Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-17

and not . little piQued. During the ] walk back, when this much had been made clear, the silence was intolerably oppressive. Without knowing why, they understood perfectly now that neither had been ingenious.
 "She would love the money and play me for . fool" he thought, under the surface talk. Youth is prone to en- dow It's opinions with all the dignity of certain knowledge.
 Yet am certain he loves me-" thought she. On the other hand, youth i is often gifted with credulity divine and unering.
 At the door as they came up the roadway a trap was depositing man whom Miss Milbrey greeted with evil dent surprise and some restraint. He was slight, dark, and quick of move ment, with finely cut nostrils that ex- banded and quivered nervously like those of . high-bred horse in tight check.
 Miss Milbrey introduced him to Per- cival as MT. Ristine.
 T didn't know you were hereabouts," ]" she said.
 I've run over from the Bloynes to dine and do Halloween with you he answered, flashing his dark eyes quick ly over Percival and again lighting the girl with them.
 Surprises never como singly," she returned, and Percival noted a curious little air of defiance in her glance and manner.
 Now it is possible that Solomon's implied distinction as to the mans way with . maid was not, after all, so i'll advised.
 For young Bines, after dinner, fell in love with Miss Milbrey all over again. The normal human mind go- ing to one extreme will inevitably gravitate to its opposite if given time. Having put her away in the conviction that she was heartless and mercenary having lasted in the desert of doubt he now found himself detecting in her an unmistakable appeal for sym pathy, for human kindness, perhaps for love. He forgot the words of Higbee and became again the confident, un- questioning lover. He noted her rath- or subdued and reserved demeanor, and the suggestions of weariness about her eyes. They drew him. He resolved at once to seek her and give his love freedom to tell itself. He would no longer meanly restrain it. He would even tell her all his distrust. Now that they had gone she should know every ignoble suspicion; and, whether she cared for him or not, she would comfort him for the nurt they had been to him.
 Thss Halloween frolic was on. Through the long hall, lighted to pleas ant dusk by real Jack-o'-lanterns, stray couples strolled, with subdued mur- murs and soft laughter. In the big white and gold parlor, in the dining room, billiard room, and in the tropic jungle of the immense palm garden the party had bestowed itself in congenial groups, ever intersecting and forming anew. Little nutters of high laughter now and then told of tests that were being made with roasting chestnuts, apple parings, the white of an egg dropped into water, or the lighted candle before an open window.
 Percival watched for the chance to And Miss Milbrsy alone.- His sister had just ventured alone with . candle into the library to study the face of her future husband in . mirror. The result had been. in sense, unsatisfac- tory. She had beheld looking over her shoulder the faces of Mauburn, Fred Milbrey, and the Angstead twins, and had declared herself unnerved by the weird prophecy.
 Before the first in the hall Percival stood while Mrs. Akemit reclined pic turesquely near by, and Doctor von Herzlich explained. with. excessive care as to his enunciation, that protoplasm can be analysed but cannot be recon structed; following this with his own views as to why the synthesis does not produce life.
 You wonderful mani" from Mrs. Akemit; T fairly tremble when l think of all you know. Oh, what . delight science must be to her votaries!''
 The Angstead twins joined the group, attracted by Mrs. Akemit's inquiry of the sayant if he did not consider civ ilization . failure. The twins did. They considered civilization . failure because 1t was killing off all the big game. There was none to speak of now except in Aries. and they were pessimistic about Africa.
 Percival listened absently to the talk and watched Miss Milbrey, now one of the group in the dining room. Present. ly he saw her take . lighted candle from one of the laughing girls and go toward the library.
 His heart-beats quickened. Now she should know his love and 1t would be well. He walked down the hall leisure ly. turned into the big parlor. nomen- tarily deserted. walked quickly but softly over its polished floor to . door that gave into the library. pushed the heavy portiere aside and stepped noise lessly in.
 The large room was lighted dimly by two immense yellow pumpkins. their sides cut into faces of grinning gro tesqueness. At the far side of the room Nfs. Niihrsv had shs. fnssans arrfvsd