The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-11

viction in her even voice. I IEbelfeve-you."
 Of course you believe me- Brook. I field attempted counterpointine | lightness.
 | You had way, Jack" Helen con- tinued, reminiscently-"a way when
 you were boy at college of making 1 me write to you"
 Had IT,
 You know. you had. At nisht-
 about this hour-Id find it impossible
 to sleep until I'd got up and written 1 to you-and two days later I'd get
 from you letter that had crossed
 mine on the road. I don't believe the
 word telepathy' had been coined then
 put I guessed something of the force,
 and all these years I've felt 1t nagging -nagging." tNagging?"
 Yes-I could keep you out of my
 waking. hours, out of my thought; but
 the call would come-and I think it
 was rather cowardly of you, really.'' Jack was too we'll read In the cur
 rent and semi-scientific comment of the day to pretend any doubt of the
 sinister influence that Helen's speech
 also made him readily tolerant of the
 imputation, but the. knowledge of his own intent made him ascribe her view entirely to what he was pleased to call q feminine santimentality.
 Helen's earnestness, therefore, produc- ply was playful. 1. "1 plead guilty to having thought of you. Helen-lots-and it was gem orally when I was alone-Iate-my- | my clients gone-and it was in this room, /
 Whose lights are fled, Whose garlands dead, And all save him departed.'" And with the. quotation of the old song they had frequently sung to- gether, Jack put his hand theatrically upon his breast. v-t>T .z Helen, overlooking. his inhospitable reception of her psychical suggestion. | accepted lacks mood and met his
 airy flight.
 And as you say-here we are.'' :. Well, what of my offer? Jack promptly challenged. Shall we say 1 to the world-'we told you so'? What of my picturesque finish q. ss He leaned over her chair and held
 the hand that lay upon the table. Helen thrilled, to the double appeal
 of the vibrant voice and physical Isnearness of her old lover-it required all her resolution to answer, in meas ured tones:
 You know my ideas-you've known them. twenty-two years" "No modifications?" Jack pleaded. None" Brookneld sighed. Be moved from in her vision, and pointing to the floor. above, in the rooms of which most of the paraphernalia of the establish ment was arranged, he said: "I'm willing to sell the tables-and well, I don't think I could get in> terested in this bridge game that the real good people playTwould you obs ject to a gentleman'st game of draw now and then?"
 "You called it a gentleman,s game i, in those days.'' ss ' stNo leeway at alI?'
 tNO compromise, Jack-nO." Brookfield passed his hand Weartly across his eyes as he had done ear- Her in the interview. His keeh sense of humor saw something rather -dron in this attitude of himself and Helen her, implied conditions. his appar- deference that had always been part of his charm where women were con- cerned he said:
 q trust you won't consider my seeming hesitation uncomplimentary.'' "Not unprecedented, at least" And Helen smiled in recollection of sims liar conclusion some two-and-twenty years before.
 .sYou see, 1t opens up a new line of thought" Jack said, reflectively He pressed his fingers over his eyes. And you have headache, too" punction Tt. isn't kind, I'm sure." She stood up and took Jacks hand in hers
 The hall-boy, Jo, came in to an- nounce that the gentleman who had telephoned about the picture. was be- low Jack asked Helen not to go away, as the interview would be ah Snd a0ded. "I think we can settle this question tonight, you and l." "Please don't put me in the light of waiting for an answer" she said, with gentle raillery.
 Dear Helen, we're both past that. aren't we? If .could only be sure to prove worthy of you; I'm the one that's waiting for an answer from my own weak character and rotten irreso- lution."
 could have wished. Jack lifted the hand that he still held and kissed it gently. He kept her hand in his until they reached the doorway, and still. as she was going. held 1t so fast as to arrest her progress. But she would not turn her face to him, and after moments firm pressure Jack released his hold, and she quickly dis appeared. The interview, light as it had been at times, playful as Jack had tried to make 1t, nevertheless stirred both natures as deeply as two people of their maturity and experi- ence could be stirred. They had re- connoitered and established the most momentous question that could come into the life of either.
 Brookfield turned solemnly back to the table, to the empty chair, to the paper-cutter that somehow seemed to have taken a part in their renewed relationship He smiled as he thought of it, handling the ivory knife fondly -Helen's long-ago gift! The hour, the very atmosphere of the room, seemed potentically vibrant he was moved to an unwonted degree as he muttered to himself:
 "They say cards make a fellow su-. perstitious-wen, I guess they do" | Chapter VI. As Jo usnered the gentleman into the room, Brookfield recognized him at once, as the stranger whose gaze had so affected him in the theatre. He saw a man whose age was in the neighborhOod of seventy, slight and graceful in figure, and noticeably erect for a man So old. The face was poetic, yet not lacking in strength; the expression one of indulgent pa- tience Jo announced the visitor:
 Judge De Brennus."
 Brookfe1d repeated the name with a delcination of welcome. There was half twinkle of amusement between them as the visitor, after glance at the negro boy, corrected his an- nor1ncenent Justice Prentice:"s