Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-31

At shs Top of the Stair, Her Height
 Accentuated by Her Gown of White,
 Stood Marian Devereux.
 then down the steps. between the line of guests arrested in their descent, came dark laughing girl in the garb of Little Red Riding Hood, amid gen eral applause and laughter.
 Its Olivia! She won the wager!" exclaimed the spectacled gentleman, and the girl, whose dark curls were sheken about her face, ran up to us and threw her arms about him and kissed him. It was a charming pic ture-the figures on the stairway, the pretty, graceful child, the eager, happy faces all about. I was too interested in the scene to be uncomfortable.
 Then, at the top of the stair, her height accentuated by her gown of white, stood Marian Devereux, hesi- tating an instant, as bird pauses be- fore taking wing, and then laughingly running between the lines to where Olivia faced her in ock objection. To the charm of the girl in the wood land was added now the dignity of beautiful womanhood. and my heart leaped at the thought that had ever spoken to her, that was there be. cause she had taunted me with the risk of coming.
 Above. on the stair landing, a deep- toned clock began to strike midnight and every one cried Merry Christ. mas." and "Oliyia's wnn!" and there was more hand clapping. in which I joined with good will.
 Some one behind me was explaining what had just occurred. Olivia, the youngest daughter of the house, had been denied a glimpse os the ball; Miss Devereux had made a wager with her host that Olivia would ap- pear before midnight; and Olivia. de feating the plot against her, gained the main hall at the stroke of 12.
 Good night! Good night" called Olivia-the real Olivia-in derision to the company. and turned and ran back through the applauding. laughing throng.
 The spectacled gentleman was Oliv- ia's father. and he mockingly rebuked Marian Devereux for having encour- aged an infraction of parentl disci- pline. while she was twitting him upon the loss of his wager. Then her eyes rested upon me for the first time. She lifted her brows slightly, but contin- ued talking placidly to her host. The situation did not please me: had not travelled so far and barglariously en- tered Doctor Armslrong's house in quest of girl with blue eyes merely to stand by while she talked with an- ether man.
 drew nearer. imps:iently; and was that four other young men in white waistcoats and gloves quite as irreproachable as my own stood ready to clam her the instant she was free. did not propose to be thwarted by the beaux of Cincinnati and I sd- dressed my host boldly.
 T beg your pardon. Doctor" I said with an assurance for which I blush to this hour.
 "All right. my boy: I, too. have been In Arcady," he exclaimed in cheerful apology, and she put her hand OF my arm and led her away.
 He called me my boy so must be passing muster" remarked. not dar- ing to look at her.
 Hes afraid not to recognize you. His inability to remember faces is . town joke"
 We reached a quiet corner of the great hall and found a seat for her.
 You don't seem surprised to zee knew I would come. should have come across the world for this, flor just this
 Her eyes were grave at once.
 Why did you come? did not think rou were so foolish This Is also stretched. You didn't know that Mr. Pickering"
 She was greatly distressed and this name came from her ehokingly.
 Yes: what of himz- I laughed. He $ well on the way to California.-and without you,-
 No-you don't knov-you don't un- here, He abandoned lis California trip at Chicago: he tele- yraphed me to expect him-here-to- light. You must go at once-at ,nee.-
 -Ah. but you can't frigkten me- I aid. trying to realize just what meet ng with Pickering in that house might |