The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-11
(Continued.)

knarv if vet he did not think, at .h.+ +i,oe of a way in which he couio
 oLa them feel what he felt HIS nr;de forbade him tell them ne was really in earnest now, ana Iha. ho uas ashamed of the compact they had made. He did try to bring hlm- self to it; but to go to Sprague ana Purvis and to tell them that he real ,v loved Miss Castlemaine. and to asK them to refrain from mentlonlng what had passed between them. was +oo much. Had they been men or different order, he might have oone it: but after the way he had resaro- .a them. after he had laughed to scorn their religious notions, ana their professed faith in women, ne could not. He would maintain HIS old character, and he would make them fear to divulge the secret which had now become the great fear of his life.
 For the first time Sprague felt that he had pierced the weak place III Iyeicester's armour. He knew now that the man who had laugneo at him was afraid of him, and he oe- termined to take advantage CT the position he held. It would help him to pay off old scores.
 .If you will assure us that you are sincere in this new role you are play ing" said Sprague, "and ii you VIII promise never to touch drink of any sort again. 1t might be that
 But Leicester did not allow him to finish the sentence. He rose to his feet in his passion.
 Promise you," he cried. Promise VOL" he laughed bitterly. and scorn- fully. Then he sat down again. ashamed of himself for having allow ed a man like Sprague to anger him SO. "You mistake yourself" he said, Ia gentleman does not argue with a ca abman. or invite his laundress to dinner. You are presuming too far" He hesitated again for second. ..No," he went on, 'I shall not prom ise anything, nor profess anything. l simply tell you that no word of this affair must pass your lips"
 Sprague, stung by Leicesters s words, was about to retort angrily.
 NO. no, wait a minute" said Lei cester, who now spoke very quietly. Look at me for a moment-thats it. Now you know me. You know that I am not tied down to chaptrap nor ality And you know this too, when I say a thing I'll do it, ay, even If have to swing for it. I'll do it. Whatever part I play elsewhere, I'm not playing part now. l am Tn deadly earnest, and the devil always helps the man who is faithful to him. We'll, I say this: if either of you breathe one word concerning that compact of ours-one word mark you, especially to Miss Castlemaine- then no leper on a leper is, and shall suffer what you shall suffer, no vic- ] tim of the Inquisition inspired by your religious teachers has ever gone through the torments which you shall go through, no hell that was ever invented shall be as ghastly as the hell I will drag you through"
 You mean, she would throw you over if she knew"
 NO matter what l. mean, but re-
 io nf v11U word, and I am in earnest about this Winfield I know is safe, he is a gen. tleman, and he's not a rejected lover; but you others-well, I have said my say.'' s~s 6
 He left the club as he spoke, while the three men looked at each other wonderingly.
 For some time after this nothing happened to disturb the serenity o1 Leicester's life. Little by little he was mastering the drink craving while his outlook on life made him more and more cheerful. Olive Cas- tlemaine had indeed wrought won drous change. When he was in hel presence, at ail events, the old Lei cester was gone, and a new and hap pier man had taken his place. It i: true Olive was not demonstrative 1T her affection towards him, but he was content, and as the wedding-daJ drew near it seemed to him that hi! ; happiness could not continue. Int sky of his life was too bright, the jo! was too great Especially did he fee this on the evening before the da! fixed for their wedding. He hat come down from town to dinner, ana when after he had smoked a cigal with John Castlemaine, he and Olive were alone, it seemed to him a. though his present happiness were dream, and that he would present.. stake to grim and sturn realities.
 why are you so sad, Radford 9 asked Olive; ''is anything worryins you?"
 "Yes, no-I don't know"
 She looked at him keenly. something is troubling you," sh. said. Wont you tell me?'' "Olive," he said, tomorrow is oul vedding-day. IT want to ask yo, .o~nettinp want you to prou,is