The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-23
ALBERT PAYsoN TERHUNE


| was probably because she knew no better suppose her sort of people, And here the gods deprived Amzi Nicholas Caine of wisdom. l shes a little thoroughbred" he in- | terposed Stoutly. '.I never saw any thing better done in my life than her | denly-awakened chap It made one ashamed of having wanted to laugh If you are going to take other peo- pie part against me- shifted Letty you needn't trouble to wait here any longer Goodnight. I am very tired and very miserable"
 caine forthwith performed prodigies or self abasement that little by little | wooed Lefty back from tears to tenn per.
 Just the same!" she snapped '1t was your fault. If it hadn't been for you. I'm quite sure Father would nev- CT have invited him."
 I never heard of your fathers sac r1f1c1ng his own wishes to that extent for my sake" said Caine. unwarilv. ''If he invited Conover out of compii- ment to me. he didn't think it inn thank him?"
 ''No. no!'' cried Lefty in alarm. And" with recovering eIf-control, 'I never want to see that man again as long as I live. I feel-strangled-when he is near me. As if he were trying to master me as he does his railroads and Legislatures. He hypnotizes me with his mud-colored eyes and that great lower jaw. IT hate. him. Ill- I'll never have to see him again. will I? Promise mel.
 Punishment had given place to de- mand for coddling. Caine rose ardent ly to the occasion. Yet she was not content. e.
 Promise mel' she reiterated Promise me he'll never come here again."
 Hell have to pay dinner caI," 1f0cf tad Hofw enough to do that. I'm afraid. If he doesn't. Miss Shevlin will tell him."
 T won't be at homei'' she declared fearfully- The can't make me see him. never want to see either of them again. Either of them. Promise me you'H thrash him if he annoys me-
 She peered coyly up at him from be- tween thin. soaked lashes: her nose heroics were lacking. For. even as he started to voice the idle promise a picture of Rlacarda.-smashed and un- recognizable. screaming in agony of terror-fashed into Gaines mind. And the pa-donable boast struck midway in his throat. NJ
 T think you are getting tired of me-" sobbed Lefty. accusingly. eff you are, don't be afraid to say so. I can bear it. It's only one thing more for me to bear"
 Mrs. Hawarden. at Desiree's whis-
  ward lift in her carriage. The Fighter sat in heavy silence throughout the drive. When the carriage stopped at Desiree's door. he helped her out and, with a grunt of goodnight to Mrs. Ha- warden. followed the girl up the walk. Nor did he speak as he unlocked the door for her.
 But Desiree was in no haste to say goodnight. A waning moon made the veranda bright. The air was still warm. She threw her cloak over a chair arm and seated herself in a porch rocker: Caleb standing dumblyll before her. She leaned back comfort ably in the deep chair. looking up with fnscrutabie eyes at his silhouette that bulked big in the moonlight. Of a sudden. she fell to laughing softly
 "Oh. you big babyp' she cried. | You've punished yourself all you're | going to. It's all right. Now stop be- ing unhappy! stopl Smile!" in lingering doubt.
 silly, Why should be?''
 TT made awful small of you, the | way I acted" he confessed.
 "If I can stand it, you ought to-" she l retorted. "Now be friends and stop | sulking."
 You're sure you ain't mad" he | queried. still in doubt.
 Mad? Not one smidgin!-I-"
 "Oh. Dey." he interrupted. all con triton. Ut was rotten of me! To think of my snorin' out loud an mak- III eVeIyDOQy ruDD6r at you Wn1l6 | they gave me the laugh! Am you new CT batted an eyei You sat there look | in so friendly an cool, an talkin' to me like nothin' had happened! could | a knelt down and kissed both your feet. I kep' a. thinkin' all evenin' that you'd most likely take it out on me when we was alone. It'd a'been only l hooman nature if you had. That's why cine. An you ain't even disgusted with me You ain't are your" he add ed in nasty need for reassurance.
 Would you have been 'disgusted' with me- she asked. "if 1t had been I instead of you that-?''
 You know blame well I wouldn't" he declared. An I'd a'licked ev'ry man 1,d in eoI;s. the place that dared to laugh
 That's just what I wanted to do." it wasn't at you, dear boy"
 cond1er M win out ade on em ynist.Ls yet, growled I'm ashamed of it. The only feller who's never ashamed of his mistakes is a loonatic- And I aint ioonatic | by long shot. I'm ashamed. But I'I | win"
 Listen to mel" she demanded. elf | there was a big. lovSble. splendid child | you knew and he insisted on going to play with children who hadn't the sense to see how fine he was and what | good company he could be. it wouldn't | make you angry at him, would it, if | ne got laugneo at TOT not unOerSJanQ- ing their stiff, set ways? Of course | not But when he'd had his lesson and | had burned his poor stubby fingers wouldn't it make you just the least little bit impatient if he began right away to plan to try his luck with those same horrid children again? Wouldn't you be tempted to spank him orr"
 You're dead right. little girl" he admitted. An you're a lot cleverer than I am- T."
 Then you will give it up?" she urged.
 'I can't. Dey! Honest. I can't. couldn't look myself in the .face again if I let those gold-shirters beat me out. You see how it is. don't you? I'm in to win. If I ever was to give up fight. I could never win another. It'd take the win out of me. for keeps. Please don't make me do it Dey!"
 "An right," she sighed, in comic de- spair. Its only for your own sake and because care for you"
 eff it's goin' to make you unhappy | or ashamed of me- I'll give it up" he