Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-08
By TROY ALLISON.
Copyrighted. 1907. by E. c. Parcells.


 might cloak either a, vast amount of intelligence and capability--or the lack of 1t. A large man like you only has to be reticent to make the world think he is a force to be considered-if he cared to exert himself I have won dered at times if your reticencc masked a lack-of original thought. But under no circumstances had i'm agined it hid-colossal conceit."
 1Graham's powerful hands, without a trace of the nerve tension in her own, took from her the Japanese fan that she was unconsciously tearing in shreds.
 T am not conceited, but I do think that you would marry me-if I could ask you," this in the fashion of a man of little worldly polish. He failed to soften and explain his statement by adding that the desire of his heart was to make her his wife.
 She, judging without this inner knowledge, fought as woman will fought to keep it from being known that she had given her love unasked.
 T will admit I see no foundation for your conceit." The ache in her heart goaded her to merciless cruelty. "How or why should you think that woman of the world like myself, who has been accustomed to comfort, if not to lux ury, should care to marry young phy- sician without as yet practice? Per haps, my friend, you took stock of your attractions They are impressive I'll admit. Your broad shoulders and physique in general might also be counted assets, but not sufficient to balance the conceit that could imagine I would be content to wear homemade gowns in order to admire them a life time-I, who love pretty things, who like everything as dainty as this" talk ing her chain of pearl beads and hold ing them before him, letting them slip between her we'll manicured fingers. She lied bravely, stifling the memory of the little joyful plans that had for several weeks fitted through her mind plans for making home on his small income when he should ask her to be his wife.
 Graham, his face pale, spoke slowly. "Unlike myself, you are never at loss for words. but think you have said more than your world would consider courteous" he said tersely.
 Her high strung temperament had reached a point where she gave her nerves free rein. "As for caring'- she leaned back in her chair and laugh ed recklessly-"of course your con ceit prevents your discovering that I had been amusing myself. The sum- mer was long and dull. You were the most available man and interesting be- cause you were-less readable than the others. One looks with interest at an unread book. With such explana- tion hope your sorrow that you could not decide to ask me to marry you will not prove crushing" She rose. with a little ironical smile that inti- mated that she was waiting for him to say goodby.
 Graham lowered above her as he rose.
 ''Marion, I'm crude, as you say, and I am going to tell you that absolutely disbelieve you. You care-as much as I do. I'll admit that you started out with the intention of amusing yourself and that I met you halfway, thinking that you might interest yourself and me at the same time. I had no idea that either Of us would learn to care. But we have-both of us-and yet there Is a barrier preventing my ask ing you to marry me-a wall between and I don't know that I'll ever be able to get over it.'
 She smiled whimsically with the sudden change of mood characteristic of her.
 Tell me about it. I'm full of curios- fly. Is it much of a wall, and what kindT'
 'T'm not at liberty to tell. but It's a rather hard one to scale"
 "Glass on topT" laughter coming DdCh u utF IaLc-
 "Figuratively speaking. lots of it- Are you a child or a woman, Marion. that you jump from one mood to an- other this wayY'
 More of a barometer. I suppose But I'm intensely interested in that wall. It sounds mediaevaL COgidl't you produce a rope ladder as fitting accompaniment. or are slch 1eFT,;s measures for scaling obstacles oa:- seen on the stageT I ze-er saw oEe iE real life"
 ~GfrI, there Is a serious side 70 you so1sewhere. but it's very elusive lis the serious siGe I want to talk 10 TOW. | don't know that can ever even make an attempt b scaIe that wall. If I felt could Go so nono-ably wO1d try it with ny bare Ean6z- Ills face 1t with sn emotion she had never be- fore seen ia l. ~Ycu VII call it eon- I don't Wa1t you to walt for ne II I never get the chance to try to climb the val to reach yo1--
 She pat her hand o1 his fnpzlsfvsly-
 But yOa want to oo1sT sae asked
 -NO-e tan szTttI1z o7 earth he said. and his fsce Uv Ehfte-
 Cozsssrizz the valI think y01 had better @ 1ouS she followed hE-1 to the dooT and he'd cat her hand -I az glad You care shs said siu5lT-