Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-26
By VIRGINIA BLAIR
Copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
 Literary Press,


 The judge kissed her. "Now it's Divers turn" he leased.
 "Oh, father" she reproached him, with sob, you know Oliver and I have had to break our engagement be cause mother won't hear of it" And she hid her face on the judges shoul- der
 The judge glanced at Oliver. Tell her" he commanded, and the boy be gan q hating tale
 AS he proceeded Roxane interrupted You mean that some one has left you a fortuneT
 Oliver nodded
 Where did ne liye:"
 "I'm not sure" the boy stammered.
 T wouldn't inquire too closely into 1t. Roxane," the judge advised hur- riedly. The less said about that rela- tive of Divers the better"
 With her face shining, the girl went swiftly to her lover. "Oh. Oliver, Oil yer" she said how happy I am.'
 For q moment he hesitated; then he gathered her into his arms. 'Its worth everything to know that you are mine, Roxane," he said huskily.
 The rustic of silk skirts in the hail brought him out of his rhapsody.
 Its your mother" warned the judge, and when the rather stout lady in mauve entered she found two sol emn young people on each side of the judges desk. That Roxane's plumed hat was slightly over one ear and that a golden hair strayed across Oliver's coat collar were details which escaped her
 'I thought Roxane was never con- ing down." she panted.
 T found Oliver here,' Roxane ex- plained, and. oh mother, a rich rela- tive has left him fortune"
 "A fortune-Oiver," scoffed the stout lady. "Why, he hasn't rich relative In the world"
 The fact remains, my dear" the judge asserted blandly. that he has had a fortune left him by a distant cousin"
 What cousin?" was the demand. You needn't tell me, James"
 Tut, tut" the judge cautioned Don't accuse the boy of lying"
 I'm not accusing anybody" Mrs. Vandiver stated. "I merely asked you what cousin. James"
 The judge mopped his forehead. The sudden arrival of the ladies of his household had not given him time to perfect details
 I'm not sure of the name. Abbie," he stammered. Perhaps Oliver can satisfy you"
 But Oliver weakened. T think Mrs. Vandivcr is right" he said unsteadily Until I can offer satisfactory proof of my good fortune 1t will be well for me to give up Roxane"
 Oliver" The wall was from his be- trothed. but he went on, There may be some mistake"
 ''Of course" said Mrs. yandiver. with aggravating sureness. Come on, Roxane." And she dragged her unwill- ing captive from the room.
 Left alone, the conspirators stared at each other
 Now you've done it." said the judge disgustedly. Why couldn't you bluff it out:"
 Not with RoIane's trusting eyes on me-" said Roxane's lover.
 Well if you knew ROxane's mother as well as I do," the judge growled, you would know that it's the only hope"
 After q depressing silence Oliver ventured. Perhaps if you approached her differently you might get better results"
 The judge smiled. How do you meanY'
 Oliver blushed "Oh. well. I've some times thought. sir, that if you appealed to your wife's sense of romance
 ''Abbie's sense of romance" the judge calculated
 You must have some memories that would make her feel tenderly toward you-toward US
 Tt has been so long" the judge mur- mured and found himself suddenly curious as to when he had ceased to think of Abbie as the princess in his fairy tale When had he ceased to write sonnets to her ringlets, odes to her eyebrows?
 You sHe. I'm afraid we're bevnnd romance" he murmured. "She wouldn't understand"
 ''It seems to me said the wise young Daniel. that a woman is never too old to resist an appeal to her heart"
 The judge pcndered "I asked her to marry me on Oct. 15 twenty-two years ago.
 There" Oliver exclaimed. "and to- day is the 14th. and tomorrow Is an