The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-14

heard the clin11ing of glasses, a drawe' being shut, and presently the little man returned, put a tray on small table, moved it and second large chair to the fireplace, after which he Isat down. with sigh.
 'fNow go on," he breathed patient 1y, land tell your story, as clearly al possible, please"
 "But I'm not going to tel you my story" The girl sat up straight and indignantly removed her furs- 1t gave
 her a particularly permanent air. Pardon me. thought you said, as l I left the room, that it would be well if I knew-er-someth Am I--er -rnistaken?" The beggar did not ask for information; he was merely re minding her.
 ! "Oh, that-that's different You seemed to think it queer my coming here, and so thought you ought to know that am engaged to MT. Hard man-that is, don't know whether l am or not, but that's the reason l came"
 And what, may ask. is the cause of your uncertainty"
 That's also the reason I came" She shut her lips tightly to dam the flood of words backing up behind them, then as a sop to her garru1ity: @You know you are hungry. l never saw any one
 
 "I hope it doesn't strike you as ur- slightly. It is owing to the length of time which has passed between this and my last meal, also between my last and the one before that" The beggar had the cracker jar between his knees. and 3. banana in each hand The girl watched him anxiouSly.
 "I could make you some tea. I'd like to. Though suppose I'd better not if I'm going to break off the en- gagement-ttat is. if I am engaged. !" She seemed to be puzzled by the com |p1ications of the situation, and the beg gar hastened to assure her that under the circumstances tea would be most
 "Does he," the began asked" -"does Richard know of your uncertainty?
 "Ah, that's just it! He may share it-he may not know, either. whether we're engaged. You-you haven't hap pened to hear him say, have you?
 "No, no; I haven't talked with 4irn much lately" The beggar waved his eyebrows so s11i1fu11y, pursed his lips into such a consensus of understanding sympathy, that the pause which fol- lowed seemed on the girls part posi- the beggar asked, s.When did it hap pen?" and was answered immediately with.
 Hast Tuesday at wedding,s and things having reached this point, there was nowhere for them to go but on. "One really isn't responsible at we'd ding-is one?"
 And tIe began said. Hardly" with such vehemence that the girl looked up and he was forced to add: "I've. never been to one, but 1 feel sure that you are right Yet as he did not say why the girl continued little in the dark.
 Then you know how accidentally things do happen. We were both in the wedding-party, and almost as matter of politeness we hIrted. One girl who hadn't intended to at all announced her engagement just to, just to-"
 "Just to encourage the bride; I un- derstand perfectly"
 fAnd Richard and T. Well, it was just one of those things that You know they will happen. Then con versation had led up and led up; not that we wanted it to, but somehow the thing was in the air, and finally there I was not Knowing whether l had said yes or no; not that I wanted to- say-wel1, either. Except that it's where one stands"
 ffWhy do you think he thought you said yes? Did he"
 "Yes, he did" This ferce1y. @oh. I seew @ The began ag was now g5Pepng feF ereV wRv 7R ts ~as9 S9tto f o at once7 I don't mean to be cross, believe me"
 "We1l. I think he cares, you see, and I didn't want to spoil the wed- ding"
 Quite right; you're motives were
 t'You would have understood if you'd been there-that is, I mean"
 fI see perfectly what you raean, and I regret excessively my forced l absence. Of course his caring makes l 1t very difficult to know what to do. | What was your plan of action when you came?"
 q didn't have any definite plan. I thought there would be scene, we'd 1 both lose our tempers or else be l awfully sorry for each. other, or in | some other way become unreasonable, | and I'd bid him good-by forever and | get the elevator boy to call cab" direct. I respect you wholly. But 1 why not hold to your first idea? Why | not wait here little longer, and when | he comes, why"
 Have the scene?
 Exactly"
 ''No, no; I think I'd rather not. don't feel quite equal to. scene. but-we11 I'm sure I don't want a scene? The girl spoke with soft grufness just to deny any idea of cowardiiness that her words might have given. The beggar was forced to cover his mouth with three fingers.
 At this instant the clapper struck in a masterful way. and the beggar, -isings said, ''You may have changed your mind too late"
 The girl jumped Up. ''.You think t's Richard5n