Connecticut western news., 1875-02-05

 her answer, what do think she said 2"
 MT. Courtenay responded, in strangely mufaed tones, that he hadn't an idea.
 "Give guess !''
 ''I can't. Go ahead"
 "She said, and I could have sworn she was laughing: Why, MT. Kennedy, don't you know I've made 8 vow2 I'm going to marry some one.' I gasped out: 'Who2' 'The person who returns my umbrella Confound umbrellas '" finished MT. Kennedy, savagely kicking the table leg.
 MT. Courtenay's face, surrounded by wreaths of tobacco smoke, was very solemn indeed. It was more solemn still the next morning at the breakfast table. For almost week it was as dolorous as the weather, and not once did he sit in his accustomed place at the front window or call at No. 8. ..
 Frank" he shouted one morning across the hall, "lend me your umbrella, will you? I can't find either of mine. ]"
 There was sound of rummaging in MT. Kennedy's apartment; then an um- brella came flying across the passage, and landed on the door-mat.
 "You'd better lose it somewhere down
 
 want to see it again. - ..--r-
 In 8 similar gloomy mood, MT. Courte- nay began to perambulate the rainy and muddy streets. Whether his state of mind made him desperately careless and oblivious of his fellow pedestrians is un- certain. At any rate, he came in violent staggering blindly back into doorway bv fbo fo,.,o of +bo oo,,ov1ooio,, Ao fcr the umbrella, it looked like wrecked vessel, for three of it's ribs were broken, and the stick, minus the handle, pointed still clutched in Mr. Courtenay's hand, become rickety. As he tossed 1t angrily against the opposite wall it fell back dis jointsd, and little roll of papers tum- pied at MT. Courtenay's very feet. For once in his life, and only once, the latter individual was betrayed into using his friend Kennedy's favorite expression, "By George P
 He did not go down town, but return ed home and shut himself up till after dinner. At seven o'clock he might have been seen crossing - street, with adis- reputable looking umbrella in his hand, which just held together, and that was all. Bearing this, he entered Miss Arm strong's presence, and answered her merry inquiry as to where he had been the last week, briefly: .....
 "I've been finding your umbrella. Here it is."
 Somehow it took great while for Miss Armstrong to understand how it had come about. She was freshly amazed every five minutes to think that Cher identical umbrella" had been all this time in MT. Kennedy's possession, just across the street. And to think, be- sides, that she had taken MT. Kennedy $ umbrella on the horse-ca It was the very strangest thing that ever happened, and shemustgo straight and tell mamma all about it.
 But you have not done your part, J interposed MT. Courtenay. You said the finder would be suitably rewarded. '
 For returning @ whole umbrella. Thanks will pay for broken one, re, piled Miss Armstrong, saucily.
 Do you think so2 But you have tc keep your VOW besides" said MT. Cour- tenay, with perfect gravity.
 She looked at him with wide-eyed surprise, then flushed and faltered as she asked:
 "What vow7"
 "To marry the person who returned your umbrella"
 "Oh ]" was the mortified response. "Did MT. Kennedy - .. Speaking of MT. Kennedy, that indi vidual was interrupted as he waslightine his first cigar on the following morning by tap at the door, at which appeared MT. Courtenay holding an umbrella.
 {" Miss Armstrong returns your um, brella, with thanks, and apologizes fol having unknowingly exchanged with you. You have had hers four months, and unfortunately broke it yesterday when you lent it to mo. She'd like you to accept the contents of the handle ot hers, and she insists on your taking this photograph. It is no more than right since you'v carried the proofs about SC long. Old fellow" he added, breaking into long-repressed laugh, "yOuIl have to be content with the photograph She's promised the original to me-"