Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-14

character that perhaps justified, some what, her pride of blood.
 Tt is good to see you again, Dr Kinross," she began as they sat dowI together. Tt is always pleasure tc me to meet old friends. Did you know, she continued volubly, T had a cal from your brother one day last winter when he had run on to Washington from New York-it was on one of my at home days and of course he met lot of his old friends-and he remarked as he was leaving how pleasant it had been to meet them. I told him he would never meet any but old ac quaintances' at ray house. In our circle we don't meet the new people, for tunately."
 This was a good beginning, certainly
 But what tragic deprivation to the new people!' he remarked, with per. functory smile intended to take the edge off his sarcasm.
 q am aware" she said stit1y, "that you do not share my strong feelings about such things"
 "No,' he said, 'I'd associate with the devil if found him interesting."
 ''Such bohemian views are unworthy of your blood" she said with grave expenditures. q hope you don't go so far as to be willing to marry out of your rank?"
 "No, I draw the line there. I'm not willing to marry out of my rank-nor yet in it. I'm quite unwilling to marry at all."
 "You haven't been an easy prey" she admitted. How have you managed to escape falling in love all these years? ?''
 But love hasn't anything to do with rank-if you'll pardon my platitudes." :"
 ''No one, man or woman, need per init himself to fall in love outside of his own station in life," she said dog matically, GOT if he is so weak let him conquer himself"
 Kinross smiled and was silent. He would not argue.
 Miss Wolcott abruptly changed the subject.
 "Well, Peter, what is this important business matter which gives me the pleasure of a call from you? Your tel egram has made me very curious. didn't know how to wait until you got here."
 But you must really wait few mo- ments longer. I must not be precipi- tate. That's the one thing I've been telling myself ell the way here-not. to be precipitate, but to break it to you gently, to lead up to it automatically, historically, if possible. Unfortunate- ly my style was ever la cookbook direct and to the point"
 Dear me. Well, do adhere to your customary style and spare me the rhetoric. I prefer to hear your news or whatever it is in your most Saxon form.:'
 ''The shock might be too great"
 This was not at all as he had meant to steer his communication, for no one could have felt more earnestly the gravity of what he had come to com municate, and his chaffing was far from expressing his true mood. but he felt that his case was lost already, that rhetoric could not save it, and his tongue ran away with him.
 Its something shocking then" in- quired Miss Wolcott.
 "That depends on how you look at it."
 "Well? Do hurry, please"
 Miss WOlcott." he said solemnly, I'm afraid what I have to tell you will not be welcome news"
 She looked surprised at his sudden seriousness and waited, with what pa- tience she could command, for him to go on.
 He rose and walked the length of the piazza, then came back and stood before her.
 "I am very stupid. I don't know how to begin it."
 Gracious. Peter. you're not thinking of proposing to me. are you?'
 Ut would require less daring than what have to tell you"
 ''If you don't say it soon, I shall have hystericsr'
 He cleared his throat, and his voice was not quite firm as he plunged in.
 Let me begin with a question. Tell me, were you perfectly convinced at the time of your brothers death that his little daughter was with him and died with him? Did you ever have any doubts about it?'
 Her eyes opened wide in amazement. ''Of course nOt-'
 Did you see the dead child who was identified as your nieceT'
 ''No. I was in Florida at the time of the accident and did not get back fin time for the funeral"
 The woman had turned white and was looking dazed.
 The child was not with her father, Miss WOleOtt."
 Miss WOlcott sat upright, her hands clutching the sides of her chair.
 "Well:r she half gasped.
 That child is Iivinc.-
 ''Imp0ssibIe-- she exclaimed sharply. '-She is alive" repeated KInross.
 "AIive. My brothers childI But it can't be true-
 ~Did you ever receive. a few months after Mir. woIcotf's death. any commu- nicatious telling you that your niece had been stolen from her hone and wOuId be returned to yoa-fOr a re wardy
 Never
 KEnroSs looked at her uncertainty. Was she talITrz fhe trrfhs If she was