Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-01

she appeared to De dressed in some what fanciful manner, though the big cloak she wore concealed the details. The door of the mansion opened, and servants came running ont
 Suddenly the boy received violent blow on the side of the head "Confound your' shouted the man who had fallen on the pavement, why didn't you get out of the way whenss { told youT
 The boy, astounded by such recog- nition of his timely help, made no re- ply, but the girl protested vehemently. "Oh, uncle,' she cried, "why did you strike him? He got me out of the carriage just before 1t turned over. He did, indeedp'
 Another vivid flash of lightning H. lumined the scene. It lit up the group {, with startling brilliancy. The boy, { still somewhat shaken by the vicious ! blow, was nevertheless able to see clearly the pale, handsome, but dissi- pated features of his enraged assail- ant, whose evening dress and immacu- late linen were soiled by the black mud of the pavement The girl, dainty and fairy like, little maid of aristo- : cratic type, and of beauty that prom ised much in later years, was distress ed now and almost fearful.
 Through the crowd of frightened servants, augmented by few daring l pedestrians, a burly policeman. gf- gantic in waterproof overalls. was ad- vancing with official buster. "What has happenedT he demand ed. "Is anybody hurt" | The man answered.:
 My horses were startled by the storm. I jumped out and was en- deavoring to extricate my niece when this wretched boy got in the way" Uncle" protested the girl, you closed the door on me, and the boy"- "Shut upv' he growled curtly. "Go inside the houser'
 | But his niece shared with him at least one characteristic. She possessed the family temper.
 | q will not go away and let you say things which are not true. Listen to me, Mir. Policeman. Lord Vanstone did close the door because he thought l the carriage would turn over on top of i him. For some reason the accident did not happen immediately, and the boy ran round to the other side and helped me out just in time"
 "Confound the bratl think he was ] the real cause of the whole affair. Why was he hiding in my doorway"
 Lord Vanstone was more enraged than ever by the girls obstinate de- fense of her rescuer and her insistence on his own seeming cowardice. T was not hiding. only took shel- ter from the storm. I tried to help you because the footman was struggling -with the horses. I do not claim any credit for simply opening door and helping the young lady to alight, but I lost both my dinner and my papers In doing so."
 Every one experienced shock of surprise at hearing the boys elegant diction. The policeman was puzzled. He instantly understood the facts, but dared not browbeat an earl.
 "You do not bring any charge against him, my lord?" he said.
 But his lordship deigned no reply. He told the coachman to arrange for the removal of the carriage. grasped his niece by the arm and led her, still protesting, into the house.
 The policeman saw the bundle of papers scattered over the roadway and near them the partly eaten bun. After a wrench at his garments he produced a penny.
 Here" he said to the boy. Buy another bun and be off. It's a good job for you the young lady spoke up the way she did"
 "She merely told the truth. That man was a liar"
 Refusing the proffered penny. the boy turned on his heel The policeman looked after him.
 That's a queer kid" he thought. Talked like a regular young gent. I wonder why he is selling papers. Poor ladl He lost a bob's worth at least, and small thanks he got for it."
 Passing out of the square by the 4 first eastward street, Philip Anson, with his head erect and hands cllnched In his pockets, strode onward at a rapid pace. The lightning was less frequent now, and the thunder was dying away in sullen rumblings. He was wet and hungry, yet, although he had three halfpence. the remaining balance of the only sales effected that evening. he passed many shops where he could have bought food.
 In Piccadilly, where the cessation of the storm created a rush of traffic. he was nearly run over by reason of his own carelessness and received a slash from a whip, accompanied by a loud oath from an angry cabman. He shiv- cred. but never even looked around. Crossing Trafalgar square. he plunged through the vortex of vehicles without troubling to avoid them in the slight est degree. Once the hot breath of q pair of van horses touched his cheek while q speeches. driver pulled them back onto their launches. Again. the off wheel of an omnibus actually grazed his heel as he sped behind the statue of Charles I.
 At last he reached the comparative seclusion of the Embankment and stood for a moment to gaze nxedly at the swirIing. glinting river.
 Not here,- be muttered aloud T must be nearer to mother-dear old mother! She Is there waiting for me-