Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-12
BY AID OF MORPHEUS
By MARVIN DANA
(Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

(Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
 Sitting over their coffee in the even ing, the various members of the coach. ing party were detailing impressions from the days trip. l
 By common consent the othen paused when Madam Ia Baronne de Vaux began to speak. The dainty Frenchwoman was favorite with all, and she was usually sure of listeners to whatever she chose to say.
 "Ah, that little village" she cried, gaily. That little village all of wood with It's wooden church! But in France 1t had been all of brick and stone. Yet it was like-oh. 50 very like!-a tiny place quite near our chateau And 1t was there that some thing happened once, something droll. and sweet.
 Madam la Baronne paused end smiled, and the sweetness in her face deepened, and the drollness flashed iD her black eyes.
 Tell us. please tell us, madam" tho others clamored.
 Surely" tho baroness replied. 'Thers was a dear old boy lived in the village, and. too, dear old lady. He was an old bacnelor, and she was an old maid. Onoe, years and years and years ago, she and ne had been sweethearts. Somehow they could not or would not, marry. He went away for years, while she remained in the village always. Then at last he came back, and they were good friends They were too old to marry, or so they thought. But every evening he called on her, and they sat and chatted on the veranda when the season was right, and at other times they sat ir i two great chairs before the little fire in the little parlor of her cottage. "One winters night, when the air wal most biting and their old blood chilled by the frost of 1t, they sat cozily 1T the parlor, as always, and the old gen ! tleman, suppose, was very busy te heap the tiny fire high and to keep thu blaze brisk. so that they sat snugly 1T their huge chairs and basked in thu warm glow, and chatted lazily ant drowsily of the past days, when lovs was hot in their young hearts" Madam la Baronne broke oil an, ran her merry eyes over the grouI about her.
 Have none of you read the tale?' she questioned. No? We'll, there i little more. Indeed, have only tt finish now. In the morning. when tn, bonne entered the parlor to dust 1t an, put things straight, she found the deal old gentleman and the dear old lad, [ in their great chairs before the dyinl Ire in the tiny grate. and they were sound asleep!"
 ! The baroness smiled. and laughter : ran in the circle around her.
 They were married as quickly a ] the law would allow. Otherwise .ther, ! must have been whispef of .scandai | And. oh, am sure that they live, happy ever after; yes. even as happ. ! as before!"
 ! The group chattered merrily ove i the narrative and thanked the racon teuse with enthusiasm. And now let us have some music, the baroness suggested. and turned {, a patriotic American. "Of course that means you. Mir. Blennen."
 Blennen's dark, thin face lighte, with a pleasant smile, as he nodde, an assent to the general demand, bu before he rose from his chair his eye wandered toward a woman at a littl distance from him and there they rest ca with suggestion of expectation i their gaze. Almost instantly th woman turned to meet his look, an she spoke eagerly:
 "Oh, please, Mir. Blennen."
 A. the words glow of pleasur shone from the musicians face, and h hastened toward the piano.
 The early summer night of the Hud son valley was soft, languorous, silen save for the restful droning of the ir sects. Through the open windows C the great drawing-room came the lu1 urious mingled perfumes of many bio. soms. It was a night and a compan for music. For Blennen, thoug the inheritor of a princely forum, was a master of music.
 When he had finished, and the crow of enthusiasts at last allowed him { break from their compliments, he ver to her.
 She made place beside her, an flashed q glance of fond pride upo him.
 Tt was wonderful. wonderful" sh cried. softly. Your genius, Vance, so true-so splendidly true, An. whe I listened to you. my soul went fioa ing in a magic land of harmony. l.
 She broke of abruptly. Then, vi, hardly a seconds pause. she continue gayly:
 T should never mind my insomni if I could lie and hear you playing"
 Poor child! you don't show any sie of it You are as fresh and dainty. lovely and superb ss ever-more beal tiful In my eyes. Grace"
 The woman blushed and dropped h, gaze In confusion at the passion his voice. Her silence emboIdens him. and he continued in an eag whisper:
 "TeIl ne. Grace. Is not my happine coming to me soon-soon!
 Bat the woman raised her hand al peslingiy. whilst she avoided the lon ing eyes:
 -Dont Vance. No. no. not yet a . -