Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-09


 phy Grouch!"
 Sophy was watching. Her head rose from the other side of the ditch. She was down in moment, up again and in her friends arms. Its like puff of fresh air" she whispered as she kissed her. and then. drawing away, looked her over Sophy was tall be- yond her years. and her head was near ly on level with Julias. She was in her short print gown, with her kitchen apron on. her sleeves rolled up, her face red from the fire. her hands, too, no doubt red from washing vegetables and dishes. 'She looked like Cinder- ella in the first act of pantomlme," is Miss Robins professional comment, colored perhaps also by subsequent events.
 You're beautifulp cried Sophy. "Oh, that shirt love red!" And so on for some time no doubt. "Tell me about 1t. Tell me everything about 1t, she urged. "It's the next best thing, you know"
 Miss Robins recounted her adven- lures. They would not seem very dag. zling at this distance. Sophy heard them with ardent eyes. They availed to color the mark on her cheek to a rosy tint That's being alive" she said. with deep drawn sigh.
 Julia patted hes hand consolingly. But I'm twentyw she reminded her friend. Think how young you are!"
 Young or old's much the same in the kitchen" Sophy grumbled.
 Linking arms, they walked up the avenue and came near to the gates. Julia felt a sudden pressure on her arm.
 Look" whispered Sophy, her eyes lighting up again in interest.
 A young man rode up the approach to the hall lodge. His mare was a beauty. He sat her we'll He was per fectly dressed for the exercise His features were clear cut and handsome. There was as fine an air of breeding about him as about the splendid New foundland dogIwhich ran behind him.
 Julia looked as she was bidden. He's handsome" she said. Why she laughed low-"I believe know who 1t is--I think I've seen him somewhere"
 Have you?' sophy's question was breathless.
 ''Yes, I know. When we were at York! He was one of the officers there. He was in box. Sophy, it's the Earl of Dunstanbury"
 Sophy did not speak. She looked. The young man-he could be hardly more than twenty-came on. Sophy suddenly hid behind her friend ("To save my pride. not her own." generous Julia explains; Sophy herself advances no such excIse), but she could see. She saw the riders eye rest on Julia. Did 1t rest in recognition? It almost seemed so, yet there was doubt. Julia blushed, but she forebore from smiling or from seeking to rouse his memory. Yet she was proud if he remembered her face from across the footlights. The young man., too, being but young man, blushed little as he gave the pretty girl by the gate such glance as dis creetly told her that he was of the same mind as herself about her looks. These silent interchanges of opinion on such matters are pleasant diversions as one plods the highway.
 He was gone. Julia sighed fin satis- fed vanity. Sophy awoke to stern re alities.
 Gracious" she cried, "he must have come to lunch! They'll want salad! You'll be here tomorrow-dor' And she was off up the drive and around to her own regions at the back of the house.
 "I believe his lordship did remember my face" thought Julia as she wander ed back to woodblne cottage.
 But Sophy washed lettuce in her scullery, which, save for its base pur. poses, was pleasant, airy apartment, looking out on path that ran between yew hedges and led around from the lawn to the offices of the house. Dill gently she washed, as Mrs. Smilker had taught her, whether rightly or not is nothing to the purpose here, but how many miles away was her mind? So far away from lettuces that 1t seemed in no way strange to look up and see Lord Dunstanbury and his dog on the path outside the window at which she had been performing her task. He began hastily:
 "oh. I say, I've been seeing my mare get her feed, and-er-do you think you could be so good as to find bone and some water for Lorenzof"
 -"LorenzoT" she said. My dog, you know" He pointed to the handsome beast, which vagged an expectant tail. why do you call him thatT'
 Dunstanbury smiled. Because he's magnificent. I dare say you never heard of Lorenzo the MagnifcentT'
 "No. Who was her
 "A duke-Duke of Florence, in Italy" He had begun to watch her face and seemed not impatient for the bone.
 "Florencef Italyf' The lettuce drop ped from her hands. She wiped her hands slowly on her apron.
 DO you think you could get me oneY'
 "Yes: I'll get It."
 She went to the back of the room and chose a bone.
 "wIl this dcl" she asked, holding it out through the window.
 Too much meat
 "oh.~ She went and got another. This one all rightI-
 Capital! Do you mind if I stay and noo hfra aat ifsn