Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-26

two small wrinkles of impatience out of her brow, tucked her letter into her bosom, and went down to meet the early morning caller.
 MT. Brookes Ormsby, club-man, gen. ueman of athletic leisure, and inheri- tor of the Ormsby millions, was pac- ing back and forth before the handful of fire in the drawing room grate when she entered.
 You don't deserve to have collie sheep-dog friend" he protested re- proachfully. How was to know that you were going away"
 Another time Elinor might have felt that she owed him an explanation but just now she. was careful, and troubled about the packing.
 How was I to know you didn't know?" she retorted. "It was in the Transcript"
 Well" said Ormsby. Things have come to pretty mess when I have to keep track of you through the so- ciety column. I didn't see the paper. Dyckman brought me word last night at Vineyard Haven. and We broke a propellor blade on the Amphitrite try ing to get here in time"
 .'I am so sorry-for the Amphitrite, f" she said. But you are here, and in good season. Shall call mother and Nell?" -'r#
 No. I ran out to see if I'm in time to do your errands for you-take your tickets, and so on"
 ''Oh, We shouldn't think of troubling you. James can do all those things. And failing James, there is a very dependable young woman at the head of this household. Haven't I person ally conducted the family all over . Europe?"
 James is base hireling," said the caller, blandly. And as for the cap able young woman: do I or do not reeollect a dark night on the Ger man frontier when she was glad enough to call on a sleepy fellow pill grim 10 help her wrestle with a par ticularly thick headed customs offlcer?"
 If you do. it is not especially kind of you to remind her of It."
 He looked up quickly. and the mas terful soul. of the man, for which the clean-cut. square-set jaw and the ath- letic figure were the outward present. ments put on a mask of deference and humility.
 You are hard with me. Elinor-al- ways flnty and adamantine. and that sort Have you no soft side at all?"
 She laughed
 'The sentimental young woman went out some time ago. didn't she? One can't be an anachronism."
 ''I suppose not Yet I'm always try fng to make myself believe other things about you. Don't you like to be cared for like other women?'
 ''I don't know: sometimes think l should. But I have had to be the man of the house since father died"
 "I know" he said And it is the petty anxieties that have made you put the woman 10 the wall. I'm here this morning to save you some of them: to take the mans part in your outsetting, or as much of it as I can When are you going to give me the right to come between yOu and all the little worries. EIinorg-
 She turned from him with a faint gesture of cold impatienoe.
 "You are forgetting your promise. she said quite dispassiOnateIy. We -~ere to be friends; as good friends .s vs were before that evening at Bar Harbor. told you 1t would be impossible. and yOa said you were strong enough to make 1t possible
 He looked at her with narroSing eyes
 It is possible. in q way. But I'd like to know what door Of your heart it Is that haven't been able 10 open
 She isnored the pleading and took refuge in a uomznis exPedient-
 If you insist On going back to the beginnings. I shall go hack. also-tO Abigail and the trunk psckfng-
 He planted himself ssuzrsly befors