Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-15
By HELEN R. MARTIN,
Author ef "Tillie: A Mennonite Maid"

you must see touches me to the quick in my most vulnerable spot, my fam
 fly pride"
 But you know I always did think you pampered that vulnerable spot And pampered things get spoiled. A little exposure of the spot won't hurt it."
 'The girl is of age. She might not consent to my patronage. She might want to take things into her own hands at once. Cant you," she urged, give me some idea of what she is like?"
 T prefer to leave your mind unpreju- diced to judge for yourself"
 ''She must be dreadfulr' i T don't see that that follows"
 "Else you'd reassure me. You wouldn't let me suffer such dread as shall suffer from now until I know the worst"
 Clothes make a lot of difference, you know" he said consolingly. At least I know women think so. Dress her up. That will help"
 She ignored his flippancy. How do you think she will take 1.-the news that she's an beiress?"
 Then you acknowledge her claims?" he quickly asked.
 ''She claims the money, of course?"
 "She knows nothing of it. I have not even told her her name"
 "Why have you not?"
 q thought it best to find out first whether you would credit my story. It would have been cruel to raise her hopes of being an heiress only to dis appoint them in case you are unwilling to make over to her her fathers for tune'
 Unwilling: Is it a question of my being willing or unwilling?' she asked with a touch of bitterness.
 T must tell you that however sure you and I might feel of her identity, the legal procf is too weak to establish any claims
 She looked at him keenly. "Well? w Hat are you ullN1uS at!
 ''No one can force you to part with dollar of this money"
 "Indeed!'
 That is my conviction"
 Tt is very interesting" she said, shrugging her shoulders.
 He looked at her dubiously.
 T think I see your point" she add ed.
 q believe I've lost it myself" he declared. Just what is it, anyway? Help me out"
 You are doing me the honor to be- lieve me capable of withholding my niece's fortune; of being unwilling to make restitution to her"
 T am presupposing nothing, Miss Wolcott," he hastily afiirmed-not quite candidly.
 "I do not deny that your news is bitter to mo. But Dr. Kinross, the prospect of losing the money is the least part of the bitterness"
 "Is the discovery of a niece so great a calamityT
 T suppose I can't expect you to appreciate my feelings about the way my brothers child has been reared" she said with q dignifed melancholy.
 "I think ] do appreciate them, Miss Wolcott."
 Not so much, Peter, as you think you appreciate my loss of money"
 T merely pointed out to you that there could be no legal compulsion in the case"
 "Compulsi6n! Don't you think you use strange expressions? You said you believed this girl to be my niece. I tell you now I also believe it. How, then, can there be any talk of con- polling me to return to her her fa- ther's money, of which she has been deprived for twenty years? What the loss of the money may mean to me- She dismissed that side of it with an- other shrug, though she was very pale.
 Kinross sprang to his feet and held out his hand Miss wolcott, blood does tell. If you were a man I'd call you a bully fellow. You renew my long lost faith in womankind."
 Because you discover that I'm not q scoundrel?"
 You have a most uncomfortable 1 way of making a fellow feel small"
 Sit down and talk sense We must decide what is best to do with the girl. . You have not told me how you think she will take it when she learns she's m heireSs" ''Now. do you know. I've not the least idea. I'm curious myself to find out" Do you think 1t will turn her heady' she is incredibly unsophisticated and ignorant of life-so much so that she will probably not realize at all what 1t means in a worldly way to rome into great wealth. So if you manage her wisely you may save her from having her head turned"
 Miss WolcOtt sighed heavily. "It seems to me I have a herculean task n my hands"
 T suppose" said KinrOss gravely. I I have seemed heartless in my way 'f bringing you this unweleome news. But. believe me, I do most sincerely eel the disaster that fl is to you-not." le quickly added. ''in the discovery of rOur niece. but in the loss to you Of -ealth which you have enjoyed so Oag that l don't see how you are go- 7S 10 get On without it--
 T managed to worry through thirty ears o[ my life without 1t, so sup ,0se can do it again. she curtiy dis