Norwich bulletin., 1909-11-20
1HE BULLETINS DAILY STORY
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING


 one startled glance and cried out: Dorothyl Thank God came in timel"
 The girl stared in dismay and shrank from his outstretched hands. Ralph | Oh, l can't go into your boat!" In that moment there was vivid i flash and the mist closed them in. Dorothy realized only vaguely the tor rents of rain that engulfed her canoe and the strong arms that pulled her out of the water and wrapped a heavy coat about her, so rapidly did it all | happen.
 It was an exciting time that follow ed, spend in dodging sunken lodges and steering around the islands, but at last they found themselves again on land, two thoroughly drenched figures, but safe.
 "Mr. Hunter" said Dorothy then in the most impersonally polite tone she could command !" thank you for res- cuing me. I want you to know that l appreciate 1t fully, but you surely un- derstand I would not have signailed you if I had dreamed who you were" She took no notfcespf his murmured Mighty lucky you didn't dreamy but turned into the path that led home wards. He kept at her side, in spite of her exasperatingly polite assurance that she would not trouble him fur ther, saying that he would certainly see her safe to the cottage Dorothy s chin rose trife and she walked along in naughty silence. MT. Hunter also kept silence until the half mile of wood path ended on top of the birch-covered knoll above the cottage. Then, sud- denly he turned upon her. T think it's about time you cut this out, Dollie. Maybe you know what you're driving at I certainly don't"
 Don't know?"
 T certainly don't. know you sent back our engagement ring and all my letters, but you didn't say why. And every time I tried to see you, you re- fused. Maybe am a consummate fool for following you up here this summer, but felt as though couldn't give you up without trying again to find out what was the matter"
 T should think your duty lay more with Miss Whitcomb," sarcastically.
 Miss Whiteombl Ethel Whitcomb % He spoke with such genuine astonish- ment that Dorothy was startled into making an enlightening remark.
 Perhaps being engaged to another don't trouble Miss Whitcomb. But you ought to know that I am not one of that kind"
 DO you mean that you think I am engaged to Ethel Whitcomb? Is that the trouble. Dorothy? Why I never
  sure Ethel never did. She .eloped with Harold Nixon a month ago. Besides, she's my second cousin.''
 Dorothy started. "You-you should have told me that"
 "Oh, Dorothy I thought you knew. I am so glad it's all settled" His arms were closing h1ngrily about her But she drew quickly away "No, no, 1t isn't settled at all. Do you expect to excuse yourself for not meeting me in Jersey City that afternoon and obliglng me, girl all alone there, de- pending on you, to miss my train in New York and have to hunt out a hotel and stay there all night? For all you appeared to care, might have sat in the station all night"
 Dorothy! I telegraphed to save you thatl"
 "Telegraphed? Are you sure? I never received any telegram"
 q sent it about o'clock-to the sta- tion. remember the very words: Impossible to meet you. Take next train home. Explain tomorrow And my letter the next day told you all about it-how father was taken seri- ouly i'll that very noon, just after lun- cheon. We didn't expect him to live over night, and of course I couldn't leave home. He was i'll for weeks"
 That must have been the letter didn't read" The remark was just audible. But Hunter caught at it. 'Is that true, Dorothy? No wonder you didn't understand.
 "But that isn't why yousent the ring back"
 NO. it wasn't that, Ralph. I didn't mind so much about your not meeting me, but when they told me you had been engaged all the time to Miss Whitcomb, I1"
 "Who told you?"
 Tt doesn't matter now, Ralph, since 1t isn't true. I am ashamed that was so unjust to you. Can you forgive?" She held out her hand, still moist from her recent bath. Hunter grasped it eagerly. "Of course I do. But want more than your hand, you know" he murmured, as he drew her to him. And then, as her wet hair touched his wet ter shoulder, I'm sure it was fate sent me out on the lake this afternoon, Dollie.-Boston Post.
 Hartford.-Chester D. Burnham of No. 337 Windsor avenue was % years