The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1906-09-26
With Claudia's
Assistance
By INA WRIGHT HANSON
Copyright, 1908. by e. @. PARCELS

dresser. 1 looked modify at Fitzger.
aid.
"She refused me-" he said.
"Tve got to go to Mrs. Writings din
ner," I answered.
Fitz nodded and threw himself heav-
lily into chair.
81 wouldn't go. you know, after MrS.
Writings niece refused me, so she had
to rustic up you"
glared at him. then jerked open the
top drawer.
Seems to me. In the interest Of hui
manity, you might have STAYED off
your old proposal till after the dinner.
i've got to take Miss whiting In. What
shall say to herr I'm no society
man"
you might talk about me. It's
darned strange she refuses me-" Fitz
responded modestly. "Of course I'm
I money!
turned from my hair brushing and
regarded Fitz with surprise.
"She's different from other girls" he
went on mournfully. "You never know
what she is going to do or say next.
She said IL she ever found the man she
wanted to marry and he didn't ask her
she would propose to him. You say a
word for me, old man, and maybe she
will change her mind about It"
"All right" said and started for the
Internal dinner. If had been left in
peace could have translated a few
more pages Of that Latin work 1 was
on.
Why should have (fguratively Of
course) fallen on my face and wor-
shipped Claudia Whiting the moment
saw her don't know. That any man
could help adoring her after he came to
know her is Incredible, but / think I
began before ever she said a word to
me. It couldn't be because her eyes
were the bluest ever saw or her hair
crinkled sunshine-I suppose a poet
would describe it better-or her lips
red as the roses she wore In her belt.
One day since that dinner she told me
something about afinities. It may be
that mysterious word holds the reason.
What we talked Of Is vaguely remem-
bered. know that walked home
ward carrying with me a vision Of
sweetest seriousness, for that describes
Claudia as she appeared that day.
When I turned the corner, beyond
which were my lodgings, saw Fitz-
gerald at my gate. his broad back to-
ward me. remembered my forgotten
promise and fed incontinently. I
couldn't face him. Later I stole into
my room like a thief in the night.
Next day went to call on her and to
make my peace with Fitz, who had in
terYiewed me that morning. She was
In the garden, and stated the object
OF my call at once.
IF you knew him better you would
appreciate him MORE" said and
launched forth at some length into his
peculiar graces and virtues. Claudia
listened, and when had finished she
leaned toward me, smiling roguishly.
"And didn't you care about coming
10 see me2 If it had not been for Mr..
Fitzgerald you would have come any
way, wouldn't your
To think that she should have looked
straight into my heart and discovered
my perhdyi almost let go Of my Sc
cret. almost answered, 81 came be-
cause I love you" And this on the
second meeting.
Then because I must talk, and there
were some things must not say,
began talking Of mySelf-my college
life, my falling health, forcing me to
live for years In the pine forests; then
when my health was restored how the
woods still held me with their soil
tudes, 50 that was unhappy and Ill at
ease In society.
II have quite a pretentious cabin
there" said "In it are my books
and my violin. Back Of it flows a
clear stream with trout waiting for me
to catch them for my breakfast. Moth
Ing IL wanting there to make me en-
tirely comfortable"
My face grew hot, for all at once
realized there was a want-a void-to
be filed. That II went back to my
cabin now 1t would be as lacking as
the body whose soul is not within.
az was born and bred In the woodsv'
exclaimed Claudia. 1.-THE stars look
closer and bigger than they do in the
cities Of the lowlands. Up there in the
mountains are ferny hooks and man
Eanita; there 10 water cress which
makes me hungry this minute. Oh,
know about the woodsr' Her blue eyes
were shining like the stars Of which
she spoke.
Then she asked me about my books,
and told her Of my published ones
and those in contemplation-dry old
tomes-why should have supposed
that they would interest a young crea-
ture like herr
But I rambled on, lost In her sweet
cOmpanionship, till the sun suddenly
dropped out Of sight, and I saw her
shtver in the breeze that stirred the
poplars. Then remembered FItz.
~Do give him another chance" said
perfunctorily as I rose to go. She look
cd at me seriously, but made no an
swer.
For the greater part Of month Eitz
was aYay from town. and saw Clau-
Ola nearly every day. Before going he
asked my promise to say a word In his
favor every time saw her. There are
limits to the duties Of friendship, but
make her good husband. He was an
honorable man and had more money
than he knew what to do with.
She was such a bewildering little
creature, was Claudia. At the first
meeting she was so sweetly serious.
She had told me since that she was
frightened to death of me because l
knew so much. Fancy it! The day she
told me, though, she was bubbling over
with laughter, and suspect she was
poking fun at me in her irrepressible
way. Then there was the morning
when we walked together to church
and she talked so quietly Of holy
things. and there was that last after
noon In the garden before Fitz came
home.
That day it was the hardest Of all to
forget myself and remember Fitz.