Connecticut western news., 1875-02-19

She drew the boy caressingly toward her, and when kissing his fair open fore head, her eyes fell involuntarily on a ring that secured his necktie, mere blue ribbon. It was of gold, and on it were graven the initials c. and s. with 8 lovers knot between. These were those of herself and her husband, and the ring was one she had seen him wear daily. Constance trembled in every limb; she felt deadly paleness overspread her face, and the room in which she sat swan round her; but on recovering her self possession, she said:
 " Child, let me look at this ring"
 The wondering boy placed in her hand the trinket, which she had not the slight est doubt of having seen years before in London.
 "Who gave this, my childa" she asked.
 My papa"
 "Your papa !-what is your name?"
 Sidney"
 "What else2" she asked, ,impetuously.
 Sidney Warren Milton.
 "Thank God But how came you to be named SO? There is some mystery in this-a mystery that must soon be solved now. Where were you born, dear little Sydney2''
 "In Calcutta"
 "What is your age, child?"
 "Next year I shall be eseven years old. "
 "Seven-how strange it is that you have the name you bear !''
 cit is my papa's, " said the boy, with little proud nritability of manner.
 "Where did your papa live before he came to Calcutta?"
 "I don't know-in many places soldiers always do."
 "He is @ soldier" ?"
 "My papa is Major Milton, and lives in the cantonments at Meerut."
 "A little time, I shall know all" re- piled poor Constance, caressing the boy with great tenderness.
 On arriving at Meerut, however, she found herself ill-faint and feverish, so that for days she was confined to her bed. She had but one keen and burning desire-to see Major Milton, and to learn from his lips the fate of her husband. On the evening of the fifth day-the evening of the tenth of May-when just as the sunset gun pealed over the can comments, the ayah brought her card, inscribed, ''Major Milton-Staff Corps."
 "Desire the major to come to me 1" said Constance, in @ broken voice, and terribly convulsed by emotion; for now she was on the eve of knowing all.
 "Here to the mae1boa s0hib's bedside?" asked the astonished oyoh.
 "Here instantly-go-go! P
 Endowed with new strength, as the woman withdrew, she sprang from her bed, put on her slippers, threw round her an ample cashmere dressing robe, and seated herself in bamboo chair, trembling in every fiber. In a mirror opposite she could see that her face was as white as snow. The door was opened.
 "Major Milton," said voice that made her tremble, and attired in undress uniform, with helmet in hand, her hus- band, looking scarcely day older, stood gazing at her in utter bewilderment. He gave one convulsive start, and then stood rooted to the spot; but no expres- sion or glance of tenderness escaped him. His whole aspect bore the impress of terror.
 Years had elapsed as dream, and they were again face to face, those two, whom no man might put asunder. Softness, sorrow and reproach faded from the face of Constance. Her broad, low fore head became stern; her deep-set dark eyes sparkled perilously, her full lips became set, and her chin seemed to ex- press more than ever resolution.
 "Oh, Constance-Constance," he faltered, ''I know not what to say l"
 '" It may be well so, Sidney. So you are Major Milton, and the supposed hus- band of Miss Dashwood?"
 There was @ long pause, after which she said: "I ask not the cause of your most cruel desertion; but whence this name of Milton2''
 "A property was left me-and- but of course, you have long since ceased to love me, Constance?"
 "You actually dare to take an upbraid- ing tone to me p she exclaimed, her dark eyes flashing fire. Then looking upward ,appealingly, she walled, "Oh, my God! my God |! and this is the man for whom, during these bitter years, I have been eating my own heart l"
 " Pardon me, Constance; you may now learn that there is no gauge to measure the treachery of which the human heart in it's weakness is capable Yet there has been worm in mine that has never died"
 . She wrung her hands, and then said, with something of her old softness of manner: "You surely loved me once, Sidney?''
 "I did," He drew nearer, but she recoiled from him.
 "Then whence this cruel change2"
 "Does not some one write, we love, and think we love truly, and yet find it required these two hearts to make a perfect whole 2"
 "Most accursed sophistry! But if | ,o+
 1T have great fear" said he in a broken voice; "thus, Constance, by the love you once bore me, beseech you to have pity, not on me, but on my little boy, and his poor rmother-preserveth thei1 happiness.
 "And sacrifice my own?" she said in g hollow voice.
 "Spare, and not expose me-my com missionary position here -
 "Neither shall be lost through me, she replied, in voice that grew more : and more weak; "but leave me-leave me-the air is sufocating light has left my eyes,"
 He drew near to take her hand, but she repulsed him with wild gesture ot despair, and throwing up her arms, fel back in her seat, with gurgle in hel throat, her head on one side and her jaw fallen.
 "Help-help P cried he; but no hell } came, and he hurried away; the sudder din of musket shots, of shrieks and yells announced that the great revolt had be F gun at Meerl1t, and that the expected } massacre of the Europeans had com l menced. In that butchery, those h. {! loved most on earth perished, and mid 3 night saw him, wifeless and childless lurking in misery and alone in mang >; tope on the road to Kurnaul. * * * r While listening to the narrative of m, 6 friend Sidney, whom had always know