Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-01

v combe said finally. ''the whole
 history of my wanderings.
 feel like man who has been beating the air, who has been at war with unseen and irresistible forces. never seemed to have chance. In plain words, have failed utterly.' The two men were sitting in room Impossible of classification. It might have been a study, smoking room or gun room The walls were adorned with stags' heads and various trophies of the chase. There were. guns and ri fies in'plenty in rack by the chimney piece, a row of bookcases along the north wall, golf clubs, cricket bats and foils everywhere. A pile of logs ready for burning stood in the open grate, and magnificent rugs were spread about the floor. Nowhere was there the slightest trace of woman's pres ence, for Duncombe had no sisters, and his was entirely bachelor household Duncombe himself and Andrew Pel- ham were seated in great easy chairs in front of the open window. It was bis first fine evening at home, and he was drinking in great drafts of the fresh, pure air, fragrant with the per fume of roses and great clusters of wallflowers. Paris had seemed to him like great oven. All the time he had been half stified, and yet he knew very well that at word from Spencer he would have returned there at an hours notice. He knew, too that the home which be had loved all his days could never be quite the same place to him again.
 Andrew reused himself from rather prolonged silence.
 You were a brick to go George" he said. Tt is more than any one else in the world would have done for me" Duncombe laughed little uneaslly. He knocked the ashes from his pipe and reflled it slowly.
 Andrew" he said. Il don't want to ,, seem fraud. I daresay that I might ! have gone for you alone, but l didn't His friend smiled faintly.
 "Ahr' he remarked. T had forgotten your little infatuation. It hasn't worn :. of yet, then?''
 No, nor any signs of it." Dnncombe answered bluntly. Its an odd posi- ton for a matter of fact person like myself, isn't it? I tell you, Andrew, I've really tried to care for some of the girls about here. The place wants a mistress, and I'm the tenth baronet in the direct line. Ones got to think / about these things, you know. I've tried hard, and I've never even come near it."
 Tt will wear off," Andrew said. Tt is a very charming little fancy, a most delightful bit of sentiment, George, but with nothing behind it it can't last"
 Perhaps not" Duncombe answered quietly. "All that know is that it has shown no signs of wearing of up to now. It was in Paris exactly as 1t Is here. And I know very well that if thought it would do her the least blt of good would start back to Paris OE to the end of the world tonight"
 T must readjust my views of you George" his friend said, with mild satire. "I always looked upon you as fair game for the Norfolk dowager: with their broods of daughters. but uHer contemplated your fixing youl
 ctions upon little piece of paste
 h."
 Rot! It is the girl herself" Dun
 nbe declared.
 But you have never seen her"
 Duncombe shrugged his shoulders He said nothing. What was the use Never seen her. Had she not fount her way into every beautiful place hli klife had knowledge of?
 ~If you had.- Andrew murmured fAh, we'll, the picture is Ike her! pmember when she was a child Sh' sas always fascinating. always de lightful to watch"
 Duncombe looked out upon the gar lens which be loved and sighed
 If only Spencer would send for m
 go back to Paris" he said. with kh.
 Andrew turned hls head
 You can imagine now." he said rhat I have been suffering The de
 N for action sometimes Is almos
 diening. I think that the man wh
 and waits has the hardest task
 They were silent for some time
 cking steadily. Then DuncOmbe rs
 ed once more to hls vanderings-
 fou remember the story they toll ne at the cafe. Andrp~.- he said T ras a lie. of course. but was Ms |syntOn anything of an arfiztz
 .-To the best of my belief A1drev
 swcred, -sse has never touched