Connecticut western news., 1873-05-09

| hVooA AuSAIS lSlAOhlHS , 'bu0y hlSOl con
 sumed their last cigars at night in com
 pany, and waxed confidential. Atleast
 the one who had something to confd,
 did 1t, and Bertram learned that Graham
 was on the point of going out to Africs
 to shoot big game. GltsfTa 1.ar. .5T =
 ,.f The other visitors at Spa made7a to
 tally different rrangementf the young
 man, and decreed that he was about tt
 marry the lively widow forthwith. Mrs
 Bracket announced the forthcoming
 event to Millicent Lund as an ascer.
 tained fact, and the young lady, believ
 ing 1t, went madaa I do not, mean that
 she required a straight-waistcoat or put ] wild flowers in her hair, or sang, scraps of song, or danced with her shadow.
 She did not even show any emotion be-
 fore Mrs. Bracket and the gossips, but
 smiled, and remar ked that she supposed
 1t was good match for she was not ot
 an hysterieal nature. But her, mind was for the time unhinged, for all that
 and she was quite capable of doing
 some desperate thing which society i would have brought in temporary i1f-
 sanity. It was quite true that she had
 broken with Graham, but then he had
 no business to marry any one else, etc.
 How could she appease her resentment
 how prove that she did not care one iota
 for the man she had once been betrothed
 to ? If she could only take the initia-
 tive j that would be better still. No
 one, can throw off the restraints con-
 yentlonally imposed by their fellow
 creatures with impunity.; if Milly Lund
 had not indu1ged her tastes for inde- pendenee and originality to such an
 extent if she had had any experienced friend of her own sex in whom she had
 confidence, to advise her, she would never have been guilty of writing, on a
 sheet of elemon-colored note4paper ::
 ' Let q7ae sec yo& to-naogroao meor'n5aaq--
 M. 4, and dropping it, with her hand ,kerchief, at the Redoubte, when only Bertram was near enough to pick it up. The wisp of paper was not addressed to anybody in particular that was the only shred of prudence she showed :; but then she gave it almost with her own hand, which was very shocking. ., s'f Graham had known that I had this myin pocket, he would hardly have bidden me such a friendly good night!' said Bertram, on examining the note before going to bed. And then he put it carefully away in his pocket-book. When he called at Millicent's lodgings. he found her alone, not even Miss Cor ney being present. She had a wild, excited look in her eyes, and deep flush on her cheek; and directly the
 door was closed, she stepped hurriedly towards him. a,t ee-so It8 lis .rse '., ,0 ''Do you~k know why I have invited you here ?"z she asked. s.-. -..-.,.-..
 Bertram looked as many volumes as he could, and bowed discreetly. 4 '. 'Esperonso'' said she, turning away.
 ffWhat p cried Bertram. ssMy sym pathles were true; you are really''-
 ''The blue domino P M..De-
 Instead of throwing himself at her feet, seizing her hand, and calling her by her Christian name, as he ought to have done, Bertram said, in 1nusing tone: "Curioust was never att ball in Brussels in my life" 47rs les .l,> -i
 s "Oh P cried yMillicent, shrinking away, covering her face with her hands, and shedding tears of bitter shame and 7SoE 70 9A i.5''''<l' 3h"I hope you will forgive me-" Ber- ram continued. 'I had no idea you would believe my rodomontade, which was only made, up at the moment for fun. Pray, do not be. distressed; I know all about 1t. It is pique which has impelled you to listen to the suit of 90 unworthy an individual; if it were I should indeed esteem my self the most fortunate of men, As it is, it is happy that I am neither needy adventurer, nor an interruptions lover, or perhaps you might have been hurried nto a marriage which would have proved the misery of your life; and Graham would be eaten by lions, hug yed to death by gorillas, stamped out oy elephants, poisoned by snakes and luinine, and-and all sorts of things. By-the-bye, do you know that he is off 0 the Cape next month?" ...s...g, n,....
 Millicent was too much overwhelmed | y appreciation of the position she had | placed herself in, to reply; so Bertram 5 .'They have made up story about lis engagement to Mrs. Geylass. Ab- urd If he cannot marry one lady, I 1 m certain he will never take to another, lnless perhaps an Ashantee. Not even or pique. I do wish, dear Miss Lund, hat you would make friend of me, nd tell me the real cause of offence in 4raham.5 Do you think me curious and only ask because I have suspicion that I might be able to re- nove some false impressions. I was eft trustee to & young lady, a cousin of ny own, to whom Graham was once en- aged; and I know that when the affair vas broken off, he was very much blamed. Gan that sad business have aused you to think badly of him?''
 Had I-not-a right-to' do so % obbed Millicent. sil nz2oic@a ff"-f U
 '' Far be it from me to place a limit o the Rights of Women r said Bert am. 'sI only know that Graham was lot one iota to blame in that sad affair, he fault being entirely on the lady's ide that he could have cleared him. elf in your estimation at her expense, f he had not pledgedhimse to silence; md that he kept that pledge, when the happiness of his life was at stake, is ,ery much to his credit. It is no TO- nance that I am telling you this time, Miss Lund l give you my word of hon. ,r that what l say is true. was one of hose to whom Graham made the prom SC of secresy."' s.,.-.- .. e.I--.-s s..
 When you have nothing more to say o woman who is; crying, it is best to 20 away. So Bertram went. When he parted from Graham that night, he said "By-the-bye, I have to give you, old fellow" Ind opening his poeket-book, he pro- luced the little undireeted note and landed it over. On the following morning Mi1licent lad another caller an unexpected one his time. 'T 'i ,'E~0t' aa ~. iw o' 7
 have got your note, " said Graham, eeing that she looked startled. "What
 y" My note p .,.,-..... v, -..,..'-
 Graham held it in his hand open. She ook it and read: fod 'i b9la 2~5T '@' Y r let nae see yow to-naorvoa0 n,orming. -M. 3L.iw ea .dIa1 ls5Ia ss'-. ad aad~ < have been informed that Twas she, said, .PlMpshing M over ,onE and tCo,,1