Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-13

over bunch of honeysuckIe, with the lord representing the fragrant bios. sons.
 "Why, Lord Croyland" she twit. tered, with something between a giggle and shriek, "how very fortunate! was just going out to pick wild flowers. I've never picked wild flowers with a real nobleman. Please say you are just dying to give me new expert ence."
 She looked up at him with baby like air of innocence and admiration and laughed again.
 T-I should be delighted" said Rich ard, telling the first downright lie which had passed his lips since arriv- ing at Irvington.
 He relieved her of the absurd basket she was carrying on her arm and start ed across the fields, cursing inwardly at the fate which linked him with this troublesome and Irresponsible little creature and striving outwardly to be ! decently polite to her. Unconscious of ' his cogitation, Miss Imogene f1uttered | at his side, now murmuring idiotic small talk into his bored ears, now bouncing with little squeals of delight upon some gaudily colored weed and depositing it in the basket.
 Tt is so good of you to come," she conflded, with melting glance. Tt isn't heavy enough to tire you, is it? You are so strong, you know, and so brave''
 She alluded to the basket, which weighed perhaps four ounces. Rich ard assured her that he thought he could stand the strain and that he was not in the least afraid of butterflies, the only living thing they had met so far, which brought forth fresh out burst of gigglesome joy. Presently she took seat upon stone, begged him to do likewise and began flaming her. self with her hat.
 Do you know" she whispered, q think I shall trust you and tell you a secret"
 "All right" he said carelessly. Fire --er-I mean do 50, by all means" Ho seated himself and added dramatical- ly, Believe me, maiden, it shall be sacred with me-"
 "Theren' sine cried in triumph. q knew you could do it, though Harrie. says fatly just fatly - that you couldn't"
 Couldn't what?"
 Act"
 Well, she's right" agreed Richard. q can't. I've been told so before. Where do you get your strange delu- sions?"
 Once more her big baby eyes looked upward with pleading glance.
 But you'd try if I asked you, wouldn't you? You couldn't resist if I begged you - real hard, could you?"
 Nothing short of assassination could make me refuse you," said Rich ard. emphasizing the pronoun and looking sadly out across the Hudson. ]! It was wrong, of course, but he couldn't | help it, and really she was pretty | enough to excuse so venal lapse.
 "Oh, you dear, delightful manw chir ruped the little lady. Now, listen. Don't look at the river. Look at me-"
 T dare not"
 Nonsense! You said you were not afraid of butterflies"
 'I was wrong. am of one"
 Don't be afraid of me. I won't hurt l you," said the highly fiattered girl 
 q breathe again. Go on"
 'Well, Lord Croyland, we are going to have a little one act play on Fri day evening, and you are in it. be- cause you just said you would, and I know you will do it just beautifully, because I told Harriet you could, and, having promised. of course you can't refuse now, when everything has been
 Hold on: hold on" interrupted Rich ard. "Pm sort of losing my grip on things. Slow down to a trot and let's get our bearings"
 This sounded very unlike an Eng fish nobleman, but the young lady in her excitement failed to notice
 You see" she began again, "the play is called The Man and the Bird You are the man. and