Connecticut western news., 1877-05-18
JEALOUS OF HIS SWEET.
 HEART.
Engaged at last!

ana hlS bow came In his way, aud pres to! change! MT. Reuben Merrifeld's future assumed altogether different aspect.
 He met Miss Ethel Parker at pri- vate morning concert. She sang "An- nie Laurie," with her back hair down over her shoulders, and bewitching Highland Costume.
 "Marry you!" said Miss Parker. all roses and smiles when, after the or thodox series of visits, presents, and opera tickets, MT. Merrifeld proposed in due form and ceremony. Dear me, I'm sure don't know what to say! It's so sudden, you know"
 "But don't you think you could learn to love me, darlingg" demanded MT, Merrifeld.
 'I do love you, Reuben, dear," con- fessed Miss Parker, hanging down her pretty head.
 Better than anybody else in this here worldP"
 "Oh, yes, thousand times."
 MT. Merrifeld's countenance bright ened up.
 And you are sure you never cared for anyone beforeq"
 70, quite sure, Reuben, darling!"
 And then the middle-aged lover drew 8 glittering diamond solitaire from his vest pocket. and fitted it to the fore finger of the pretty Ethers left hand.
 Shall we be married in the spring, dear?" said he. 'I know it's rather soon, but I've wasted too many years in single blessedness to be willing to wait for any later timep
 "Just as you say, Reuben,' assented Miss Parker, with the most delightful docility.
 Great was the rejoicing of Papa Par ker, Mama Parker and the other six Parker sisters, when Ethel showed her ring and told of her conquest. For al- though exceedingly genteel, the Par ker family was impecunious, and such good match for ''dear Ethep was re- garded with unalloyed satisfaction.
 ''I suppose he's very rich, Ethelq" said Mattie, the second daughter, with sigh, that parUook the least little bit in the world of envy.
 "He owns brown stone house, said Ethel, with pardonable pride.
 And I'm to have ahousekeeper. with two girls under her, and coupe, and six weeks at any watering place 1 please in the summer"
 I wish could captivate such darl- ing duck of man !" cried out Bertha the third Miss Parker. "How nice it will be, Ethel, to have new gloves for every party you go to, and never darn your dresses and wash your soiled rib bons in. gum arabic water and Castile soap!"
 "There's one drawback, though" soberly confessed Ethel, turning the ring, around and around, so as to catch | the sunshine on it's myriad glittering fascets.
 What's that7" asked Mattie and Bertha.
 "I'm afraid he's little inclined-no, may as we'll speak the truth good deal inclined to be jealous" ooh, that's nothing" said Mattie, "It only makes the affair more roman | tic.
 "Yes, in books," said sage Ethel. But not in real life.' "You'll have to leave off flirting, that's all," counseled Bertha. "I never did f1irt But, of course, Reuben will. soon find out the folly scolding every time I chance to look in the direction of young man."
 Alas! Ethel! Parker was right. We are all human and the one leaven of unpleasantness in MT. Reuben Merri- fields nature was a tendency to the "green eyed monster" And circum- spect as the bride-e elect endeavored to be, she could not avoid giving offence. There was more than one scintillating little lovers quarrel ending in reconci- liation and tears-but these were trifes, Ethel thought, when the great eeclandre arrived.
 It was bright March evening, when MT. Reuben Merrifeld was shown by the pink ribboned maid into the pretty little back drawing room, where a bright fire glowed on the hearth, and the odor of Mattie's hyacinths filled the mlnd with pleasant anticipation of bright sunny spring time.
 "Miss Ethel in the front room, eh 2" said MT. Merritield, expanding his palms over the grate. Needn't go to call her-Pl call her myself when I've got the frost out of my finger joints, Betty"
 "Yes, sir" said Betty, courtesying, and withdrawing. Now, Mrs. Parker had patterned her drawing rooms after a stately suate in Fifth Avenue, hired a carpenter to erect wooden pillars in humble imita- tion of the variegated marble columns of Mrs. Million, and draped them with dark blue sateen hangings. which formed a pretty partition between the two rooms, and when looped up in the middle, improvised picturesque door. A pretty idea, but one which came dangerously near spelling the prospective wedding in the family, as our readers will presently hear.
 The blue folds were down; and as he stood warming his hands, Reuben Merrifeld could hear the voice of his dear fancee.
 "He's better, is he7 Darling Dick, I am so glad. love him dearly"
 "He is handsome," a second femi- nine voice responded.
 "The handsomest creature I ever saw in my life, Miss Ethel enthusias- tically responded. "1t's been horribly dull since Dick went away. Give him l T. SL
 MT. Merrifeld, who had listened to | -;kb ho;n