Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-24
The Hero Who Ran Away,
By J. 5. FLETCHER
(copyright, by Jo.eph B. Bowles.)

O'CLOCK or LII ApTu ctcAiH6, NiaAWcH left the train with sigh of immense relief. Ho was in Paris. and in Paris he could breathe and think, and per haps make up his mind as to what was to be done at the present crisis of his life.
 Anyway, am freed from the great, the overwhelming temptation of her presence" he thought. as he walked moodily about the Hower-scented streets. "A man gets so little chance of thinking clearly in woman's pres ence, or ii she is within easy distance of him. If I'm going to fight this thing | out it must be away from her. She"
 Maxwell stopped suddenly-thought and step alike came to summary con- clusion. He was dimly conscious that he stood at the corner of the Rue Royale, and that he was shaking hands with his friend Lady Ravensrode, from whom in some vague fashion the spring morning had suddenly borrowed new charm of light, shade, color and scent
 Major Maxwell!" she exclaimed. "But why should one be surprised? Paris is so very much next-door now adays. Let me see-it was night be- fore last that we met, wasn't it?" q think so," said Maxwell. IT came over yesterday = Dover and Calais, you know--on business"
 T came over yesterday, too," said Lady Ravensrode. "Folkstone and Boulogne, you know-also on business. My business is-frocks." Maxwell stroked his mustache. He becarse conscious of the presence of | Lady Ravensrode's maid, lowering at | discreet distance; also of the inter- est which was being created in the minds and eyes of the passers-by, who glanced at the English woman's gra- ;. cious figure, copper-gold hair, and vi- vacious beauty, with unmistakable ad- miration. He looked at Lady Ravens rode, first furtively. then with cu- rious determination in his bronzed l face.
 Send your maid away" he said. "The frocks, am sure, can wait little. i I-I want to talk to you. The fact Is, I'm in a bit--no, mean good deal-of hole. and l want your ad- vice."
 Lady Ravensrole obeyed this per emptory order without murmur.
 They sat down on rustic seat under the refreshing shade trees of the Champs Elysees.
 Maxwell began tracing strange shapes in the gravel at his feet; he knitted his brow and pursed up his lips, and Lady Ravensrode watched him with tiny smile at the corners of her mouth. Presently he looked " up,hregarAed herewith a>stonys stare, and said: sAaf
 "The fact is that I've run away"
 Run away? With whom?" That" said Maxwell. Ifs feminine. but silly. ran away to think" "Oh," she said. blankly. Well, I'll tell you the truth" he said, I'm running away from wom- an"
 That" she replied. Ifs exactly what I should expect o{ you" He looked quickly and suspiciously
 at her. e "Ah!" he exclaimed. ''Then you do think me coward?' q didn't say so." she said. "Is she pretty?"
 Maxwell raised his eyes and stared
 at her.
 "Prettyr he said. "she-why. she is the most beautiful woman in the world!"
 The honesty and simplicity of his tone were so evident that her inquir' ing eyes dropped before his. "she is to be congratulated that { you are so fond of her." she said
 softly.
 "Ah, but then. she doesn't know ht answered. The thing is-ought l te ! tell her? That's what want to know That's the question want to decide
 Oh, I'm horrible coward about It.
 If you love her." said Lady Ravens
 rode, "yoa certainly ought to tell hel
 of your love for her. It's wrong no
 to; it's wicked"
 Wrong? Wicked? whyT he de
 manded, with signs of great surprise
 Lady Rayensrode turned her fac' toward him and studied him witl dancing eyes and a tightly-close' 3 mouth. Maxwell frowned still nor 3 gloomiiy.
 Why do you look at me like that'
 he asked. q know you're laughinl t at me. right away down in your heart t and | want to know why. fol
 see. sometimes I think John Max
 we'll. you'n be the iuckiest man ol z earth if you can win her-try you luck,' But again I think: 'Nonsenss } don't make a fool of yourself. and 5 Lady Ravensrode interrupted hir n quickly.
 "what. by marrying herr" she sait Good heavens. mol" answered Ma, o we'll. No. but by thinking that sh n would consent to marry me. You se'
 it's here. she's young. and beautl
 fsil. and rich. and she Is % much ad
 mired that she might choose hus
 band amongst the greatest-she nisf
 marry a really great man"
 Every man Is rrally great in th
 eyes of rome woman said Lad
 Rsvensroie-