Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-26

sunset, naming, gorgeous, WllQ-De- yond the management of the women of Fairfield--and Miss Mattle stared into the heart of it with longing for some thing to happen. Then the thought came, "What could happen" She sighed again, and, with eyes blinded by heaven shine, glanced down the vil- lage street
 She thought she saw-she rubbed her eyes and looked again-she did see, and surely never stranger sight was be- held on Fairfield's street! Had Roy al Bengal tiger come slouching through Che dust it could not have been more unusual. The spectacle was a man: a very large and mighty shouldered man, who looked about him with a bold. im- perious, keep the change regard. There was something in the swing of him that suggested the Bengal tiger He wore high heeled boots outside of his trousers, q flannel shirt with yellow silk kerchief around his neck, and on his head sat white hat which seemed to Miss Hattie to be at least yard in diameter. Under the hat was re- fnarkable head of hair It hung below the mans shoulders in a silky mass of dark scarlet fecked with brown gold. Miss Matte had seen red hair, but she remembered no such color as this, nor eould she recall ever having seen hair foot and a half long on man. That hair would have made fortune on the head of an actress, but Miss Mattie was ignorant of the possibilities of the profession.
 The face of the man was fine tan, against which eyes, teeth and mus tache came out In brisk relief. The mustache avoided the tropical tint of the upper hair and was content with modest brown. The owner came right along, walking with stiff, strong, straddling gait, like a man not used to that way of travelling.
 Miss Hattie eyed him in some fear. He would be by her house directly, and it was hardly modest to sit az gressively on ones front porch while q strange man went by, particularly such very strange man as this. Yet q thrill of curiosity held her for the moment, and then 1t was too late, for the man stopped and asked little Ed die Newell. who was playing placidly in the dust-all the children played placidly in Fairfeld-asked Eddie in voice which reached Miss Mattie plainly, although the owner evidently made no attempt to raise 1t. if he knew where Miss Mattle Saunders lived1
 Eddie had not noticed the large mans approach and nearly fell over in a fright, but seeing. with chlld's Intuition, that there was no danger in this fierce looking person he piped up instantly.
 "Y-y-yessir, I kin tell yer where she lives-yessir! She lives right down there in that little house. I kin go down with you jes' swell s not! Why, there she is now, on the stoop"
 "Thankee. sonny" said the big voice. Here's for miggles," and Miss Mattle caught the sparkle of a coin as it flew into the grimy fists of Eddie.
 Much obligedw yelled Eddie and vanished up the street.
 Miss Hattie sat transfixed. Her breath came in swallows. and her heart beat irregularly. Here was nov city with a vengeance! The big man turned and fastened his eyes upon her. There was no retreat. She mo- ticed with some reinsurance that his eyes were grave and kindly.
 As he advanced Miss Hattie rose in agitation, unconsciously putting her hand on her throat. What could 1t mean?
 The gate was opened and the stran- ger strode up the cinder walk to the porch. He stopped a whole minute and looked at her. At last!
 Well. Mattie!" he said, don't you know mer
 A flood of the widest hypotheses flashed through Miss Mattie's mind
 
 this picturesque giant who stepped out of the past with so familiar a sal utation? Although the porch was foot high. and Miss Mattie a fairly tall woman. their eyes were almost on a level as she looked at him in won der.
 Then he laughed and showed his white teeth. No use to bother and worry you. Mattie." said he. "You call 1t in ten years. We'll. I'm your half uncle Fred's hoy Bill. and hope you're a quarter as glad to see me as I am to see you"
 What she cried. Not little Willy who ran away"
 The same little Willy" he replied In tone that made Miss Hattie laugh a little. nervOusly. and what I wan. to know is. are you glad to see mel"
 Why. of course! But. WILL sup pose I should call you Will? I am so expecting yOu-and its been So warm today. Won't you come in and take a chair?' wound up Miss Hattie in desperation and fury at her self for saying things sO different from what she meant sn say.
 There vas a twinkle in the mans eyes as he replied in an injured tone:
 Why. good Lonl. Mattie. I've cone 2O10 niles or more 10 see ron. and vDu nsk me to take a chair just as If I'd stepped fn from across the way! Can't ron give a man a little warmer welcome than that!-' What shall l dO?- asked poor Mss Matte. Well y01 might Kiss me for a .3.-< s-sH ra