Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-28


 At the door of the box she turned to her sympathetic deyotees, who were following her out. Stay where you are" she said, please. The poor people on the stage will think they've bored us If the box is empty. Pm go- ing home with my sister. Good night"
 In the vestibule. with his hat over his eyes and his hands in his pockets, stood Aubrey.
 I'm going primrcsing. tomorrow, Maj. Chilham." said Margaret, look ing up at him. T should like you to come, too. So will ycu be at Victoria station in time for the 10:40 train tor Hayward's Heath? feel I must gath CT them, or die"
 With his heart humping under a most. excellent kit, of tweeds, Chil- aarl began to look anxiously about the station for Margaret Edale at least three-quarters of an hour before the appointed time. With the eager ness of a boy of 24 this man of B put impatient questions which need ed no answers to patient porters who gave them, bought large selection of the hundred and one weekly papers, and stood, restraining loud, cries of impatience, watching the hands of the clock.
 T shall have no difficulty in spot ting her among these people" he thought. She will wear one of those elaborate hats of hers. which cost as much as would keep poor devil of soldier-man at the seaside for week; one of those extravagant- ly simple dresses of hers which fit like wax, and look as cool as cu- cumber; two of those hideous high heeled shoes with points like rapiers, and which make her walk as though she were on stilts; and round her neck a network of little chains which mean nothing, and lead nowhere. And with all this on, with yards of bell shaped skirts catching up every dead leaf and broken twig, she will pick a few daisies. under the impression that they are primroses. Dash that clock! Will it never get on? :. By love, now, that's 8 charmingly got up girl, if you like! Straw hat, golf collar and tie, tailor-made short skirt, and square-toed shooting boots. AS pretty as a picture, by love. Seems to know me, too. Coming straight up. Why-why, it's-!"
 Margaret shifted small basket into her left hand. and held out her right. Good morning" she cried. For two pins I believe you would have cut mel"
 He gripped her hand silently, and led the way to carriage. Silently he watched her over his paper as the train took them through the suburbs out into the open country. Silently she let him watch, and sat looking into the future, into the foreground of which she knew the train was to take her.
 The sun fell hospitably upon Chil. ham and Margaret Edale as they dismounted from the carriage. They followed the path, which wound itself, adderwise. through the fields into the narrow, deep-rutted road lead ing to the woods, in silence still. i,Chilham. n watched Margaret.sso deSyler changing expressions of delight and pleasure with a kind of fierce joy. When. after some hours. she chose a dell among the woods, and sat down to spread the primitive lunch upon the stump of a tree, quiet and little tired, his exhilaration evaporated. and he glared down at her as though he owed her a grudge.
 "Sardine sandwiches, chicken sand wicnes, buns, sponge cakes, milk in a bottle. and chocolate walnuts," she said, smiling up at hlm, in a proud, proprietary way. Don't speak all to- gether. please"
 Chilham did not answer her question for a good 30 seconds. Then he said, grufly: Look here, what in the name of goodness made you bring me here l to-day?"
 Margaret laughed.
 "It's no laughing matter for me-" he said. "I call it hideously unkind. You know we'll enough how it is with me. I've loved you with the whole strength of my fools heart for months. It's subtle torture to see you like this, and have you all to myself for hours, after having got into the habit of put ting up with the crumbs from other mems tables. If asked you to marry me-and am mad idiot enough to wish to do it-what would you do. you. my antithesis-you. the lover of towns and stnffy shows and fattery - what would you say to me, the countryman, the blunt fool?"
 Margaret stii laughed. "I don't think I shall trouble myself to reply to any thing so obvious" she said.
 T thought so." said Chilham, sit- ting down in dull heap.
 still laughing-except that tear had added itself now-Margaret put a hand on his arm. Because" she said. If you weren't so blind. you could see your answer for yourself in my eyes. isn't 1t plain. I'm tired of towns and stuffy shows and flattery. Let me be q countrywonan. and . blunt fool. should like to. awf'ly."
 Whether Aubrey Chilham believed her or not, isn't . matter for us to discuss. Cupid. seated on a branch of q willow, with a primrose dangling