phe- nomena-that she should have q name as the run of mortals, and that t should be one name moro than an other ,When he discovered further that her Christian name was Avice the phenomenon became stupendouSly be. wildering. !. They two were in the last of the party to descend. On reaching bottom he separated her with promptness and guile from two solemn young men. copies of each other. and they wers presently alone. In the distance they could see the others following ghostly lamps. From far oil mysterious re- cesses came the musical clink of the sledges on the drills. An employs who had come down with them started to be their guide Percival sent him back.
 "I've just bsen through; can find my way again.
 "Ver' we'll" said the man, with tho exception that 1t don't happen some. thing-yes?" And he stayed where ha was.
 Down one of the crosscuts they started, stepping aside to let car oi ore be pushed along to the shaft.
 Do you know" began the girl, T am so glad to be able to thank you for what you did that night"
 I'm glad you are able. was be, ginning to think l should always have those thanks owing to me"
 T might have paid them at the time, but 1t was all so unexpected and 50 sudden-it rattled me. quite"
 T thought you were horribly cool. headed"
 T wasn't"
 Your manner reduced me to . groom who opened your carriage door,
 But grooms don't often pick strange ladies up bodily and bear them out of a pandemonium of waltzlng cab horses I'd never noticed before that cab horses are 50 frivolous and hysterical."
 And grooms know where to look for their pay"
 They were interrupting nervously, and bestowing furtive side looks upon each other.
 '.If I'd not seen you" said the girl, glanced at you-before-that evening, I shouldn't have remembered so we'll; doubtless I'd not have recognized you today"
 .I didn't know you did glance at me, and yet I watched you every moment of the evening You didn't know that, did you?"
 She laughed.
 '.Of course knew it. A woman has to note such things without letting it be seen that she sees"
 And I'd have sworn you never once 70 much as looked my way
 Don't we do 1t we'll. though?"
 And in spite of all the time gave to q study Of your face. lost the de- tail of #. could keep only the effect of itY expression and the few tones of your voice heard You know took those on a record so couiI make 'em play over any time wanted to listen. Do you know. that has all been very sweet to me, my helping you and the memory of it-so vague and sweet. .
 Aren't you afraid we're losing tho others?"
 She halted and looked back.
 "No; I'm afraid we won't lose them; come on; you can't turn back now. And you don't want to hear anything about mines: 1t wouldn't be at all good for you, I'm sure. Quick, down this way, or you'll hear Pangburn telling some one what a stope is, and think what a thing that would be to carry in your head"
 Really. a stope sounds, like some thing that would get you in the night! I'm afraid!"
 Half in his spirit she fled with him down a dimly lighted incline where men were working at the rocky wall with sledge and drill There was that in his manner which compelled her quite as literally as when at their first meeting he had picked her up in his arms
 As they walked single file through the narrowing of drift. she wondered about him. He was western. plainly. An employe in the mine. probably . manager or director or whatever it was they called those in authority in mines. Plainly. too. he was . man of ] action and a man who engaged all her instinctive liking. Something in him at once coerced her friendliest coni- dence. These were the admissions she made to herself. She divined him, moreover. to be a blend of boldness and timidity. He was bold 10 the point , of telling her things unoonventionally, of beguiling her into remote under. kIfA&z1