Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-02

criminals by their own folly; pity for those who love without reward; pity that embraces even me-"
 Silence.
 Has it ever occurred to you that there are two beings in each of us; that between these two there is con- tinual conflict, and that the victor finally prints the victory on the face? For what lines and haggards mans face but the victory of the evil that is in him? For what makes aged rud- dy and smooth of face and clear of eye but the victory of the good that is in him? It is so. I still love you; I still have the courage to ask you to be my wife. Shall there be faces hag- gard or ruddy, lined or smooth?'
 She stepped inside. She did not com- prehend all he said, and his face was in the shadow--that is to say, unread able.
 T am sorry, very, very sorry"
 How easily you say that"
 "No, not easily; if only you knew how hard it comes, for know that it inf1icts a hurt,"-gently. ''Ah, Count, why indeed do not love you?"--im- pulsively, for at that time she held him in genuine regard. You repre- sent all that woman could desire in man.
 . You could learn, with an eager step toward her.
 You do not believe that; you know that you do not Love has nothing to learn: the heart speaks, and that is all. My heart does not speak when see you, and I shall never marry a man to whom it does not You ask for something which I can not give, and each time you ask only adds to the pain"
 This is finality?"
 'It is"
 "Eh, we'll: then I must continue on to the end"
 She interpreted this as a plaint of ms coming lOnenneSS. |l 5ti E..
 "Here." she said She held in her hands two red roses. She thrust one toward him. That is all I may give you"
 For a moment he hesitated. There were thorns, invisible and stinging. Take it!"
 He accepted it, kissed it graveIy, and hid it.
 'sThis is the bitterest moment in my life, and doubly because I love you"
 When the portiere fell behind him, she locked her hands, grieving that all she could give him was an ephemeral flower How many men had turned from her in this wise, even as she be- gan to depend upon them for their friendships! The dark room oppressed her and she stepped out once more in to the silver of moonshine. Have you ever beheld a lovely woman fondle a lovely rose? She drew it. pendent on its slender stem, slowly across her lips. her eyes shining mistily with waking dreams. She breathed in the perfume. then cupped the flower in the palm of her hand and pressed it again and again to her lips. A long white arm stretched forward and upward toward the moon, and when it withdrew the hand was empty.
 haL Li,,1 u,x waited until she was gone. and then hunted in the grass for the precious flower. On his hands and knees he groped. The dew did not matter And when at last he found it. not all the treasures of the fabled Ophir would have tempted him to part with it. 1t would be souvenir for his later days
 As he rose from his knees he was by ad-shouldered. elderly man in evening clothes. The end of cigar burned brightly between his teeth.
 'T'll take that flower, young man. if you please"
 Warburton's surprise was too great for sudden recovery.
 ''It is mine. Colonel" he stammered
 The colonel filliped away his cigar and caught my butler roughly by the arm.
 "Warburton. what the devil dces this mean-a lieutenant of mine ped ding soup around gentleman table,"