Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-05

 ing of my determination" A startled look came into her face. You will not tell him." she brcathed anxiously.
 q! We'll, hardly! But you say it is he who tells you you are free to leave here."
 "He tells me am free, not to go to town-he never dreams of my doing that-but free to marry him."
 (Which you will eventually do? There! Pardon mel promised to ask you no more question. Now, as to these Morningstars, of course there will be row when they find you are going. Can you stand up against it?'
 Tt will be wearisome," she sighed. "But I shall not falter."
 You are sure you won't weaken when old Morningstar gets at you"
 "I am sure," she said quietly.
 "He won't easily let you go, you know. You save money for the old skinflint. To spare yourself struggle with him why don't you get away secretly and let him fight it out with himself after you are gone?"
 T have considered that way of leav- ing, but I have decided against it. prefer to leave openly. But more than Mir. Morningstar I fear Abe.''
 q should think so," he agreed. He wondered if this signified that she did or did not reciprOcate Abes devo- tion. It might be interpreted either way. Her caring for Abe was not more incongruous than some other things about her Suddenly he decid- ed to tell her what it was her undoubt- ed right to know-that Hen Muckle- henny's visits were for her, not Ollie. It would be interesting also to see how she would take it. Would it prove pleasant surprise to her?
 Perhaps your problem may be solv- ed in an easier way than going to town to earn your living. I'll tell you something. Hen Mucklehenny's visits here have been meant for you, not Ol- lie. He wants to keep company with you. Perhaps knowing this you may reconsider your purpose to go to town"
 The information made apparently very little impression on her, except to bring to her face strange look of wearinGss and sadness.
 Did Hen tell you," she asked in a spiritless voice, that he wanted to come to see mel"
 He observed that she did not say keep comp'ny." He wondered why the brightness had so suddenly gone out of her at the mention of Hen.
 "No," he said; T overheard him tell ing old Morningstar. I have meant to tell you"
 I've known it." she answered in an tone. He writes verses to me-"
 "Verses! Hen Mucklehennyw
 ."Yes. I find them sticking in the door of the spring house with bunch of wood violets pinned to them"
 .'They don't appear to have moved you-the violets and the verses. Are the verses origlnal?"
 You may judge" She drew a sheet of paper from her pocket. 'I found these this evening. But you can't read them in this light"
 He took d box of matches from his pocket, struck one and read aloud from the sheet of paper she held out to him:
 T give to you this violet
 In token that we two have met
 And hope that we already yet
 Once more again together get.'
 He turned and looked at her. No wonder she looked weary and sad!
 T would not like to trouble you with commissions" she said, but if may ask favor of you-you are al- ways so kind to me-
 TT" he said, surprised. 'I kind to you?"
 Her answer was spoken very low. No one else has ever been so kind"
 He was silent from astonishment She was tearing up little blades of grass at her side with nervous fingers. He waited for her to go on. But sho did not.
 ''The favor. Eunice?"
 Her mournful eyes unveiled an in- stant and looked at him as he spoke her name. and again his pulse stirred as he met the soft fire of her look.
 If you should get an opportunity to speak to Hen. will you please tell him to quit it?'
 Quit writing poetryT"
 He will expose me to the wrath of Ollie and her father and mother, who have set their hearts on him"
 And you will not defy them and fa- vor hlm7 Or is 1t Abe that makes Hens case so hopeless?"
 She gazed at him, her mournfulness changed to utter despair. Was there, then. actually a real case of the heart and not of mere propinquity between her and Abe! Incrediblel
 Before he could answer the faint sound of q step on the board walk near the house made him turn to glance over his shoulder.
 Talk of the deviT'-
 Eunice spTsng to her feet with the primitive instinct of a startled animal gave one glance In the direction of the footsteps on the board walk and without a word darted away around to the back of the building Abe stopped short a few feet from the terrace. looking bafHed at her dis Then he shuf7ed ID to Kinross.
 He looked as though he had just got out of bed His hair was tO1slsd. his feet were bare. and he wore neither coat nor uaistcoat-
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