Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-31
Reversing a Decision.
 By EDITH .MELNo.
By EDITH .MELN0
Copyrighted, lso7 by c. H. sutclifre.

Thomas Henderson Howie stepped
 grandly from the elevator, rather re.
 sentful of the elevator boys patroniz.
 ing pat on the head. Men who came downtown on business should not be
 patted on the head even if their moth.
 CTS do possess foolish ideas that curls
 are cute. Men on business bent always
 act importantly and should be treated
 with deference.
 The pat had the effect of stiffening
 Thomas Henderson Howie's small
 backbone to an unusual degree of ram-
 rod stiffness, and 1t was very pom
 pous six-year-old who entered Dorring.
 tons office.
 Tim Darlington looked up from a
 pile of papers with genial smile.
 Welcome to our city, MT. Thomas
 Henderson Howie," he cried. "And
 what good fortune brings you to the office? Surely you are not about to be
 sued for breach of promise? I am afraid of that little Houston girl, or perhaps it is the embezzlement of pre- serves again." '
 "Its letter." explained Tommy stif1y, as he delivered the square white envelope into Tim's trembling hands. q will be going now" he add ed as he turned away. Tim raised his i hand.
 Wait moment, please" he asked. ''There may be an answer" Tommy climbed into the biggest chair and settled himself with quaint, old fashioned gravity, while Dorring- ton opened and read the note. Twice the man read 1t. though the first time the words had scared themselves into his brain
 It was a cold, almost curt note in which Jessie Howie acknowledged the honor he had done her in offering to make her his wife, an honor she de- clined, regretting that there had been anything in their friendship to lead him to believe that the friendship might grow to greater intimacy.
 Darlington smiled bitterly as he read the last few lines. Surely he had had every reason to hope for a favorable answer to his letter. Jessie had been tenderness itself. With a sigh he thrust the letter into his pocket and turned to his small visitor.
 q regret, Thomas Henderson Howie," he said in the playful banter that had been suggested by the child's quaint dignity-"I regret that my pleasurable anticipations of wild dissipation in soda water and candy in celebration of an important event have been dash ed to earth. But man turns to drink both to express his Joys and drown his sorrows. Therefore I pray you to de- scend with me to the drug store on the ground floor and assist me in the lat ter ceremony. They have hot choco- late with whipped cream" ..-'
 "No, thank you," said Tommy polite ly. q don't want any soda"
 Perhaps you prefer the stronger tipple of beef tea?" suggested Dorring- ton. "It is cup that cheers without inebriety and can be rendered quite palatable if you use enough celery salt to disguise the flavor of the beef ex- tract. Shall we go?"
 q don't want to go with you" said Tommy stolidly. T don't like you any more. You make Jessie cry"
 That" said Tom, "is what they call an inversion of facts. Your. sister has made me cry"
 "I'm glad of it," said Tommy cruelty. "You made her cry lots"
 You are sure?' asked Darlington quickly. "She was crying over my letter."
 "Lots," declared Tommy with sweeping gesture that suggested a very flood of tears. q went to her room to get her to sew the tail on my dog again. She was crying awfully, and she was kissing your letter and saying things"
 Darlington moved closer to the boy. "You don't remember what she said, do youT he pleaded gently. See If you can't think. Tommy, boy. Try hard, laddie"
 Thomas Henderson Howie knitted his brows thoughtfully and assisted the mental process by solemnly wrig- gllng his right foot
 "It was something about a mean sacrifice" he said at last Sacrifices" he added informatively. "is where the Indians kill people and burn 'em up."
 ''The operation is bloodless and the fires are internal nowadays" said Dor rington softly. What else did she say?"
 She said How can I do itT and then she cried some more" continued Tommy. Then there was something about for fathers sake. and mother came in and said something about duty and then something about Mir. Bowen, and Jessie cried lots more, and then she wrote the letter, and she gave me a penny for myself and kissed me"
 For a moment Darlington sat stun ned. He had invested heavily in sub urban real estate, and much of his cap ltal was tied up in land. but Dorring- ton had not guessed that Mr. Howie's need was so great that he had been compelled to go to Bowen.
 For nearly a year Cyrus Bowen had sought to make Jessie the fourth Mrs. Mrs. Hovie had favored his suit. for the matroa was ambitions for ! her daughter. but 1t must have been iIre need that caused blunt Henry Hovie to add his influence. DorTfng- tou turned to Tommy.
 Thomas Henderson Houie.- he said quietly. T pledge you the word of one man to another that I did not make Jessie CIT. VIII you mind the od3ce