The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-02


 Just bout that, I guess. Don't blame me. They wasn't 'bliged to take my tips an Pm not responsible for
 em Anyhow. they've made enough on me this year to-"
 You must go back" she declared.
 T was very wrong. It just shows what harm 1uff-brained girl can do by poking her fingers into business she doesn't understand. Why. Caleb.' she added, with startled awe: ''If you'd d done as I asked, who knows how many families might have been made hor- ribly poor? And it would all have been my fault. You must go back
 But. Dey!" he protested, You're all off. It's no affair of mine what that gold-shirt crowd put their cash on. I don't owe anything to 'em. An if ' can give you good time by stayin the whole bunch of 'em can hire a b,ass band an march to the poor house. for all I care. If you say stay I'll stay''
 'I say you mustn't" she insisted, And it was dear of you to be willing again in three weeks. That won't be so very long,
 NO longer'n three years is gen'rally" grumbled Caleb; and the subject drop ped.
 They were on their way to the pretty waterside building that served the quadrup1e purpose of casino, store, post office and boathouse, for the Antlers. The arrival of the evening mail was one of the days two great events; the other being the morning mails advent The night had a sting to its air; and the mail-time gathering was held in the lamplit store instead of on the porch or dock. A tall clerk was busy sorting letters and packages to eager groups of sweater-clad girls and to men in cold-weather outing garb. Con- over and Desiree. awaiting their turn leaned against the glass cases op- posite the post-offfce counter and watched the laughing. excited guests Caleb, 'is why ev'rybody's always is in such a sweat about their mail. What is there in it for anyone? To ev'ry env'lope that's got check in it with adv'tisenents To ev'ry letter that's worth readin' there's ten that's stoopid or grouchy or makin' @ hard luck touch. An as for soov'nir postaIs the only folks they intrest is those that sends 'em. People come up here to get away from the world they've been .ivin' in. Yet they scramble for newspapers am letters from that same world. like they was stranded on desert island.-Here's our chance"
 The crowd had thinned. Caleb and Desiree went forward to the mail counter For Conover there were sheaf of letters in business envelopes. He thrust them without a glance into
  sole mail consisted of a long paste bocrd box thickly strewn with vari- colored stamps and bearing the gold lettered legend of a New York florist.
 In a second her quick fingers had torn away the wrappings. As the box was lifted. a whiff of warm fragrance rushed out; filling the room-
 ''Ohl' gasped Desiree. burying her face rapturously in crimson nest of American eBauty roses
 Then her cT,aaLs aplOvv and her eyes shining, she lifted her head and faced Conover.
 Thank you! Thank you so muchr' she exclaimed. "It was perfectly darl- so beautifully. And I love American Beauties so. might have known you would think of that It's just like you. Smell them What a dear. thoughtful blessed old
 She checked herself at sight of Con- overs blank expression. If her own face had borrowed the flush of her armful of roses. Caleb had exacted similar tribute from a whole wagon load of imaginary peonies.
 'TmI'm sorry, Dey," he blurted out at last. But they ain't from me. T.. well, they must be from somebody who's got more sense, I didn't think to get you anything at all I didn't ever know folks gave reg'lar presents on birthdays"
 He stopped abruptly. For the fading of the happy light from Desiree's eyes had it's usual effect of leaving him wordless and miserable.
 The girl, embarrassed, fell to turning the flowers over in their long box She looked a little tired and her arrange ment of the blossoms was perfunctory. A card was dislodged from among stems and fell to the floor. Caleb, pick
 '"The measly brat!' ragged Conover. to himself. He ain't got a dollar to his back; an' yet he can bring off a grandstand play like this, an make first Christmas Tree! An now I've made her look like she wanted to cry! Lordi If I don't give her a whole joolry store for Christmas, I'm a 
 ..Never mind, dear old boy." she pressing close to his arm as they turned to mount the hill on the way to the Hawarden Cottage. I'll make believe they're from you and that will be every bit as nice as if they really were. And, you've done more lovely things for me than every-t I body else put together. And I won't have you looking pathetic. Stop iti Now. smile. Oh, what a squidgy. weak sort of a smile, It's all right, I tell you. I know you'd have given me much lovelier roses than these if you'd thought
 That's just it.' he growled bitterly |
 
 you know I'd let 'em cut, me up into city blocks if it'd make a hit with | you, Dey. But what good does that | 10? When it comes to bein' on hand | with the million dinky little stunts that women likes. I'm always a mile | away. somewhere, hoein corn. Il wouldn't blame you if you-' |
 Stop" she cried, break in her clear voice. You shan't talk that way. | Do you suppose all the presents in the | -ny-l6 "a a . happy as having you here. this two | weeks? Would any present have cost | you one tenth the sacrifice of giving | up your work for my sake? And just | now you offered to throw away thou | sands of dollars and wreck half a l iozen of peoples fortunes in order to { please me by staying longer at the i Antlers. What more could anyone do | for me than you do?'
 '-I don't know," he answered simply, | But some day I may find out. An when I do,-why, I'll do it. You can | gamble on that. you little girl.''