Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-14
Richard
 the BraZen

 , He had faint idea that the English nobleman was laughing at him. Il point on which extreme youth is sometimes oversensitiye.
 II think it can be settled by arbitra- tion." he answered coldly. Twill you kindly follow me to some less public place."
 The two young gentlemen walked up the road for short distance. stopping at the brow of hill which overlooked the river It struck Richard that this being continually led away from the house of his ladylove for secret con ferences was growing rather monot- onous. This was the fourth time in two days, and each excursion seemed to involve him more deeply in some quagmire of trouble. They sat down under a tree and for a time remained silent.
 Smoker asked Richard, holding out his cigar case.
 Thank you, mo-" said the young man sadly. T have no heart for pleas ure just at present. If you don't mind. we'll get down to business"
 The Texan lit his cigar and express ed willingness to open negotiations with the enemy. while the enemy col lected his thoughts and dug holes flu the ground with short sharp stick.
 Lord Croyland," he began at last, "in this country openness and square ness are the first principles. I've heard that gentlemen have the same ideas in England. Is this true?"
 Richard bowed.
 "Very well. I'm going to ask you a plain, blunt question. without any in tention of offense, and I want you to give me a straight. plain answer. Which one are you after?'
 Richards cigar nearly dropped from between his teeth, while he gazed at his questioner in extrenc astcnish- menr.
 (Which one of what?" he asked when he recovered himself.
 The girls" said Mr. Van der Awe. Perhaps I didn't put it clearly"
 The Texan tried hard to conceal his amusement and succeeded imperfectly.
 ''Ah. 1 see," he returned. (Which one are you after?"
 Miss Imogene," confessed the young man without reserve, and if you don't object to my confidence, Lord Croy- land, I love her as no man ever loved a girl before It's-it's-well, hang it, it's painful" He fell into a the"ght- full pause, then looked up again. "Now, I think I've been perfectly candid with you, and l want you to be quite frank with me. If it's Miss Chittendon we can decide what to do later"
 My dear fellow" said Richard. you cant imagine how I appreciate your openness and squareness. It throws new light upon your glorious American people. Allow me to give you cigar and be equally unreserved. While I admit without hesitation that Miss Imogene Chittendon is a most charming and utterly desirable young lady, I beg to assure you, sir, that never for a single fraction of a second have I entertained the least idea of of-in your own phrase, of going after her. Is that satisfactory?"
 Entirely so," said Mir Van der Awe holding out his hand with the nearest approach to happiness he had yet shown. "I'm glad to know you in your f,.YV lf,rht other Englishmen have met. Fact is, you don't even talk like one"
 Thanks" bowed Richard. prudently screwing in his mOnOcle. The eyeglass always made him feel like an idiot but. on the other hand, it gave dash of local color to his appearance with out which he would have been lost "Is there anything else in which can serve you. old chap?"
 "Yes. Lord Croyland, there is. You have very kindly stated to me that you have no intention of making a bid for ImOgene. That's very square of you, and I appreciate if. But would you mind telling her so:'
 Richard laughed a long. free, bubbly laugh that came echoing back in mer- " mockery at this most ingenious proposition.
 Well, he said. that's rather a diff ficult thing to do, isn't it? Strikes me as er-indelicate
 Not at all." protested Mir. Van der Awe. ''ImOgene is sensible girl''- oh. the blindness of lOye,-"and would understand yuu perfectly. You see" he explained. shes young. Her mind. confess frankly. is immature. Shes apt tO be-well. daZZlcd. might say. by foreign titles and brass buttons and things of that description. It's wO- mans natural instinct. you know. and have no logical right to blame her You see. I have reasoned it all out and am speaking from standpoint of su- perior age and experience. Now. you can't find fault with that line of thought. can you?'
 Not a flaw" answered Richard graveIy. "It's simply perfect. Go on"
 The lover prOcecded earnestly.
 "As Imogene's future husband it Is my duty to surround the child with every possible safeguard. and for that reason I should like her present fancy for yOu disiIlusiOnized. She refused tO let me % with her to pick wild flowers this morning and chose you. merely. ] suppose. because you are an earl That's why I followed you. Now. I'm not asking you to do any thing that I would not dO for you eheerfuIly. and 90 ask you again if