Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-09-21
SEPTEMBER

i tureS s aSSuagement. Ana tWiSteu
 through the tangle of her own per
 sistent thoughts ran teasing little
 question of Belen's. Before dinner the
 girl had come to her room. The ca
 mellia-like face was pale; the dusky
 eyes had an odd look of suffering. She
 had picked up Margaret's silver hand
 glass and stood balancing it absently.
 "Mr. Townsend, he is very great
 man, is he not?' She had put the
 question wistfully, and Margaret had
 answered yes.
 Tit is strange that he can care for
 one-one so young, so ignorant, so un-
 trained" faltered the young voice.
 Do you-do you think he really does
 really?" The big eyes had searched
 Margaret's face with an eager, almost
 a supplicating intensity.
 For moment Margaret's heart had
 almost stopped its beating. What could the child mean? Then she had
 forced herself to calmness.
 q know he does" she had an- swered steadily. He cares very
 much"
 But the question fingered in Marga- rets mind, touched to a poignant sig nificance by the memory of that small | white face. Of what was the child thinking? Whence came the hidden feeling which prompted the query? Margaret, despite the close atmos- phere, shivered. Why had Lassiter re- turned and why, oh, why, had he come here to destroy, this time forever, the peace of mind which Margaret had be- lieved so secure at last? And this poor child who loved her! Involuntarily Margaret wrung her hands. How hard, how complicated, was life! But, thank Heaven, tomorrow they would all separate. After tomorrow she neec see him no more.
 There was step behind her on the soft carpet of fallen needles-a quick, firm tread coming hurriedly down the path. Margaret turned. It was dusky under the thick sheltering boughs, but she recognized at once that it was Las sitter. At sight of the white figure be- fore him the man started.
 Margaret" he calculated sharply. Margaret" But he caught himself at once. q beg your pardon" he smiled. "You looked almost like a ghost there among the trees. I am on my way to the boathouse," explaining easily. "Belen and young Morris are on the lake, and it looks so like storm" y "a.
 ' "Come," she said quickly. It had grown very dark. The sultry air was breathless. Not a sigh stirred the branches above. The slippery, over grown path was difficult to find, but Margaret sped unheedingly on. That little frail canoe out on the tumbling waters! Oh, why was the boathouse so far? And then all at once gnarled old root thrust boldly out caught her foot. She ripped, stumbled, and the next instant she had fallen into Las siter's arms.
 It was only for one brief fraction of time, one half anguished moment dur ing which the man, his stern self con- trol shaken, had gathered her close. Then Margaret broke from him.
 "Belen!" she gasped. The lines around Lassiter's mouth whitened.
 T know" he said. q know" But despite his effort at self mastery the emotion reused was not to be so easily leashed. The bitterness of years surged to the surface.
 "Margaretr' he cried. "0h, Marga- ret, why did you send me away"
 IT didn't know," murmured the woman unsteadily. 'I-I thought I didn't care, and then 1t was too late you had gone. But-but you are happy now," she urged "Belen"-
 "Belen is q child" said Lassiter quietly. When she was left so alone with only me for guardian there seem- cd nothing else to do. shall try to make her a good husband. But you, Margaret"-h voice suddenly dropped to an unconscious entreaty-"Marga- ret
 Then out of the gloom a voice echoed clearly across the water.
 No, mo-" 1t sobbed, and both man and woman, stopping suddenly, recog- nized the voice as Belen's. You | talk so. can't marry you. Oh. can't! He loves me. Miss Aston | says so. And he has been too good to ! me. must not break his heart. but | I love Billy"
 Across the murky darkness leaped a white flash of fire. A tremendous crashing peal seemed to split the very | heavens, and then suddenly the rain, | loOsed at last. came pouring down, | cool. cleansing. revivifying. bringing a grateful freshness to the thirsty ! ground. restored equilibrium to the atmosphere. Great drops battered on the pine boughs, but Mar garet. her eyes wet with happy tears, was not conscious of the pelting rain, for in that second when lake and woods had stood distinct and clear. silhouet- ted against that unearthIy brilliance, In that instant of vision had been re- vealed the picture of a man and maid. a picture old when time was Morris kissing Belen.
 'Margaret~ cried IIassiter hOarsely. 'tOh, Margaret. you saw. you heard! Belen Is going tO marry Billy Morris, and yOu-you are going to marry me. Hren't you. MargaretT' as she lifted her face to his. Il
 Msnds Tire Punetlrss.
 An Australian has invented some thing for the prevention of tire pune tures. He calls it miraculum. It Is de<rrfha,f as a zarnffForttd r-rnar,tto-,