Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-05
Lavender Creighton's
 Lovers
By OLIVIA B. sTROHM
tcopyriKht, 1908, by Olivia B. S<rohml.

only the added charm-the color of tn
 rose it's perfume, it's beauty, is there
 no matter in what petals. So it is no
 the dress, it is you At sight of vol
 am transported to rare old past, th
 ugly present dies. You are jewel il
 leaden setting, you are"
 Hush, senor, or I shall begin tt
 fancy myself great lady indeed-o
 perhaps the spell will break, and
 shall vanish along with the dream
 and glories of that olden time. Yo,
 only imagine mel am not here,' ant
 she made few passes of her hands
 laughing lightly at the mock spell.
 "Ah, Dios, yes, you are here; yo,
 are real, true! It is the dress alon'
 that belongs t \ dream maiden
 you are flesh blood" He cam,
 closer toward | but she sprant
 down. Let us peep in at the window ' and watch the dancers" and crossing Z the path, she tiptoed until, through tht { sIit between the bars, she could plain
 U see the interior.
 Gerald is dancing again. had nc : idea he could adapt himself with such ease to these rustic maidens." Unseen by her, Gonzaga shrugged his { shoulders with skeptical smile as she , continued: "He never talks of con, quests. think he does not care tc
 make any" And she tiptoed again to S~.~ h.. Y~o%hor oc ho Suupo fo ploco or < ''chasseed" with the ease of practiced gallant.
 In the midst of set girl appeared for a moment at door opposite Laven- . ders point of vantage. Quickly her eyes sigzagged about the room Apparently Etheir glance was rewarded, for she smiled and a contented look curved her mouth. Then she retreated as quickly as she had come, while two young men !. lounging by the window began discus sion of her Their voices reached Lav- ender distinctly
 Hello; if there ain't Branch-water Sue! Too bad she warn't lowed to jine the festivities, poor thing. She's sweet n purity as all creation, but that pa O. hern he watches her closter n a cat. :"
 The other youth. his articulation i'm peded by mouthful of popcorn. added: "All the same, he can't keep her from midnight meetings with that city chap. Guess the smarty prefers courtin' on the sly. The rest of us don't stand no show with Sue sence this spark with his hifalutin' airs"
 The gossip ceased abruptly here as the dance broke up.
 Lavender turned to her companion. Did you see that pretty, black-eyed girl, who stood for a minute like an an gel peeping into Paradise?"
 He interrupted her. T think angels have only blue eyes-violet eyes," he said, looking ardently into her eyes.
 To 1ll up the gap in the conversation where every pause was embarrassing, Lavender continued the subject. q think we have inadvertently hit upon a romnce. Those men wefe discussing . girl, her city beau and an irate father. did not suppose that there were any gallants hereabouts.'
 There was slight interest in her tone. and her attention, even as she spoke. seemed elsewhere. Not so Gonzaga; her question gave him a cue. With every show of wishing to change the subject hastily. he repeated: Her city beau?' Never mind, let us talk of other things, fair one"
 They were slowly walking down the path. but his tone and manner made Lavender stop and regard him with scrutiny. "You are mysterious" she said. abruptly. Why"
 His reply came with apparent unwill- ingness. Tt is nothing that cate to discuss with you, of all people. I am not . man to enjoy shattering idols"
 ''Nor am one to worship them" she retorted. Tt Is true, however, that esteem my friends highly; it is not like fly that you can show reason why any of them should merit less" Then lightly: But we are certainly wander ng from the subject"
 Not SO far as you imagine, perhaps," he returned. You had better not try me too much, Miss Creighton, or may put my words to proof"
 She was stung by his manner and re- turned with spirit: T fear no proof you can bring"
 Not even against the admirabls 
 Least of all against him. senor." . Then. half ashamed of her strong de- fense of one who had never asked her she continued less seri- ousiy: We must ever think well of the sbsent."
 1'AbsentT he echoed: then your eisnd is still in St. Louis?'
 sYes. and we have his promise to come md see us on his first day of freedom"
 His promise? He will keep it-" Sonzazs stood quite still. facing her as ke asked the question. a smiling. sheer An hfs full. red lips. .0 Jne returned the look defiantly. Let e go back and find Gerald" she said. snoring the question. and swept past 1im-
 Gonzasa followed to the dancing -oom Gerald was nowhere to be seen. The Spaniard consulted his watch: it scked but a half hour of midnight: un- less his plans had misearried. they must be al the tavern soon He was In lever of impatience. would Winslov ,bey the note7 Would he be there to- rfrh.- Would he-Couvara- have a