Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-06


 to confess to her the debts had made. Edward Ramsay threw me a lifeline.
 He came bustling into my ofice one afternoon. big and broad, and obvious ly pleased with himself, and. there fore, with the world. He had hardly changed in years since we were at Ann Arbor together. He had kept up our friendship, and had insisted on visiting me several times, though not in the past four years, which had been as busy for him as for me. Lat terly his letters urging me to visit him at their great country place, away at the other end of the state, had set me hard task of inventing excuses.
 Well, welll" he exclaimed, shak. ing my hand violently in both his. You wouldn't come to see me, so I've come to you"
 tried not to show the nervousness this announcement stirred. 'Tm afraid you'll find our hospitality rather un- comfortable" was all said. Mother and I had not spread much sail to our temporary gust of prosperity; and, when the storm began to gath CT. she straightway close-reefed.
 Thanks, but I can't stop with you this time," said he. I'm making an inspection of the Power Trusts prop critics, and I've got mother and sis- ter along. We're living in the private car the company gives me for the tour" He went on to tell how, since his fathers death, he had been forced into responsibilities. and was, among many other things, a member of the Power trusts executive com. mittee.
 Soon came the inevitable question: "And how are you getting on?"
 50. so," replied |; mot too well, just at the present. I was beaten, you know. and have to go back to my practice in January"
 Wish you lived in my part of the state," said he. But the Ramsay company hasn't anything down here" He reflected moment, then beamed. T can get you the legal business of the Power trust if you want it," he said Their lawyer down here goes on the bench, you know-he was on the ticket that won. Roebuck want ed good, safe, first-class man on the bench in this circuit"
 But he added nothing more about the Power trust vacancy at Pulaski. True, my first impulse was that I couldn't and wouldn't accept; also. told myself 1t was absurd to imagine they would consider me. Still, wished to hear, and his failure to re- turn to the subject settled once more the cloud his coming had lifted some what
 Mother was not we'll enough to have the Ramsays at the house that even- ing, so I dined with them in the car. Mrs. Ramsay was the same sim pie. silent, ill-at-ease person I had first met at the Ann Arbor commence. ment-probably the same that she had been ever since her husbands wealth and her children's infection with new-fangled ideas had forced her from the plain ways of her youth. I liked her., but was not so we'll pleased with her daughter. Carlotta was then 22. had abundant, noticeably nice brown hair, an indifferent skin, pettish lips, and restless eyes, a little too close together-a spoiled willful young woman, taking to herself the deference that had been paid chiefly to her wealth. She treated me as If l were candidate for her favor whom she was testing so that she might decide whether she would be graciously pleased to tolerate me.
 Usually, superciliousness has not disturbed me. It is a cheap and harmless pleasure of cheap and harm less people. But just at that time my nerves were out of order. and Miss Ramsay's airs of patronage got" on me. I proceeded politely to con- vey to her the impression that she did not attract me, that I did not think her worth while-this, not through artful design of interesting by piquing. but simply in the hope of rasping upon her as she was rasping upon me. When I saw that I was gaining my point, l ignored her. tried to talk with Ed. then with his mother, but neither would interfere between me and carlotta. I had to talk to her until she voluntarily lapsed Into offended silence. Then Ed. to save the evening from disas- ter began discussing with me the fate of our classmates. I saw that Carlotta was studying me curiously- even resentfully. 1 thought; and she was coldly polite when I said good night.
 She and her mother called on my mother the next morning. And what a nice girl Miss Ramsay is-so sen. sible. SO intelligent. and so friendly" said my mother. relating the incl dent of the visit in minute detail when I went home at noon.
 T didn't find her especially friend ly." said I. whereat I saw. or fan cied I saw. a smile deep down in her eyes-and it set me to thinking.
 In the afternoon Ed looked in at my office in the court house to say good-by. But first. old man. I want to tell you I got that place for you. I thought I had better use the wire. Old Roebuck is delIghted-telegraph- ed me to close the arrangements at