The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-06

GopynSnts A9Ils by hmer1c0n PreSs
 Association
  "After all, nothing has happened. Robert is Robert, and l am I. just as we were when we pledged our troth. And yet I could have killed him to- night. To kill man because be hap pens to be himself is scarcely reason able or sane. With this weakness. fn- herent in his nature. he'll have need of me. And the children want me. I'm indispensable to all of them. must take my life in my own hands No one can help me now. It will be amusing to manage it. an excitement"
 She rose, but her knees shook in an imbecfle sort of way. She laughed bit sharply out into the dark.
 ''I'm my mother all over again, I see. My young mother died of this sort of thing. I believe" She put her hand ont to tOuch a tiny jutting spur twinkling silver in the new moons rays and shivered. But I'll not die of It; shall fill out The fall from a fools paradise, hurts-oh. it hurts-but it doesn't kill us in these days"
 Closing the balcony door softly, she entered the nursery. The children were fast asleep in their cots. She touched them curiously to see if their soft, warm flesh would thrill her as it used to do.
 Poor little helpless soulsi You will need me, won't you?'' she said broken ly, crouching down at their side
 Robert junior stirred.
 '"The roof-it has a lazy time." he murmured in his sleep.
 Anna smoothed his soft hair and trembled
 Dear little son. she said, didn't mother tell you the roof couldn't help being where it is. It was made like that. And the walls-they have to hold it up. No. they do not have much fun"
 MT. Marsh6eld Craven. the confiden- tial friend and legal adviser of the president of The Gotham Trust com pany. blustered into the presidents Ii- brary in his home up the Hudson, near Ossining. He had come from New York early that afternoon and hat much to do before the presidents ar- rival on the 2:3O express.
 In hurried, whipping fashion, this crawer was opened. then that Papers and documents were hastily strewn here. there and everywhere. Unopen- ed envelopes which dunned for atten- ton were quickly torn open and thrown into the wastebasket or on the focr, as the chance might be. All of which proved a sore trial to Mrs. Mason. the presidents hou3ekeeper, who was in the last stages of ''idying up'' the library.
 As usual, when Craven was bustling with work he noticed nothing of his surroundings. He pulled out his watch. Fifteen minutes, yes!
 "See if you can rattle off this letter in time for the next post, Miss Gra- ham. Take 1t directly on the ma- chine" he said. plying his fingers through his thin. gray hair. And he began to dictate.
 But there was no confirming click of the typewriter. Craven turned over his shoulder toward the secretary's desk and looked above the rim of his glasses.
 Bless my soul" he exclaimed, eff hadn't clean forgotten the bird had flown. Humph. Mrs. Mason.'' he said suddenly. addressing the houseEeeper, who stood mutely dusting a generous pipe rack. what in the world induced Miss Graham to give up her job any how? She's been here over a year. She's given entire satisfaction; had her stipend raised twice; always treat ed considerately-the deuce if I can make 1t outr'
 Mrs. Mason suspended her feather duster and smiled enigmatically
 hav she wanted rest
 Health bad? Fiddlesticksr grunt- ed Craven She had cheeks like Bad win apples and walked like india rub bcr."
 "Wer. for my part. Mir. Craven, I'll be perfectly frank. I'm going to give up my position, too. only l don't in- tend to lie about 1t. I'm going be- cause"-
 Because, Mrs. Mason?" The law yer whirled around with surprise an6 vexation.
 "Well, things don't suit me, sir''
 '"Then why dcnt you fire the cool fire the butler, fire the whole blaE, Nutf1t if they don't suit you? I kno- '1r- Temple would rather lose all ,m than you"
 Mrs. Mason finished the pipe rar nd began nervously plying h dust
 norg the antlers and engraved hu. lg scenes.
 "Oh, the servants are aiI right" sa' ihe. 'Mr. Temple has given me fu authority over them. 'Tisn't the r ants I complain of. Besides, a lot them feel as I do, only they can't al ford to quit"
 ''Eh? Whats wrong thenT' demand ed Craven sharply. A light had fallen on the darkness of his first surprise. He was beginning to understand.