Connecticut western news., 1876-12-22

| On, that all very me, she nut tered, contemptuously. "A new broom sweeps clean. Wait 8 few weeks, and then we shall see."
 It was two weeks before Christmas, and Mary was busy preparing for the holidays. One evening, after putting baby to bed, she ran down to the parlor to get her sewing, which she had left on the table before tea. The door did not open readily, and she tried it again, but found it was locked. She was sure she had heard Henry's and his mothers voice within, and thinking the door had become fastened accidentally, called out to Henry to open it.
 "Oh, is that you, Marya" he answer ed. "Run up stairs and get my cigar case, will you3''
 Mary did so, and when she came down again, found the door open, nd Henry sitting by the table reading.
 "Where is mother? 3" she asked.
 "Wasn't she up stairs with you" re. piled Henry, keeping his eyes fixed on nis book.
 Why, no; thought she was here."
 "WeD, you see you are mistaken, '" he answered.
 Mary did not reply, but took up her work and sewed away busily, her thoughts keeping time with her fingers. She was positively certain she had heard Mrs. Grey's voice in low toned conver- sation with Henry, and yet he had the same as denied her presence there. It was the first time he had ever equivo- cated to his wifi. and she could not overlook it lightly without knowing the reason. Why had he done so2 Was there anything secret between him and /! his mother from which she was exclud- ed, and if so, what could be the nature of it?
 We'll, never mind; it might have been about Mrs. Grey's affairs, and had noth- ing to do with her; but then, why need Henry have equivocated about tho mat ter
 The little affair troubled her consider ably, and her uneasiness was very much augmented few days afterward.
 She was in the kitchen one morning, putting the finishing touches to the preparations for breakfast, when she heard Mrs. Grey and Henry enter the dining room.
 Are you sure Mary knows nothing about this mattera" Henry was say ing.
 Yes, Lam quite certain of it; and I think we have been so fortunate to keep it from her.
 "Yes, it would never do for her to find it out now" Henry answered. Mary wanted to hear no more, but ran out into the back hall and up stairs, whence she appeared in the dining-room little flushed and excited, but not enough so to cause comment.
 After breakfast Mrs. Gray went out to sat down in her husbands big arm chair in the sitting room, and tried to reason herself out of her absurd fears and suspicious.
 What was it that her husband and his mother were trying to keep from herr Why did they treat her like a child, in her own house she thought indignant- ly; it was shameful
 Her meditations were interrupted by the entrance of Miss Susan Skinner, who Chad run over to have chat with her." us she said:
 "Why, my dear 1" she exclaimed at first sight of Mary, "how poorly you are lookingl What is the matter9''
 "Nothing serious. I was very busy yesterday, and am little tired"
 "Ah, one more in the family makes more work, 1 know. It won't do to wear yourself out this way; you must let your mother-in-law do her share of the work"
 "Ah, indeed she does," exclaimed Mary, quickly, "eyen more than I wish her to, sometimes >
 Well, it seems to me she goes out 1,,oH.o %boT uo17 10
 "And so she ought. I have Harry to claim my attention"
 "And she receives callers, too."
 "I think you must be mistaken, Miss Susan. She has made no acquaintances since coming here."
 But I certainly saw 8 gentleman come here. two days ago, when you were down town"
 "A gentleman
 "Yes, and she met him at the door herself. Mir. Grey came home in about half an hour and took him away with him."
 "Oh, it was probably some friend of Henry's."
 "Perhaps so," replied Miss Susan, doubtingly. She soon took her depart ure, leaving Mrs. Grey's mind in very troubled state. In vain did she try to reason with her self; to persuade herself that all this was no concern of hers, it should not trouble her; still she could not help con- necting the visit of this gentleman with the mysterious private conversations. Why was she not thought worthy their confidence Why all this secret plot. ting and scheming2 TY, o,,iko If harco1e 111 AT;aa Gl, warnings of few weeks before came back to her mind with redoubled force, until she could have wished herself deaf before ever listening to that hateful woman.
 Suspect her husbands mother, that sweet, gentle faced woman, of any trea- son toward her! No, indeed, she would not
 Still almost daily Mary found herself interrupting stolen conversations, and stumbling upon evidences of the secret, and add to this Miss Skinner's almost daily "chats'' with her, which always left her feeling uncomfortably with the world in general and her mother-in-law in particular, no wonder that she grew thin and pale, and lost her appetite. MT. Grey and his mother wondered at 1t and tried in vain to raise her spirits. Her husband took her out driving daily.
 The day before Christmas came. Mary pleaded that she was too busy when the time for her drive came; but Henry would not listen to it, and she put on her wraps and went. The air was clear and keen, and Mary felt much refreshed and invigorated when at last they drew up before the door. |" Run up stairs and take your wraps of, Mary, and then come right down; I want to show von something" |" said