Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-11-13

md strode away through the long shad- ows of the garden. They heard the gate click after him as he passed into the Claiborne grounds, and then they glanced at each other with such a glance as may pass between two mem- bers of peace commission sitting on the same side of the table who will not admit to each other that the latest proposition of the enemy has been in the nature of a surprise. They did not. however, suffer themselves to watch Armitage. but Automatically re- filled their glasses.
 Through the green walls went Armi- tage. He had not been out of the baron's ground before since he was carried thence from the bungalow, and it was pleasant to be free once more and able to stir without nurse at his heels. and he swung along with his head and shoulders erect. walking with the confident stride of man who has no doubt whatever of his immedi- ate aim.
 At the pergola he paused to recon hotter, finding on the bench certain vestigia that interested him deeply-a pink parasol. contrivance of straw, lace and pink roses that seemed to be a hat and June magazine He jump ed upon the bench where once he had sat an exile. a refugee, a person dis cussed in disagreeable terms by the newspapers, and studied the landscape. Then he went on up the gradual slope of the meadow until he came to the pasture wall It was under the trees beneath which Oscar had waited for Zmai that he found her.
 They told me you wouldn't dare venture out for week." she said, ad. vancing toward him and giving him her hand.
 That was what they told me- he said, laughing, but escaped from my keepers"
 You will undoubtedly take cold without your hat!'
 Yes; shall undoubtedly have pneu monia from exposure to the Virginia sunshine. I take my chances"
 You may sit on the wall for three minutes; then you must go back. cannot be responsible for the life of wounded hero"
 'Pleaser' He held up his hand That's what I came to talk to you about"
 About being a hero? You have talk. en an unfair advantage. was going to send for the latest designs in laurel wreaths tomorrow"
 She sat down beside him on the wall The sheep were a grayish blur agains, the green. A little negro boy was shepherding them, and they scampered before him toward the farther end oi the pasture. The faint and vanishing tinkle of a bell and the boys whistle gave emphasis to the country quiet ol the late afternoon. They spoke rapidly y and impersonally of his adventures ir the hills and of his illness.
 "I didn't know, Miss Claiborne, that I was going to lose my mind that morn ing at the bungalow or I should have asked your brother to conduct you tr the conservatory while tainted. Frop what they told me I must have been g little light headed for day or two. Ii I had been in my right mind should not have let Captain Dick mix up 1T my business and run the risk of getting killed in nasty little row. Dear ole Dick. l made mess of that whole business. I ought to have telegraphet for the Storm Springs constable in the beginning and told him that if ht wasn't careful the noble house oi Schomburg would totter and fall"
 "Yes. and iust imagine the effect or our constable of telling him that tho fate of an empire lay in his hands. It: hard enough to gee man arrested wht beats his horse. But you must go bacE to your keepers. You haven't youl hat
 "Neither have you. You shan't outds ne in recklessness. inspected you hat as came through the pergola. liked it immensely. came near seiz ing It as spoil of war-the loot of ths pergola,'
 There would be cause for another sar. l have rarely liked any hat sC