The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-14

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 against one's will and en
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 @ RSS tirely contrary to ones in
 wSS tentions- Particularly il
 |A one is of cautious, con #& A ventional turn of mind anC
 A&T lacking in imagination
 There is nothing that SC
 I@ successfully rescues ont
 e U seL from an upset as little
 - jndicious imagining, ana
 Hardman was incapable of it. He merely fretted and poI1eo <he fire until it smoked back at him after which they mutually glowered This did not add to Hardman's peace of mind He rose and stamped about the room He kicked footsoo1 and 1t toppled over so inadequately that 1t added to his rage Futile idiotl" he hissed at the footstool and himself and the least in the world at the girl Not that she really was an idiot of any kind; she was, he admitted, an extremely nice girl, only why had she behaved in such a way that now, three days after the catastrophe, he had not an idea whether she had said yes or no He inclined in a panic toward the former Hardman was a berzoas young man. and he believed tn girls, he even believed in marriage. but he knew the wrong girl once he had proposed to her, and he had known that this was the wrong girl almost the moment she had not said no. He was sunk in wretchedness at being so sure and sat violently down before the fire, shouting mentally,
 Wrong, wrong, wrongp There was nothing to do about it; he would like to hear anyone suggest that there was he had all the proper outraged, hon orable feelings at the thought, after which he wi1ted and wondered why he EOuld not think of some way in which 4r> 14-
 He had always been eccentric, he how remembered with pleasant thrill of hope He had built up with a. good deal of care a reputation for impul- sfveness- It had been the one dissi- patton of, his conventional life. and he clutched 1t now with confidence that n branch might have been fattered by, much less a final straw. Surely, sure ly, there was something to be done. He smiled, ready to welcome the idea if it should come. but it didn't. He rose and opened a window Then he closed it and stamped to his bed room He would go out, He did not quite know where, and 1t did not in the least matter Yet going outl ap- pealed to him. It struck him as definite thing to do, and hurried1y changing his clothes coa1forted him. He felt more like a man: of action, and the wrong girl seemed less threat ening- He slipped his. latch-key into his pocket, gathered up some money, started to turn down the light saw the picture of the wrong girl, dropped khe money, turned out the light. and stamped from the apartment, slam ming the door after him. He walked down the stairs, being far too furious to wait servile1y for the elevator, and finally in the street, he turned the corner, ran hard into a man, and stopping with the air of a person who had endured too much. Hardman swore.
 The man demonstrated softly. 'sI beg of you, I beg of you, he rr1ur-I mured, "don't do it; 1t is not in char glance that you are not swearing knsn; the inappropriateness of the thing pains me"
 Hartman stood still and stared at the shabbily dressed little man in front of him His thin coat was safety pin, which caught Hardman's eye, and the man, seeing where his glance was directed. smiled patiently, understandingiy. "Ah, yes, the pin, to be sure; it is singularly incongruous, Is it not! But was in such great need of 3t that I followed a young miss two blocks before had the good luck to see it drop. It perhaps gave you the impression that I am of a domestic turn of mind I am not, assure you. 1 am, to be frank, pecul- l tsrly in need of funds I was on the | point of acquainting you with my lack 1 when you so neariy-what shall say? l upset, overturned. bumped-the list seems endless, yet do not find a word | to my taste" Hardman grinned and felt in his l pockets. As rule he thought beg Ears most unpleasant, they threw him | into such indecision as to giving or not | giving but this one had seen that he | was eccentric; there was a distinct | recognition in the fellows eyes, and What in the name of all that's annoy | ing was the matter with his pockets? | They were quite empty. They were absolutely empty except for his latch key He exclaimed over it, and the beggar was most soothingly, in1per- soua1ly interested.
 prising, to be sure. Nothing but key? It verges on the inexplicab1e"
 The beggar cooked a sympathetic amazement- Hardman felt for the second time in his last pocket, and, aIving 1t final slap, said. Sorry, but haven't a thing except the key"
 Tne Deggar bowed, not mocking1y | as one who doubts, but de1icate1y as Ii one who sa1utes courteous1y an un- kind fate. Except the key" he echoed. But why not the key? Why not let me have the key?"
 eHzve. the keyF'' Hardrnan doubted the mans sanity, and blessed his linn It ited number of inches. A demand for one's key, why, 1t was in way assault
 ~Only for this evening, naturally" the begEar hastened to say. "As you