Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-02

AoW p VI uSty AAuldH suluC. IOu lc- member Owatoga. perhaps? He who was with us on the boat? It seems that he prefers to remain with MT. Winslow-ever at his beck and call. !"
 Gonzaga merely touched his lips to the glass, then asked, coolly: Wins low? An, yes; where is the gentle man? He seems to have disappeared. ;"
 To the sighting tone, Mrs. Creighton replied, warmly:
 T am sorry to say it is long since we saw him, but we had message from him saying he is detained pris- oner at St. Louis, on parole. Informa- tion, through whom he does not know, was given the authorities of his con nection with the Burr expedition. It seems that affair is, for some reason I cannot understand, regarded by the government in the light of conspir- acy. Trouble is brewing for the lead CTS, and until that is settled, our friend is held in St. Louis"
 Here Gonzaga inquired: You say he has written-when, may ask?"
 "Owatoga delivered the note on his first trip here"
 The Spaniard paused with the cup at his lips: 'The Indian? He was the bearer of note, did you say?"
 'EYes, few lines written on the day of MT. Winslow's arrest"
 Lavender, put in with little tenn per: "It is a disgrace to our country that honest men cant go forth to find a home without interference-without insult"
 But the Spaniard hardly needed; he was thinking of what they had just told him-that the note had been given that he had been outwitted. Holding the cup of cider untasted, he. reit- erated: And you say that the Indian delivered the note on the first visit?"
 As Lavender nodded assent, a gleam of batied anger lit the dusky eyes. Only for moment; lifting the cup, he slowly drained it, then said, with an indolent smile: "On behalf of my own country, am quite interested in Col. Burr's project There seems a prom ised advantage to Spain in the affair, but I can readily see how the gentle men in office at Washington might ob- ject."
 Lavender flushed at this, and went abruptly into the kitchen, leaving the elders to champion cause in which she would not trust herself to speak.
 A few moments later she returned, and, to make amends for her rudeness, said America is not sure that she closed the door of the shed. If Senor Gonzaga will allow us, we will go that far with him. Perhaps we will meet Gerald, too; he ought to be coming home now"
 The Spaniard was delighted at the prospect, and said so, adding an effu-. sive goodnight, and begging that he might come again.
 Outside in the moonlight the forest lay half asleep. Grasses waved lag fly, the frogs kept up their drowsy monotone, and birds twittered in the branches. At the waters edge, where the boat rocked with the lulling waves, they paused and gazed down the river. There was no sign of life on it's broad bosom; in the air wasa scent of shells and water grasses; the sky was clear and starry.
 Let us row down and meet your brother" suggested the visitor, and Lavender, waving mischievous fare we'll to America, jumped into the skin.
 We won't row far" she called back. Wait for us."
 "In a panic, the old negress rushed to the waters edge. "Whar yo two gwine dis time O night?" !,
 Seeing her distress, Lavender re- pented. Let us go back" she com manded. But he had Lavender alone. with the fast growing path of water between them and interruption, and Gonzaga was the last man to forego this first opportunity.
 "Why do you not want to go with me. Miss Creighton?" he demanded, with uncivil abruptness.
 Lavender ignored any deep meaning in the words, and there was no em- barrassment, only wide-eyed surprise in her reply: "I don't mind. assure you, but it is late, and mother will be uneasy. America, too, see, she is fidgety as hen whose fedglings have taken to the pond" She laughed, and, hanging one arm over the boats edge. let the water trickle through the pink dam of her fingers.
 You don't mind being with me! High praise, indeed!" and Gonzaga shrugged his shoulders, and raised his brows sarcastically. Then, dropping the oars, and bending toward her: Now. listen to me-" he said. 'I, on the other hand, declare that it is my sole delight to be with you. It has been since first sight of you was balm to my tired eyes"
 His voice, soft in time with the melody of waves against the idle oar his face with its southern beauty. lent dignity to the words which. from a less romantic cavalier. Lavender would have scorned as mere fustian.
 But there was magic in the time and place. witchery in the hour which subdued the girls levity. and awak- ened a dormant sentiment But this sentiment was not for the man be- side her. With every beat of her quick ened pulse. her thoughts were borne