Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-08

W"HHNN1 S
 She Was Waiting at the Station in Her Phaeton to Meet Me.
 sald she between her teeth. But l shan't." She snatched away her hand and threw back her head.
 T wish nothing but what is best for us both," said I. But let us not talk of it now-when neither of us is calm"
 You don't care for mel she cried.
 Do you love me?" rejoined.
 Her eyes shifted. I waited for her reply, and when it did come, said: Let us go to breakfast"
 "I'll not go in just now" she an swered, in quiet tone. a sudden and strange shift from that of the mo- ment before. And she let me take her hand, echoing my good-by, and made no further attempt to detain me.
 That was gloomy breakfast de- spite my efforts to make my own seeming good-humor permeate to the others. Mrs. Ramsay hid somber face behind the coffeeurn; Ed ate fu- riously, noisily, choking every now and then. He drove me to the sta tion; his whole body was probably as damp from his emotions as were his eyes and his big friendly hand. The train got under way; drew long breath. I was free. .-.a
 But somehow freedom did not taste as I had anticipated. Though I re. minded myself that I had acted as any man with pride and self-respect would have acted in such delicate circumstances and though knew that Carlotta was no more in love with me than was with her, this end of our engagement seemed even more humil- iating to me than it's beginning had seemed. It was one more instance of that wretched fatality which has pursued me through life, which has made every one of my triumphs come to me in mourning robes and with a gruesome face. In the glittering ar ray of prizes" that tempts man to make beast and a fool of himself in the gladiatorial show called Life, the sorriest. the most ironic. is the grand prize, Victory.
 The parlor car was crowded; it's only untaken seat was in the smok. ing compartment, which had four oth- CT occupants, deep in a game of poker. Three of them were types of commonplace, prosperous Americans; the fourth could not be easily classed, and, therefore. interested me-espe- cially as was in the mood to well come anything that would crowd to the background my far from agree able thoughts.
 The others called him Doe" or Woodruff. As they played. they drank from fiasks produced by each in turn. Doc drank with the others, and deeper than any of them. They talked more and more, he less and less, until finally he interrupted their noisy volatility only when the game compelled. I saw that he was one of those men upon whom amiable con versation or liquor or any other relax ing force has the reverse of the usual effect. Instead of relaxing, he drew himself together and concentrated more obstinately upon his game. Luck, so far as the cards controlled it, was rather against him. and the other three players took turns at au- dacious and by no means unskillfll play. l was soon admiring the way he sized up" and met each in turn. Prudence did not make him timid. He advanced and retreated, "bluied" and held aloof, with acuteness and daring.
 At station perhaps 50 miles from Chicago. the other three left-and Doc had s400 of their money.
 dropped into the seat opposite him fit was by the window-and amused myself watching him, while waiting for a chance to talk to him; for I saw that he was a superior person, and. in those days. when was in- conspicuous and SO was not compell- ed constantly to be on guard. never missed a chance to benefit by such exchanges of ideas.
 He was apparently about 70 years old. to strike a balance between the youth of eyes. mouth. and contour, and the age of deep lines and grayish, thinning hair. He had large, frank blue eyes. a large nose. a strong fore head and chin. grossly self-InduIgcnt mouth-there was the weakness, there. as usual Evidently. the strength of his mind and character gave him vent in panderfng to phys icsl appetites. In confirmation of this. there was two curious marks on him-a nick Ia the rim of his Ieft ear, a souvenir of q bullet or a knife. and c scar just under the edge of his chin 10 the right When he com pressed his lips. this scar. no, e. peeisIly noticeable at other times. lifted up into his face. became of a sickly. biuish vhite. and transformed a careless. good-humored cynic Into . man of danger. q terror.
 His reverie began. ss I gathered from his unguzrted face ia eyrtezi