Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-18

 man in the world but Guy Oscard, that little movement, full of love and tenderness and sweet contrition, might have saved her. But 1t was Oscard's heart that she had broken; for broken they both knew 1t to be, and Jack Meredith stepped bace from her touch as from pollution. His superficial, i'm agined love for her had been killed at a single blow. Her beauty was no more to him at that moment than the beauty of picture.
 "Oh, Jackw she gasped; and had there been another woman in the room that woman would have known that Millicent loved him with the love that comes once only But men are not very acute in such matters; they either read wrong or not at all.
 Tt is all n mistake" she said breath lessly. looking from one to the other.
 "A most awkward mistake" sug- gested Meredith, with cruel smile that made her vince.
 MT. Oscard must have mistaken me altogether" the girl went O., volubly addressing herself to Meredith; she wanted nothing from Oscard. T may have been silly, perhaps, or merely ignorant and blind. How was to know that he meant what he said!'
 How, indeedT' agreed Meredith, with grave bow.
 Besides, he has no business to come here bringing false accusations against me. He has no right-it is cruel and ungentlemanly. He cannot prove any thing: he cannot say that I ever dis tinctly gave him to understand-er- anything-that I ever promised to be engaged or anything like that
 She turned upon Oscard, whose de meanor was stolid, almost dense. He looked very large and somewhat dith- cult to move. "He has not attempted to do so yet" suggested Jack suavely, looking at his friend.
 q do not see that it is quite a ques- tion of proofs" said Oscard quietly in a voice that did not sound like his at all. we are not in court of jus tice, where ladies like to settle these questions now. If we were l could challenge you to produce my letters. There is no doubt of my meaning in them"
 There are also my poor contribu- tions to your collection" chimed i'll Jack Meredith. "A comparison must have been interesting to you, by the same mail presumably. under the same postmark." q made no comparison" the girl cried defantly; there was no question of comparison
 She said it shamelessly, and 1t hurt Meredith more than it hurt Guy Os- card. for whom the sting was intended. "Comparison or no comparison" said Jack Meredith quickly, with the keen ness of good fencer who has been touched, there can be no doubt Of the fact that you were engaged to us both at the same time. You told us both to go out and make a fortune where with to buy your affections. One can only presume that the highest bidder the owner of the largest fortune-was to be the happy man. Unfortunately we became partners. and-such was the power of your. fascination-we made the fortune, but we share and share alike in that. We are equal, so | far as the price is concerned. The situation Is interesting and rather amusing It is your turn to move. We await your further instructions in con siderable suspense"
 She stared at him with bloodless lips She did not seem to understand what |, he was saying. At last she spoke, ig noring Guy Oscard's presence alto { gether. -.- -..
 Considering that we are to be mar ried tomorrow, do not think that yot should speak to me like that" sht said. with a strange, concentrated ca gerness.
 Pardon me. we are not going to bs married tomorrow"
 Her brilliant teeth closed on he lower lip with snap. and she stoot looking at him, breathing so hard tha the sound was almost a sob.
 'what do you meanY she whispered hoarsely.
 He raised his shoulders in polite sur prise at her dullness of comprehension
 "In the unfortunate circumstance in which you are placed" he explain ed. it seems to me that the least on' can do Is to offer every assistance Il ones power. Please consider me hor de concours. In word-I scratch
 She gasped like swimmer swim ming for life. She was fighting 10 thct which some deem dearer thai life-name,y. her love. For 1t is no only the good women who love, thougl these understand 1t best and see fur ther into it
 Then you can never have cared fo mel" she cried. "All that you hav told me--Gnd her eyes flashed trl umphan;Iy across Oscard -"all tha you have promised and vowed wa utterly false if you turn against me a the first word of man who was cal ried away by his own vanity isi thinking things that he had no bus ness to think"
 If Guy oscard was no great adep at wordy warfare. he was at all event strong in his reception of punishment He stood upright and quiescent- bt traying by neither sign nor movemen | .a.. t.- ,,-o-4. -,..,ff hrr-T hin,