Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31

no Patrick or George. The wedding was put of, Patrick was ordered to India. George had to join his regiment, too, and Mir. Treyelyan also disappeared from our quiet town.
 Months passed away Mary grew thin, but seemed very cheerful; lost color and spirits daily, and got more and moro like ghost, but quiet and woman!y in my ways, with staidness that Mary teased me about, and mamma complained that her baby Mabel was gone fo.' ever.
 By that kiss shut, as l imagined, from all ties dear to maiden's heart forever forbidden by the memory of that day to hope for lover, or husband, or children shut out from all the world of woman love, poured forth all this wealth of affec- man who had wrecked my life by one fool ish action; yes, my fancy, after a time, invested MT. Trevelyan with every virtue, and I pardoned his fault, condoling it as the years passed on by the thought that he cared for me, had loved me ''at first sight" My dreams-walking or sleeping were of him; acted the scene on the cliff again and again; in visions felt his
 
 his unchanging love.
 Six years flowed on in quiet succession of daily duties, and I had grown so used to my ideal sorrow, so quiet and resigned to my lot in life, so contented with my dream hero, tbat 1 had at twenty-three years ceased to trouble for the future, only grieving for Mary's long waiting, and for her fading beauty and failing health. alx 11A% ,,14 1ox, should be, and we always knew by her sigh that no news had come of Q speedy return. We were sitting one Christmas eve, as usual, very quietly and rather duil round the fire, when Mary rose and began to softly pace the room.
 "Mabel," she said gently-mamma was asleep-"I feel so strange tonight can not rest; I believe Patrick has come to England, and that we shall be married at last"
 "Of course you will be married" I said, "but what nonsense to think of his coming tonight, tit is only because it is Christmas eve, and one wants to have those we loved around us."
 Tell me, Mabel, don't you hear foot steps ?" We looked out, the snow lay thick on the ground, and the laurels bent under the weight on their leaves. A pain full quiet reigned supreme, and only our beating hearts throbbed audibly in the si- lencc.
 The slight movement we made in clos ing the curtains woke mamma, who said, ".I dreamt of George, and thought he married Mabel, poor boy; how fond he was of you girls"
 l Mamma rose and said, "Get me my netting Mabel, play or read something, and ring for tea ;" but instead of the grim face of Woods as usual, well-known voice said, "When will you lave tea, num-" and there was that rogue George. Mary flew past him, "Patrick ]" George winced at this open neglect of him, and rcvenged himself by kissing mamma, and nearly shaking my hands off.
 On that evening will not dwell. We were all happy together. Patrick looked ill and worn. India had tried his health severely, but England would soon restore him, and the wedding day was fixed for the following week, as there was nothing to delay it. !" Why wait," mamma said :; "I wish it," and so it was settled. Pres ents began to flow in upon Mary, and the old time came wildly back to me. George said carelessly, "I have invited old Trey elyan to the wedding" and we met once more; not in the evening, when I could have hidden my blushing face in the soft shadows of our drawing room, but in the daylight of frosty morning did I meet the man I first hated and then loved.
 Unromantic as must seem, I did not know him. .Bronzed, changed by climate and hard work, altered by tremendous mustache, altogether different, my ideal was lost forever; nothing but confusion at again meeting remained. Colonel Trevel- yan was introduced to Miss Evans, and ac- tually asked after the little girl he had driven home. We both looked a little foolish, but soon got over our shyness. l took the earliest opportunity of an inter- view with him, and returned the ring which had caused me such agony. He would not fear taking it, and while we were speaking Mary entered the room
 With the decision which had before saved me, he said, What handsome ring your sister has got for you.' Mary sprang for. ward eagerly to see it, and was obliged to give it to her.
 'You darling so that is what you bought for me-" The ring was on her fin ger at last, and she called to Patrick :; O'Neale to look at it; he came at hel summons, looked at it, drew it from hel ; finger with fast whitening lips, tried tc speak, read the legend engraved, and fell down in aswoon on the floor. t- The scene was awful, the accursed opa , was still clenched in his hand while con
 vulsive fits succeeded the swoon. A sud ] den shock the doctors said, but what could
 be the cause? Mary hung over him in al agony of suspense for days his life was il danger; 6 The ring, the ring!' was all ht repeated in his delrium, and the ring wa' indeed the cause of all this misery. . Colonel Trevelyan had failed in obtain ing another plain opal ring at the jewellers , and he hurridly searched the stores of tn, ; only pawnbroker in K, and selected this the gift of Patrick O'Neale to his wife his wife! a woman who had forfeited al l right to that title, all love from her hus band; all respect from her sex. A woman , who had deceved and left him; a woman ) whom he believed to have been dead year ago. And now when at last life had joy ; in store for him, the ring, the fatal opa , ring, glittered on the finger of the pur, ) being he hoped to call his own, no wonde 7 that his brain ree!ed and gave way unde the cruel shock. .t.a
 GIN cHRYsrE AND THEE" I What mockery the ring was She hat s trampled upen his love, outraged his trus |, and dishonored him, how Ee could lov 2 and trust any woman again is the strano g est part, but none could see Mary withod ] loving her, poor girl; she bore up bravely ' nursing him, soothing him, and trying l. ? bring him back to life.
 Colonel Trcvelyan aud felt absolutel, , guilty of having brought about this terri S ble grief and trouble. And our part il
 the transgression (except one scene) wa explained, and all that Mary said was !, "Poor Mabelp' guessing with woman d instinct at my secret. The pawnbroke
 could give no account of tte ring; wo