Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-01
wATERBURY DEMoCRAr THURSDAY FEBR1TARY eoe

veal nothing. You confided in my rare quality of silence; you conflded in me because you had proved me. Man is not infallible, even when he is named Karloff." She lifted from vase her flowers, from which she shook the water. Laws have been passed or an nulled; laws have died at the executive desk. Who told you that this was to be, or that. long before 1t came to pass? In all the successful intrigues of Russia in this country, whom have you to thank? Me. Ordinarily a wom- an does not do these things as pas time. There must be some strong mo- tive behind. You asked me, why have stirred you so. Perhaps 1t is becau-- I am neither two-and-twenty nor y. two-score. It is these little bsrbs that remain in woman's heart. We'll, I do not love you we'll enough to marry you, but love you too well to permit you to marry Miss Annesley."
 That has the sound of war. I did love you that night, mot without a certain nobility.
 "How easily you say that night!' Surely there was wisdom in that smile of mine. And I nearly tumbled into the pit! I must have looked exceed ingly we'll that night!"- drily.
 You are very bitter tonight. Had you taken me at my word, I never should have looked at Miss Annesley. And had ceased to love you, not even you would have known it.
 "Is it possible?"-ironically.
 Tt is. I have too much pride to permit woman to see that I have made mistake"
 Then you consider in the present instance that you have not made a mistake? You are frank"
 At least I have not made mistake which I can not rectify. Madam, let us not be enemies. As you say, I owe you too much. What is it you desire?" with forced amiability.
 Deprive Col. Annesley of his honor, that, as you say, is inevitable; but I love that girl as I would a child of my own, and I will not see her caught in net of this sort, or welded to a man whose government robs him of his manhood and individuality"
 'Do not forget that I hold my coun- try first and foremost, proudly.
 Love has no country. nor laws, nor galling chains. of incertitude. Love is magnificent only in that it gives all without question. You love this girl with reservations. You shall not have her. You shall not have even me, who loves you after fashion, for I could never look upon you as husband; in my eyes you would always be an ac- complice."
 "It is war, hen?"-curtly.
 "War? Oh. no; We merely sever our diplomatic relations" she purred.
 Madam. listen to me. I shall mak one more attempt to win this girl hon orably. For you are right; love to be love must be magnificent. If she accepts me. for her sake I will become an outcast, man without country. If she refuses me, shall go on to the end. Speak to the colonel, madam; it is too late. Like myself, he has gone too far. Why did you open the way for me as you did? should have been satisfied with a discontented clerk. You threw this girl across my path, indirectly. it is true; but nevertheless the fault is yours"
 ''I recognize it. At that time did not realize how much you were to me"
 You are a strange woman. I do not understand you
 "Incompatibility Come, the car riage is waiting. Let us be gone"
 You have spoilt the evening for me" said the count. as he threw her cloak across her shoulders.
 "On the contSlry, have added a peculiar zest. No, let us go and ap- pear before the world. and smile. and laugh. and eat. and gossip. Let the heart throb with dull pain. if it will; the mask is ours to do with as we may"
 They were, in my opinion, two very unusual persons.