The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-09
Hope 9 8a N
 From the Play by WILLIAM J. HURLBURT
with his
while Craven

no use crossing bridge til you come to it, and. somehow, I think my luck's beginning to turn I've an odd idea that my new secretary is responsible She infuses me with that tndOmitabIe quality called hope"
 She's a capable woman" agreed Craven grudgingly. "You'H miss her common sense and sane, businesslike ways when Miss Graham returns"
 ''Eh?" asked Temple, coming back from his space staring with start. Then he laughed infectiously- "Oh, yes, I shall miss her common sense and businesslike ways"-puf, pull, puff. from his pipe. Never married, did you, Craven?'
 still sane, thanks contemptuous- Iy, while the goose quill ran race with the pipe puffs and outdistanced them.
 ''Pair of old fools. you and F'-pun, puff. You know, Craven, that girl has a delicious voice. If she sang it would be a mezzo.''
 Craven looked up over his glasses in disgust. What in thunder are you driving at?'' he cried.
 Driving at?' laughed Temple. ''I hope I'm driving at happiness. Ora ven, there's one thing I'll tell you straight If this case turns out right and my honor's vindicated I'm going to marry, provided. of course, she will have me- he added tenderly.
 Some few weeks earlier the grim lawyer would have stared. eyes and mouth wide open, at such an an- nouncement. Some few weeks earlier he would have scoffed at the notion of such a thing coming to pass, and | he would have demonstrated. reason ably enough, that it was impossible for Burton Temple. with his keen ! knowledge of the world. of the tn- numerabIe vanities and whims of wo- ] mankind, ever to go the way of all flesh.
 | But the problem, like the puzzle of the Eleatic philosophers. had solved itself. Achilles cannot catch the tor toise,'' but he does. 1t was imposst- bIe for Burton Temple to fall in love, but he had. So Craven only shook his head sadly and commiseratingly. ! Are you ready to dictate your let ters, MT. Temple?" Poising lightly near the threshold, delicate uplift on her lovely brows, the lady of his vi- sions waited Craven frowned- Tenn , pIe smiled Craven left the room, and | Temple rose.
 ' Letters" said he. "Oh. no. thank fortune, there are no pressing letters to dictate this afternoon; we can put them of till tomorrow
 ''No?'' said Anna quizzically- She ] bowed slightly and was retreat1ng ! when Temple said in that humble, mesmeric way of his:
 "'I never knew before. Miss Dale, that you sang. I heard you in the i music room a little while ago. How 1t would please my mother!'
 It had been merely a simple little ! lullaby, full of pretty sarsenet chidings i to a wakefuI child, favorite lullaby of her children. At the moment when she sang it she had felt the need of | it somehow.
 ooh, I've no drawing room accom- | plishments,'' laughed she. 'I had no early training At home I used to mend the house linen and tie down the jellies.'' She caught her under coral lip with bewitching sedateness.
 ''Your little song gave me very real l pleasure nevertheless said he, snil- ing. 'fIt had a bit of removed con tent about it, such as might have be- longed to the enchanted palaces we were speaking about the other day. l Remember? Sit down, won't you, and talk to me a little? Pm lonely"
 Instead of sitting down Anna reach ed out her hands seductively to Cato. who came and pushed his big, honest nose confidingly into them.
 -'I dare Say,'' smiled she apologed- cally, s'those enchanted castles of ours were rather vague things wrapped in ! good deal of roseate haze and of an architecture that could scarcely have ! been reduced to ground plans and ele- vations. This is a very practical age, you know. MT. Temple"
 'T know" said he. watching her with grave eyes. "StiII. I'd like to ! hear a little about-about the prince of your enchanted palace. We hadn't got to that, you see. What must your ideal man be like. Miss Dale? Do sit downv'
 "AIy ideal man? echoed Anna, with never so faint a touch of surprise. Then, yielding to a mood of reckless ness, she sank into a low ottoman and looked straight out before her. well, be must be like a buoy at sea. firmly anchored to the bottom. but taking the surface IS Ee finds: swaying with waves, not braced against them and OniV SeeuJuS 10 QTIIC- IOu uHucE- stand? Never floating with the cur rent, anchored. How's that?" sue an- swered, with a fieering dimple.
 That's good" he said earnestly,
 watching the slim, firm hands clasp 1 ed round the woman's knees.
 And the princess of your enchanted palace, MT. TempIe2 What must your ideal princess beP' Still she looked out dreamily before her.
 ''I think" said he slowly, your deh- milton of the prince would fit in with
 mine of the princess. A little lighter
 dancing on the surface, perhaps. lit
 tle less anchor rope, but pretty much
 the same"
 l Gro Be Continued.) l 4 NIINTC AE TN-crI, NKrIzvr, INI1yI,rIl