Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-02

. was nameless charm, foreign to the wildwood Perhaps it was in the white curtains-in the basket of gay worstea, in the wild flowers blooming on man. telpiece and table.
 When the meal was finished, Law ender filled her fathers pipe. Do you know, dad, that you are giving your self altogether too many fancy airs? There is such a painful contrast be- tween your buckskin coat and this gold tobacco box. And as for mother-that knot of real lace is poking fun at the linsey gown it adorns"
 But not at the face above it, child" and Mir. Creighton looked fondly at his wife. As for you. saucy minx," he added, these dainty hands and feet are quite out of place here. As long as you wear high-heeled slippers and an amber bracelet, don't laugh at your poor fathers luxury"
 But the shoes-my dear Virginia shoes-are wearing out. What shall I do then, Dad?'
 Do as did the men at Valley Forge, dear; bind them up with rags"
 Just then there was shuffling step outside. and the rattle of pails. Lav- ender flew to the door to admit Amer ica, who, as she entered, grumbled to herself: Reckon y'all t'ink I'm slower n lassesin winter, but dat ole moody COW is de mos onrulines' critter eber seed. She was in de gully crost de crick, an had de beatenes' time gittin' her callin' 'Suke' till my th'oat mos cracked. Den it tux me pow'fui time to git my strippins."
 While she was talking America was emptying the warm milk into broad pans, and Lavender carried them into the small lean-to that served as kitch- en, and which the old negress calls the quarters" in memory of days on Blennerhasset island-days which she would never allow to be better, but to which, in many little ways, she paid unconscious tribute. ess
 Suddenly, in the midst of pouring the milk, she stopped with hands on her hips, exclaiming: "Fo' Gawd, I done forgot to tell val dat some. body's comin' up de ribber Hit mout be Mars. Gerald, but de skift ain't white. Oar was only one man in it, and peered like he was pullin' fer dis yer sho'."
 Unconsciously, MT. Creighton's eyes sought his gun, and his hand moved to the hunting-knife in the silver scab- bard at his belt.
 Lavender went to the window va loop-hole heavily barred. Twilight was almost over, and the zone of giant pines that bound the clearing loomed into the fast blackening zenith.
 Somebody is crossing the stile," she said. "Ah, it is Senor Gonzaga."
 Opening the door, she met him with frank cordiality, and he bowed i'm pressively over her hand.
 They were all surprised. but delight ed, and Mrs. Creighton asked:: You are living near us, senor?'
 Not permanently, madam, it is my purpose to travel through the new ter ritory, and I only stopped for short stay in St. Charles. Friends are rare fn3this country, and one likes to re main near them as long as possible" He glanced at Lavender, but she was busy with the snood that bound her hair, and took no notice of his words or look.
 To the exiled family, the presence of a visitor was treat, and they were all brighter for this breath of the outer world. Besides, this man was edu- cated, had travelled much, and there was food for conversation outside their present narrow scope in his wide knowledge of men and things.
 Gonzaga noticed that Mrs. Creighton was paler, thinner. with deeper lines about the mouth, and at the corners of her shadowed eyes.
 To Mir. Creighton he gave attention as a new factor in his plans. But he mentally decided that he need take him slightly into consideration. The elder Creighton was a quiet man-not selfishly absorbed, but with a mind which, being long focused upon prac. tical daily troubles. was narrowed to the contemplation of those things which were his own and his family's immediate concern. Reserved, not talkative or fond of entertaining. his well-bred courtesy was, nevertheless. unfailing; his habit of mind intelli. gent, sober.
 Gonzaga read this ali clearly, and de- cided that upon the mother must he de- pend for influence with Lavender. Of this he took careful note, saying to himself with an amused smile: "To the father, a sweetheart more or less, will not matter; he will concern him. self little with me"
 The evening was nearly over, and still the visitor had addressed no word in private with Lavender. For this, the maid was thankful: hers was a keen ness of intuition, fosterei by the va ried experiences of the last few months; by the new and strange mode of life The shrinking bashfulness- the guileless ignorance. which the fash ion of the day demanded in maids. were lacking in her. and circumstances had served to cultivate neither. So she did not fail to note and read alright. the visitors covert glances and smiles of admiration