Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-09

wished with all his heart that three of them at least were confined for life in the Tower of London, while he talked to the fourth of bronchos and love and things he understood. Then MT. Corri- gan took hand.
 "Lord Croyland," he began, leisurely slipping his port, it has been many years since I was in London, but | have always retained a most delight ful recollection of Hyde park. Very few changes there, suppose?"
 Richard frightened visibly. This was a subject on which the astute Bills had drilled him well. He could speak of it, he thought, with little danger of slip. Mir. Corrigan went on reflec- lively: G
 "Quite park, as remember it.'
 Vast" agreed Richard. wishing his mentor had been little more explicit as to dimensions.
 q was especially impressed" said MT. Corrigan, with delusive blandness, with that splendid statue of Napo- leon, which stands at the main en- trance. You are familiar with it, of course, Lord Croyland?"
 "Oh, quitew assented Richard bold ly, screwing in his monocle and look. ing Uncle Michael straight in the eye, with never a tremor in his own. ITO me it is quite the finest bit of bronze I've ever seen."
 Mir. Corrigan seemed puzzled.
 "Bronze?" he murmured thoughtful- ly. "Now, that's strange. was un- der the impression that it was done in marble" He looked up with smile and sigh. "I dare say I'm getting old, my lord"
 Richard began to feel beads of cold precipitation gathering upon his brow, but dared not call attention thereto by hopping.
 Tt is quite weather stained, you know" he explained, with outward calm, land perhaps-well, you see, the sculptors name is Thornton. I've nev- CT heard that he worked in marble, though may be wrong."
 But what I don't understand" gex. claimed Mir. Renwyck, "is why you Englishmen ever put up statue of Napoleon at all. Seems to me that hating him as you did it was rather a curious thing to do."
 Not at all," said Richard desperate ly; "prisoner. y'know-St. Helena- and all that sort of thing-er-mag- unanimous" Uncle Michael did not seem convinc- ed and was about to ask more ques- tions when Mir. Renwyck turned upon him sharply.
 Michael, you are doing this for the sake of argument. I don't believe you know anything about it, and, what is more, think Lord Croyland is hu- moring you for the sake of politeness. I'll prove it." He turned to Richard. My boy, ought to have warned you in advance. My brother-in-law is a crotchety old lawyer who has never got over his bad habits. Tell me-hon- estly now-is there a statue of Napo- leon Bonaparte in Hyde park at all?'
 "No" smiled Richard, greatly reliev- | ed at thlS turn, tnere IS uoC.
 ''Who is it, then"
 wellington" said Richard. with tri- umphant carelessness, although he real | ly did not know whether there was such a statue or not. But then neither did any one else at the table, although all but Miss Chittendon had visited England, some of them many times. The company laughed at MT. Corri- gan's discontinue. while the victim himself seemed to enjoy it with the keenest zest. That dangerous incident was closed.
 The dinner was finished at last, and Mir. Corrigan. pleading an appoint ment, departed, greatly to Richards re- lief The rest of the evening was spent in company with the ladies. for the young mans efforts to single out one in particular were invariably frus- trated by the other three. It was not | until nearly II that he had short half l hour with her alone, but in this he was repaid for all his tribulations. Miss Harriet was dressed in an exquisite pale blue gown. modestly revealing a neck and shoulders which to Richard were the most beautiful in all the world. They sat on the front veranda overlooking the river, she in low wicker chair and he on the steps at her feet. Behind him were clusters of wistaria blooms, while beyond in the darkness the first of the firefiies twin1 kled like stars. To them came tho nighttime scents and the murmur of the wind across the mighty Hudson on its journey to the sea.
 Miss Harriet told him of her trip to Texas and of the gallant cowboy whd had saved her life, while Richard lis tened with bounding heart. He longed to claim a hero's place, to confess his deception and tell her the plain, bart truth. And yet he paused. To confes would involve disclosing the reason O his deceit, and he dare not risk tht chance of losing her yet. She wa young, romantic. The very daring of lovers bold design might appeal to her but on the other hand, it was bette to wait till he had won her heart thai to ruin all by foolish precipitance.
 And what sort of chap was thi cowboyY' he asked her presently.
 "Oh. splendidF' she answered. wit enthusiasm. He was tall and straigt and strong. Why. he lifted me though I had been a child and set n down as tenderly as my own mothf might have done. It all came so sui