Connecticut western news., 1874-09-04

case IS nara one
 "And demands heroic remedies"
 Precisely. Now the next step is to get up good lover. shall not ex- 1 pect much. Any straw man that's con- venient will answer. Do you know of one, doctor-a good one? He must be nice, and all that, or I couldn't endure it."
 Well-no-I cannot think of one just now. There are none living near that are available. Perhaps we might import one."
 "Doctor, I have an idea"
 "How startling Bring it forth, that I may admire it."
 You be the lover."
 "All right. I'm wiling"
 "Then we're engaged"
 Yes-for the present."
 "In fun, you know"
 "Oh, of course. Till Sam gets mar ried, or till you wish So break it."
 Where's the ring?"
 "Oh, have one up-stairs-an old one. suppose it will answer to cover our little arrangement.
 "How splendid of you, doctor P
 "Now you must go. Old Mrs. Davis is coming with her neuralgia. Shall tell her ?''
 "Tell her what P
 "Of the engagement"
 "Yes. Just hint it, and before night the town will know it."
 And they did. How they snatched up the stray morsel of gossip and stirred it into their tea with the sugar. Fortunate circumstance. It soured on their stomachs-the news, not the tea. | Euo,, +ho c,,0or md tho oo01 Pohoo 1SI not save them from expressing wi.h thought about it.
 "Such an old goose to be taken in by that designing Sally Depford l The
 Such language It is not pretty. History like this cannot stoop to re- port all that was said concerning the last new engagement. As for Sam Barrett, he faded beautifully away, and actually disappeared. He suddenly found Ca tip-top chance for business, you know, in New York. Ought to go right on and fix it up."
 His parting with Sally was not par ticularly affecting. She wouldn't allow it. That curious, antique, diamond ring flashed in his astonished eyes, and his affection melted softly away into nothing, like the cloud of white steam P. M. express. The whistle echoed among the Wauchusetta hills, and the gentle Sally heard it without sigh.
 Some of the other girls could hardly forgive her for driving away the only available young man in the place, but they soothed their laceratod feelings with the sweet hope that, as the sum- mer vacation was near at hand, new importation of city visitors from Bos. ton and New York might "make 1t gay again." and spread wide once more the matrimonial horizon. cess of the victory rather surprised the victor. She had succeeded beyond her expectations. Now that 1t was all over, she would return the ring, and-well, no, perhaps she might keep it just one more night. Cousin Mary Depford was coming to spend the night, and it would be rather amusing to wear the ring little longer, and to let her into the secret. She would return the ring in the morning.
 Pleased with this unspoken plan, she set the ring frmer on her finger, and prepared to receive her company"
 Cousin Mary Depford was charmed with the ring, and was profuse in her congratulations. Sally took them quietly enough.
 " "It's all g joke, you know. dear"
 "Yes, dear, little-well-game, if I may so speak"
 Cousin Mary was properly shocked. In the retirement of their own room, she expressed her mind fully, and declared that she would not wear the ring anoth- CT moment It was pretence and-a shame to do such thing.
 Sally was startled, and pleaded the dreadful necessity of the case.
 He was such bore, you know, and, really-what could do It was all in fun. There's nothing serious. mean return the ring tomorrow"
 wouldn't wear it another minute, if I were you. Sally Depford."
 Sally laughed and still retained the ring. She would return it tomorrow. She would wear it one more night-for it was, really-such a handsome ring.
 The doctor behaved beautifully. He only called once, and didn't even ask her to ride or walk.
 He walks 50 fast, and as for that old chaise-you know how it creaks. '
 It was very proper engagement. Rather cool, perhaps. What could you expect2 He was past forty, if day, they said.
 She did not return the ring the next day. It rained. She sent note to the doctor by friend, the following day, asking him to call for it. He was away wouldn't be back till Monday. Oi course she must wear the ring one more Sunday and she did, in spite oi Cousin Mary Depford's remonstrance
 On Monday she carried the ring, still on her finger, to the doctor. He was just starting off on professional tou1 when she came, and he was 80 merry and there were so many things to talk about, that she quite forgot the ring Besides, there stood the Widow Bige low in the next yard, pretending tc } hang out her clean clothes on the line and. watching with both eyes.
 They had little "tiff, " after the man , ner of girls, and made it up on the strength of promise from Sally that she would certainly return the ring to morrow.
 On the morrow she started, ring or , finger, to duly return it. He was no l at home. She went again, just before tea-time. He was at tea, and pressed her to stay and take supper with hi l good old house-keeper and himself She hesitated 8 moment, then accepted 3 She could quietly hand him the rine l after supper, and in the meantime sh' ? might as we'll "have good time."
 The fine old house, the elegant din ing room, and the cosy table set fo