Connecticut western news., 1877-01-12

coaxed Vic to put it somewhere else."
 "Why?" I asked, ceasing to watch for the coming of my divinity, and turn ing toward the small boy with awakened curiosity.
 "Cause," said Ned, evidently trying to repeat the very words-"' cause he couldn't bear even his picture to have always before 1t the face of his rival, his successful-yes that's it-his successful rival.'
 My beart gave @ bound She did love me, then. Poor Charley
 And what reply did your sister make to that ?" I asked.
 "Oh she said nonsense but she took the picture out-Charleys, you know-and he kissed her hand, and she carried it up to her room, and it's there now, hanging between the 'Huguenot Lovers and His Only Friend. He's a poor barefooted boy lying fast asleep in the road, and his only friends dog one of them big fellows, you know '-
 Yes, yes,' I interrupted, rather i'm patiently "I know all about it."
 Ned, evidently somewhat offended, was silent for about three minutes, and then began again "Oh, my, didn't they talk that day! Vic sent word to every body else that came that she was out. Wasn't that whopper? was snug gled up on the sofa over in that dark corner there, and they didn't see me, and I heard every word they said. Wouldn't Vic have boxed my ears if she'd caught me!''
 II wonder what they talked of,"I said to myself, with jealous qualm-to tell the truth. I'd been little staggered by the picture episode and then, though it wasn't exactly the right thing to do, although certainly excusable in case like this, where mans whole happiness was at stake, made up my mind to find out
 "Ned," said I, ''I saw splendid knife the other day-six blades'
 "Six blades !" repeated Ned, his eyes sparkling.
 "Yes, or five blades and a file, I don't remember which. It was a beauty, though, and if I wasn't afraid you'd cut yourself with it, I'd buy it and give it to you."
 "Cut myself!'' said the small boy, with infinite scorn II ain't 8 baby"
 "Well," said I, "the knife shall be yours. And then I continued in '1osachalaaat manner: "What was it you said your sister and MT. Thornton were talking about ?"
 II didn't say nothing," said Ned. Whenll you bring the knife ?''
 You shall have it tomorrow" I re- piled. ''Did they say anything about me, for instance ?''
 "Oh, lots p said Ned, starting off rapidly. Charley said: Oh, Vic, you'd never have given me up if I hadn't told you how rich he was. What fool I've been! I might have known that that would have been too much of a'-let me see: Lead us not into temptation - temptation for such @ girl as you are. Good heavensr and he grabbed hold of his hair just as though he was going to pull it all o,lt;" and tle small boy suited the action to the word, and tugged at his own curly locks with such an assumption of desperation as brought the tears into his eyes. "'Good heavens? he says, how selfish and cruel you are I am sure I don't know how l can love you. Are you going to marry him?' And Vic says: I am.
 "Oh you are" thinks the attentive listener.
 "' It would be awful silly she says," the small boy rattles on, "' for us to get married. might think was happy, for a little while, Cause b'lieve I love you as well as l could love anybody, and then I'd be jolly miserable, for I must have sealskin jacket and new switch, and hair like mine costs like Oh no that's what she said to ma this morning. mean she says: For I never could be happy without fine house, and a car riage, and all sorts of hobby things, and ever so much more I can't remember. And 50 be good boy,' she says, 'and console yourself with May Newton. She likes you, I'm sure, and she is Q sweet little thing, and would make you an ex- celleIt wife"
 II don't believe she ever will, then," l mutter between my teeth. Go on, Ned"
 "'No, she wouldn't,' says Charley; and as for her liking me, you never were more mistaken in your life or if she does like me, it is because I am the friend of the man she loves-Arthur Bell :" Q'm Arthur Bell)-''' yes, she loves him as dearly as I do yon, and has loved him for years. It was for his sake she refused handsome Phil Akers, to say nothing of that rich old bachelor Quimby that all the other girls are pulling caps for. Poor little wretch! know how to pity her. You'll both recover says Vic, and ten chances to one, fall in love with each other. There's nothing like catching ball on the bounce'"
 GA heart on the rebound,' I think you mean, Ned," say, with astonishing caImness.
 "Well, perhaps I do," assents the small boy, whistling couple of bars of Yankee Doodle" thoughtfully. "Any- how," ending with false note that makes me shudder, "Vic stuck to it she'd mar ry you, cause you was so slap-bang-set- 'em-up-again rich; and Charley smashed his hat on his head and walked out of the room like this," and slipping from the table, the small boy seized my hat from my hand, literally G smashed !" it upon his curly head, and strode out into the hall in such melodramatic manner that I smiled in spite of myself.
 When he returned I left the easy chair-not quite as much at ease as when I sat down in it-took possession of my hat, restored it as nearly as possible to it's original shape, and said: "Ned, you've been remarkably entertaining fact, never met such an entertaining small boy before; but I won't wait any longer. Give my respects to your sis ter'-
 Don't you mean your love?" asks Ned, with wide opened eyes, and adds, confdentially: "Oh! come now, you needn't be bashful. know all about it, you know"
 "I don't mean my love-" say, most emphatically.
 "And when'n you come again ,"
 " Impossible to tell"
 But the knife-the one with six blades, or five blades and file?''
 "Ill send it tomorrow morning early. D
 "You're trump!" exclaims the small boy, cutting a caper. "And, I say, when