The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-23

The girls quick laugh flashed out and she clasped her hands together. you ever think of it?''
 Struck me the first time saw her, he replied. fattered.
 'I told her about it tonight at din- ner'
 "Calsb, You didn'tl"
 Honest. I did!' he reiterated. "I-''
 What did she say?'
 ~Oh. she didn't seem to mind. Got liked it. Her'n me didn't get on so bad together, takin' all into account. I guess we'll pull together first rate when we're better acquainted"
 You seem pretty certain of being better acquainted she mocked: all belt there was little tug at her heart.
 T am." he answered. coolIy. 'The fact is. Dey, I'm thinkin' of makin' it case of marry"
 For a moment she did not answer. The footballs of a pedestrian sounded rhythmically distinct in the silence that fell between the man and the girl. Then Desiree observed with a slight restraint that sat strangely up- on her.
 "I don't think that is a very nice joke"
 '"Tisn't joke at aIl," Caleb assured her. 'I mean it. I'd a talked it over with you before. only the idee never came clear to me till tonight. Here's
 ''You-you care for her?' asked De- siree very quietly. Caleb. full as he was of his own aspirations. noticed how dull and lifeless her voice had all at once grown.
 You're tired outi" he cried, all re- morse. Here I keep you up, Hstenin' to my fool talk when you ought to be sound asleep! Nice sort of guardian I am! I'm goin'-"
 s'No, waitY' sheiordered with a piti- full shadow of her wonted dainty inn periousness. I'm not tired. Tell me Are you in love with her?''
 Tn love with herr" scoffed Caleb stiffness? Not me! But she cannes of about the biggest family here. She's poplar ev'rywhere. If I was to marry her. I'd get with the best crowd in Granite. My placed be as sure as your'sn be when you marry that gold shirt. chap-whoever he turns out to be-that we was talkin' about the other day. I was speakin' of the idee to Cafne. only tonight, an he says
 "Ohi"
 The furious monosyllable snapped through his rambling talk like a pistol shot. Caleb paused in amaze. The clinched. her face hard as a statues. The moonlight gave back cold fire from iler great eyes.
 "How dare you?" she panted. How Lefty Standish as you would speak of buying horse! You even talk it over with the man she has promised to marry! But I suppose you chuckled tc getting an opinion from him without letting him know it was his sweet heart you planned to steal. You smear at her as. rabit-faced little bunch of stiffness and you speak in the same breath of making her your wife Do you realize you are not only insulting her by such a thought. but you are insulting me by speaking so in my presence ?"
 7 "Dey:" gasped the bewildered man You must be crazy. child! never saw you like-''
 'Be still" she commanded. her sil- yer voice ringing harsh. "I forbid you to speak to me. now or any time. A man wbo can plan what you are plan ming, and who can boast of it, isn't fit to speak to any woman. You; went to that house as guest-and you asked mems opinions in the smoking roon-'
 "It was tho dressin' room. DeY," he pleaded. "An' it was only me an Caine-" Desiree. unheeding, "as to whether you are likely to gain anything in a social 1 way by wrecking an innocent girls | life. You sit by her at dinner-at her 1 own fathers table-and plan in snug complacency how to separate her from a man she really loves.-and to compel | her to marry you. Why, you aren't | ht to marry her chambermaid. There | isn't a groom in her stable that hasn't | higher, holier ideals. Now go! This is | the last time want to see you as long as I live!"
 A swirl of soft skirts. the sharp | slam of door. and Caleb Conover | aghast. wordless with dismay stood | alone on the little moon-lit porch.
 For a full minute he stood there | dumbfounded. Then, from somewhere l in the darkness beyond the closed door | came faintly the sound of sobbing, 1 Rsnding. .heartbroken sobs that brought | a lump to his own throat.
 "Deyr he called. frantically miser- able '.Dey!"
 as loudly as he dared upon its panels. The sobbing died away. For an hour Conover waited; alternately whispering the girls name and tapping appealing-i y for admfttance. But the house re- nained silent. At length with des- pairing growl he turned away.
 NOW what in blaZeS could a. made | 1er act like that?" he pondered, half aloud. Gee. but I'd rather be horse whipped than make that kid cry! An s'pose," he went on as he passed out ,f the gate. "I s'pose bout this time Lefty Standish an Caine are sayin' goodnight. all slushly like. an grfnnin' 1t each other, like a couple of measIy ove- birds.''
 He looked back once more at the lark house: sighed noisly. and started lomeward. A passing policeman re- ,ognized him: and, in deference to the Fighters fast-growing political power, 50 far unbent as to say:
 Good evenin'." MT. Conover. ''Fine night. ain't it? Are-?''
 "Oh. go to hellg' snarled Caleb.
 STc be Continued,