The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-07

GOOQ morning., Sa1Q} SQe CASUALLY as though we had parted but lately and that conventional1y. fIsn't it fine?''
 t1t is a beautiful picture said I, 'and you fit into it. am glad to see you looking so well.s
 'I wish. could say as much for you said she. 'sYou look like for Iorn hope.'
 .sI am nothing better,
 1tAnd as though you had not slept" 'I have not, Helena"
 Why not?'' her eyes wide open in surprise.
 Because I knew I had either hurt or offended you, and I would do neither
 s.You have done both so often that it should not cost you your sleep" said she slowly. But if you really want to be kind why can you not have mer- cy on a girl who has been packed in a hatbox for a month? Let me go ashore P
 Gan you not breathe quite as well 1 where you are, Helena?" ia
 .sBut I can't walk" ..Oh, yes, you can, and I will walk beside you here on deck.''
 "But I would like to pick flowers over there by the embankment..'
 ssThe train is too close said I, smil- ing grimly.
 Her color heightened just little, but she did not answer my suspicious. s.Please let me walk with you over l there. she said. .I used not to need ask twice. 's
 s4our situation is now reversed, Hel- ena''
 Please let me walk with you, sirr'S
 ..I darc not We might both forget ourselves and go off to New Orleans for lark without Aunt Lucinda"
 .sOh, I sam going to call Aunt Lucin- da too.''
 -sPardo6 but you are going to do nothing of. the kind. Even with her as chaperon, did we get down there in the old ciry once more, like the chil- dren we once were, Helena, we would forget our duty. would, perhaps, forget not take that risk
 Please, sir. may I walk with you ] over wonder for just little time?'' she said, as though 1t were her first re 1 quest. She was tying her quaint little white bonnet strings under her chin now. I raised a hand.
 seYou ask man to put himself into l the power of the woman he loves most in all the world When man needs resolution dare he look into the eyes of that woman, feel her hand on his arm, have her walk close to him as they promenade 2,
 .sDear me. Is it so bad as that?"
 .sWofse. Helena"
 .sThen am to continue prisoner in that hatbox ?''
 Until you love me. Helena. as ds you.
 ssAs told you, that would be long time.''
 s.Yes. For never in the world can you love me as do you. I had for gotten that.''
 eff only you could forget everything 1 and just be nice young man., said she. .It is such. fun. This dear old town, don't you know? Now, with a ] nice young man to go about with Aunt Lucinda and me-
 How would man like Calvin Da- vidson do? I demanded bitterly. !. Very well. He is nice enough sI suppose so. He is rich. able to have his horses and cars-even his pri- vate yacht. He can order dinner in any country in the world or tell you l the standing Of any club in either league at any minute of the day or night. Could I say more for his edu- cation? He has two country places l and city house and business which nets him a hundred thousand a year How can he help being nice? do not 1 resemble MT. Davidson in any partic 1 ular, except that am wearing one of l his waistcoats. Also, Helena, I am wearing suit of dannels which have i borrowed from John, his Chinese cook. You can readily see I ana a poor man. How, then,e can I be nicer 2
 .sNo one would see us here," said she, sublimelx irrelevant, as usual. There are some little yellow flowers over there on the bank. MaybeI could find some vioiets. There was wistfulness in her gaze l which made appeal. I could not resist. Helena" said I suddenly, give me your parole that you will not try to escape, and I will walk with you among wonder flowers. You look as though just from Watteau fan, my dear It is fall, but seems spring, and the world seems made for flowers and shepherds and love, my dear. Do you | give me your word ?''
 If I do may I walk alone ?''
 No; with me-
 9'I'l not try to take the train. On my honor, I will not"
 I looked deep into her eyes and saw, as always, only truth there-her deep brown eyes filed with some deep liquid light whose color I never could say-looked till my own senses swam. I could scarcely speak.
 tTo Be continued.1