The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-18
THE FARMER: MARCH IS. 1910


 cusable nisapprehension on his part. l He even warned your father against me. MT. E1kins discovered that [ 1 had lost the confidence of both Of 1 them, and dismissed me. If it had not been for an unfortunate outburst of temper to which was goaded by 1 the man we all now know to be the 1 real culprit, the explanation would have come at that time. As it was I was discharged.
 1 'I was unable to find another posi- l ton. When my best friends dis trusted me why should anyone else | have faith? I was maddened with the anguish and worry and shame, | and unable to carry conviction where I applied for employment. T was left destitute, without a cent. I was even hungry at times l The only way I mana ged to subaist without falling back on public char ity was to constitute myself special i bodyguard to an old Chinese actress whose life was threatened by two 1 powerful Chinese societies. You probably do not know that a Chinese actress is an anomaly. She was inn i personating her brother who was dead. Then by some miraculous | chance, you were present when the crisis came and I jumped between | Ter and the bullet intended for her, and that I knew was intended for her. was sick and weak at the I time from lack of food, and she nursed me and cared for me like mother And when those yellow | fends finally succeeded in their de- sign she left me a large sum Of noney-probably all she had ever saved in her life.
 tTn the meantime" continued l Chester, his voice softening, ''that great good man Goldsmith had re- l turned. He trusted me. He investi- l gated. He vindicated me in the mind of everyone, in the mind Of Perry whom I love like a brother, in the mind of your father who invited me here tonight. in the mind of the whole worlds-except yourself.''
 Was it really partly, fathers fault that you you had to go away from Goldsmith & Elkins?'' she ask ed.
 Chester made an impatient ges-
  ture.
 That is all over,'' he replied. I
 The girI's eyes had widened and cent tint suffused her cheeks, an6 there came g. swift, change in her - incomprehensible moods.
 And were you really big enough and brave enough,'' she whispered ito jump first between that woman and the bullet when you saw that they were going to shoot,-ahd I was there-and you had not seen me o1 heard from me for so long,-and and you loved me? Are there really honorable men like that-now- adays?''
 She looked straight at him with great blue eyes which seemed some how proud of their humility.
 ''It was the hardest thing that ever had to do.''
 Are there really honorable men like that-nowadays? she repeated
 The light in her eyes was irresisti- ble, and Chester found himself at her side. His chest was heaving with great deep gasping breaths.
 ''There is one,'' he said unsteadily.
 ''Yes, yes,'' said the girl. There is one! There is one! There is onls one!'
 Chester found his arms about her. and they clung together in silent embrace that seemed so sweet, so pure, so normal, that there had been no transition from the moment be- fore and all was heaven within them and around them.
 q love you! I love you! love you!'' he repeated.
 eYes. yes,' said the girl. Say it. Say it! Say it! I have been hungry to hear it!''
 His lips sought hers again, and in that moment the two young souls were so united that no earthly power could ever bring about their d1ssolu- tion She sank back in her chair again, and Chester knelt on the floor beside her. -'There is so much to telI'' he ut tered. f'reI me- breathed the girl. ''Teu me every last little word of it. It is all mine" ':An yours,'' said Chester. 'I loved 5 you from the moment saw you. E love your indescribab1e eyes! love your mouth, your lips, your teeth! love your grace and your regal sp1er- . dor. I 1ove your hands, 'arrns and 1 feet! I love your .aureole of hair! I l love yotir grace, yours1nind, your soul. l [ am incomplete without you!''
 The girl leaned over him, and her !