Connecticut western news., 1877-03-23

llS UOoO GO HI HUI p1dCOs uACA 5 ACdA Co never break, and there is no one whom l know suits me better. That old man who gave me the letter never read the address. There can be no inquiries made. It would be safe enough to de- stroy it, dangerous not to do so now,
 Then Jane tore the letter in two, thrust it in it's envelope, and looked about her. It would be dangerous to tear it to bits in the woods. Its white fragments might attract some eye amongst the greenness of the grass. But hard by pretty stream babbled away over stones and pebbles. Once thrown into the water, that was the end of it.
 Jane hurried to the water side, and looking over her shoulder, as one might who expected to see a ghost, tossed the little package in. It fell with the closed side downward, and distended by the torn note, which was rudely thrust into it. The surface was hard and highly finished, and shaped so as to resist the A sprang up favored it, and away it floated, like little boat, deftly clearing the shore and tacking and turning as it passed the dark, half hidden breasts of the little rocks over which the water played. S'Good-bye," said Jane, laughing as she watched it. CT have now a vessel, | freighted with the hopes of Harry Craig, afoat in fine style. am afraid it will make shipwreck, but all the wind that blows no one any good" " And, turning, she tripped towards the house.
 At this moment, farther along the same stream. where in little cove lay hidden great tangle of water lilies, l Annie Conyers sat in rough little boat, rowed by Mrs. Wilton's son Peter, shock-headed boy of twelve. Little Fannie Wilton sat beside her, and the two girls drew from the bank dark green stems of the great, beautiful white | flowers.
 elf one could only carry them to the city," said Annie; ''but they always die. How greedy I am, can never get enough. But we'll leave the buds until they open-and there comes one down the stream to us. Let's try to catch it, Peter" Peter in obedience to the mandate rowed his boat into deep water, and Annie leaned over the side with her hand outstretched to catch what she fancied was floating lily.
 s'Pshaw!'' she cried, with laugh, as it came nearer, Sits nothing but pa per! But it seems to be lodging me I'll catch it what ever it is !"
 And with these words her white fingers closed on an envelope not yet soaked through, and within which lay, torn or crushed, paper still dry.
 "Why, it has my name on the back p cried Annie. ''I never destroy letter when Pm away from home.''
 Then her face changed, and the chil- dren saw her pale and flush as she pieeed tine torn letter together and read it through.
 ''Is anything the matter, Miss An nie?" asked Fannie.
 "What should be?'' said Peter "What little goose you are." Fan."
 "Nothing is the matter, children,' 2 said Annie; "only, as the old adagt says, Truth is stranger than fiction !'' | ssFb i,, oriad Patar
 ''So odd for letter of mine to floa to me on the river." said Annie.
 "Ha, ha, ha, ha!' Ain't it?" roare( Peter.
 And stranger than Peter knew, for i was Craig's love letter that Annie hat ljust read.
 She was a wise little woman, ane kept the matter to herself. But Fanny did not.
 ''Wasn't it funny, ma?' she cried ''Miss Annie found one of her letter floating down the stream, just like boat, when we were getting water Ii lies.'
 "Ohr" cried Mrs. Wilton, for at thi moment the teacup Jane had lifted t. her lips dropped from her hand ant dashed to pieces on the floor.
 "How careless that was of me, criad Jane.
 "Hope you haven't tspoilt your dress?' said Mrs. Wilton; but as Jane lifte' her crimson face from the fragments o the broken cup, she met Annie Conyer' eyes.
 Women sometimes talk to each othe , with their eyes; two did then; But Annie was generous ill her tri : umph. She never told Craig, and sh sent Miss Heth an invitation to he wedding, which Miss Heth, with grea } many regrets declined.