The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-26
THE RETR0GRADER
Cobyrsght 1909, by benj. 8. Hampto.
By Marion Hin.

vV HE big parlor costly dim except for the radiant circle cast by its one lamp. X In the roseate center of the illumination, and
 not at all unaware of her decorative back ground, sat pretty Margaret Van Dyne in g mental state of accentuated pensiveness.
 Miss Van Dyne had assured, fresh beauty which did not in the M least depend per upon the concession of it was beautiful Aso-she was waiting for her sweetheart, Charles Lawlor nice chap and particu- larly well worth the waiting.
 But Miss Van Dyne's face harbored anything but that contentment which convention demands of the % neF o of snde f it of tsdum She was not bit anxious m @ She @ knew trothed what else was possible for him for her
 Waiting with such dull surety is less entertaining consider herself neglected and to get furious in pro portion. She was not the kind of girl who had eyer been kept waiting for a minute. nor was she in tagged and ticseted condition:
 gagedP she pondered, eyeng with cool dislike tho solitaire ring on her finger. The diamond glowing like the heart of love sent back score of fiery answering gleams.
 N he not i shxsnS than G of o excitement. Heaven knows I didn't need it. And have plenty of diamonds it wasn't that. Nor was it rainy weather. I simply had excuse Well. it has certainly turned out mistake. Now that gagged do not to be valuable formerly. Not to anybody. Even the other men have dropped their adoring speechlessness and talk to me as con used to crawl around almost on their knees for mere word. Now they chat with me casually when they please instead of when l allow. And he is worse than any of them
 She heard a step in the corridor, and strengthened expectanty, but shrunk listessy when she realized it was Kitty, the maid
 Kitty staggering. under heap of carriage wraps. to standstill in front of her young mistress, sWenI What?" der,anded Miss Van Dyne, incon- sequentially sharp. Whoever intrudes upon griev- is remote enough from the to escape a singing
 --."I thought, Miss that you dined out" hesitated Kitty. Kitty well worth her wages. 1t takes the ceverest kind of c1everness know when to be posititious instead of certain.
 'Dncd out'-where" demanded Miss Van Dyne, indferently refusing to extricate her mind from the pleasing anguish of revery.
 At Mrs. Brierly's, miss
 The mere name of this honorable hostess seemed whip angry color into the face of the expected guest and to give edge to her tongue.
 T was! but I'm notp' she cried hercely.
 "Mrs. Brierly'sp she thought she watched the mperturable back of the retreating Kitty That is to see the place again. I don't have to- There are enough other placesl There are enough other men,, too-rnen who would sufficiently prize an opportunity to keep their engagements with me- How late IS he now?"
 She flung drowning inquiry at the mantel where indiscreet little Dresden clock was exposing the fact that she had been neglected for full eleven minutes.
 Yet hearing the unrnistakable approach of Charles Lawlors footsteps, the frown her face deepened instead of lifting She scored the glad beat of her
 A second later, assured of his welcome eager with the eternal eagerness of the lover Charles Lawior stood the threshold. He brought sense of stimu- 1ation with him. He seemed to radiate the fresh strength of outdoor life-the of ambition and love, and courage He was all that is best in man and lover moreover, he carrying big bunch of
 "Peg! you darling how awfu1y lovely you look" he cried, as the rOSe-ShOWer took her.