The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-05

"We are beggars now, Miss Grace I said. q need time to look around, to hit upon some plan of life. I must make another home for myself and for'-
 'For mel" She faced me squarely now, eye to eye. A smile was on her lips, and it seemed to me a bitter one. but I could not guess what was hid den in her mind. I saw her cheek flush slowly, deeper than was usual with a Sheraton girl.
 "For my wife, as soon as that may be-" answered, as red as she.
 q learn that you did not see Colonel Meriwether," she went on politely
 How did you know it?''
 Through Captain Orme.''
 "Yes," said I quietly, 'I have heard of Captain Orme-much of him, very much" Still I could not read her face.
 "He was with us a long time this "Some two weeks ago he left, for Charleston, think. He has much business about the cO1ntry."
 'Much business" assented, lin many parts of the country. But most of all with men of the army. So Cap tain Orme-since we must call him cap- tain and not minister-was so good as to inform you of my private matters"
 sYes.' Again she looked at me souarely with defiance. 'I know all about 1t. know all about that girl"
 So there it was. But kept myself under whip hand still. 'I am very glad. It will save me telling you of myself. It is not always that one has the good fortune of such early messen- gers"
 "Go on," she said bitterly; "teil me about her."
 "I have 20 praises to sound for her. I do not wish to speak of this if you prefer to hear it from others than my self"
 She only smiled enigmatically, her mouth crooking in some confidence she held with herself, but not with me. "It was natural.'' she said at last slowly. "Doubtless would have done as she did. Doubtless any other man would have done precisely as you did. That is the way with men. After all, suppose the world is the world and that we are as we are. The glrl wh , Is closest to man has the best chance with him. Opportunity is much-very much. Secrecy is everything.
 "Why should you not both have done so?'' she resumed bitterly. "We ar all human"
 "why should we not have done what what is it that you meanw I de manded of her.
 "Why, there was she engaged to MI you engaged to certain young lad by the name of Grace Sheraton yer far away. And you were convenient lost-very conveniently-andy you foun each others society agreeable. No kept away for some weeks or month both of you forgetting. It was idyli ideal. You were not precisely bab; fin the woods. You were a man and woman. presume you enjoyed yor selves after very possible little fas ion. I do not blame you. say might have done the same. I shot like to know it for a time myself r freedom I do not blame you, onl. she said slowly, "in society we do have freedom. Here it is different. suppose different laws apply, differe customs"
 Miss Grace" said I, 'I do not in t least understand you. You are not t. same girl I left.''
 "No. I am not. But that is not fault. Cannot a woman be free much as a man? Have I not right much as you? Have you not bet free?"
 "One thing only want to say." IT joined, "and it is this. which I ougl not to say at all. If you mean an thing regarding Ellen Meriwether. have to tell you, or any one. that she clean-mind, body. soul. heart-a clean as when I saw her first
 "Do you know. like you for sayin, that" she retorted. "I would nevel marry a man who knew nothing o other women-I don't want a milksop and I would not marry a man wh, would not lie for the sake of a sweet heart You lie beautifully! Do yol know, Jack. believe you are bit O. a gentleman, after all!