Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-08
Come! Let US be friends!"
 He rose and put out his hands.

Come! Let us be friends!"
 He rose and put out his hands.
 T didn't mean that! don't care about that! It was nothing moro than deserved. These months here have changed me. Haven't you heard me say I was going to work?"
 And I tried to laugh away further discussion of my future.
 Tt will be more cheerful here in the spring." he said. as though seek ing an inducement for me to remain. When the resort colony down here comes to life the lake is really gay"
 I shook my head. The lake. that pretty cupful of water, tho dip and glide of maroon canoe, the remem- brance of a red tam-o -shanter merg- ing afar off in an October sunset!- my purpose to leave the place strengthened as I thought of these things. My nerves were keyed to a breaking pitch and, losing control of myself. I turned upon him stormily.
 "So Miss Devereux was the other person who shared your confidence! Do you understand,-do you appre- ciate the fact that she was Pickering's ally?"
 T certainly do not" he replied coldly. I'm surprised to hear you speak so of a woman whom you can scarcely know"
 "Yes. know her! My God. have reason to know her! But even when found her out I did not dream that the plot was as deep as it is. She know that it was scheme to test me, and she played me into Pickering's hands. I caught hor down there in the tunnel acting as his spy. looking for the lost notes. that she might gain grace in his eyes by turning them over to him. You know how I always hated Pickering.-he was too smooth. too snug, and you and everybody else were forever praising him to me. He was always held up to me as a model; and the first time I saw Marian Dever- eux she was with him-it was at Sherry's the night before I came here. l suppose she reached St Agatha's only few hours ahead of me"
 "Yes, Sister Theresa was her guar. dian. Her father was . dear friend. and I know her from her early child. hood. You are mistaken. Jack. Her knowing Pickering means nothing they both lived in New York and moved in the same circle"
 But 1t doesn't explain her efforts to help him, does it!" I blazed. He wished to marry her.-Sister Theresa told me that,-end l faile6-1 failed miserably to keep my obligation here -r ran away to follow her."
 "Ah, to be sure! You were away Christmas eve. whom those vendals broke in. Bates merely mentioned 1t in the last report got from him in New York. That was all right. I as. sumed, of course, that you had gone oil somewhere to get . little Christ mas cheer; I don't care anything about it."
 But I had followed her--l went to Cincinnati to seo her-don't you un- derstand? She dared mo to oome-it was . trick, a part of tho conspiracy to steal your property
 The old gentleman smiled. It was an old trick of hla to s-ow calm q other people waved angry.
 "She dared you to como. did ahel That is quito liko Marian: but you didn't Aavo to 60. did you. Jaek..
 "of course not: oe courae didn't have to 60. but"
 l stammered, filtered and ceased. Memory throw open he. portals with . eAallsngN cav Marian on tho stairway at the Armstrong;; heard her low, soft laughter; felt the mock. cry of her voice and eyes; I knew again the exquisite delight of being near her. My heart told me well enough why had followed her!
 Jack, I'm glad I'm not buried up there in that Vermont graveyard with nobody to exercise the right of guar dianship over you. I've had my mis- givings about you; used to think you were a born tramp; and you disap- pointed me in turning your back on architecture.-the, noblest of all pro fessions; but this performance of yours really beats them all. Don't you know that girl like Marian De- vereux isn't likely to become the agent Of any rascal? Do you really believe for minute that she tempted you to follow her so you might forfeit your rights to my property~
 But why was she trying to find those notes of his? Why did she come back from Cincinnati with his party? If you could answer me those things, maybe I'd admit that I'm . fool Pickering, imagine, is a pretty plausible fellow where women are con. cerned."
 For Gods sake. Jack. don't speak of that girl as women. I put her in that will of mine just to pique your curiosity, knowing that if there was . penalty on your marrying her you would be wholly likely to do it.-for that's the way human beings are made. But you've mixed 1t all up now and insulted her in the grossest way possible for a fellow who is really a gentleman. And don't want to lose you: I want you here with me, These