Connecticut western news., 1877-03-09
How it Was.

ssFolds of the silk and cream-colored, roses. You will have the hats just alike, then?" asked Miss Lucinda Smith, mil liner. v fe satI " tfsG5 s.r4
 s'Just exactly alike. It will please Hermione, and there is nothing l like so we'll as to please my pretty step mamma," answered Lfnly .Thetford. :. lifting her sweet eyes for sympathy to the precise countenance of Miss Lu- cinda.
 "Umph!-s you are very fond of her, Linly ?'' .... l.. ,'.I -s,.y .l..- se,a 4. ssYes, indeedl She is my best friend since poor papa died, and being SO near of an age we are constant companions. I don't know what should do if it weren't for Hermione; Ryelands has |. changed so since papa's death" :"
 "You have MT. St. Charles' company a great deal, hear" uH ssasaL' ' A flash like sunrise dyed the beauti- full brunette face. @s @' "'a&
 ssOf course; he is Hermione's cousin, and-and like g brother to me-" an- swered Linly, stepping over box of silk violets to hide her confusion.-A
 "Umph! yes-well, it's all right, of course, ;" remarked Miss Lucinda. pinch ing out brier-leaf, and setting the lit- tle rose more firmly on its stem. ''But didn't it ever occur to you that folks would talk ?'' tZ "About what?" asked Linly, lifting her clear hazel eyes to Miss Lucinda's profile.
 ''His being at Ryelands so much so soon after your fathers death. Poor man |! dead but six months; should think your stepmamma, as you call her, would have more respect for his mem- ory than to" @ s*-E- "
 'sThan to whatl'' asked LlEly, her bright orbs growing large and bright with indignation. "What have you to say against Hermione-against my fathers wife. Miss Lucinda?"
 ''Say-oh, I say nothing. It's what other people are talking about. But blind, Linly. Now I have known you since you were child-used to come te Ryelands every spring to make caps il your grandmother's days, and youl own mother always bought her bonnett of me-and you were always origin enough about other things. It's strange you can't see.'' #.aE s'What?'' with thrill in the young voice. 5
 "Why, of course, your stepmotheI married your father for his money, ant to have home and position. She wa only district school-teacher, down il Marshfield, when he married her, anC everybody knew she did pretty well fo herself when she married Dr. Thetford But she was dead in love with her cou sin, Rupert St. Charles, and he witt her; but they were poor, and he work ing his way so slowly through colleg that she thought there wasn't mucl chance there, and so gave him up fo your father. And now he's promis ing young lawyer, and she mistress o Ryelands, what is so likely ?-Lord, yo1 ain't going to faint, are you, Linly?'
 "Faint? No! The day is warm and your store is close. It is foolish fo me to stay here listening to this gossip I do not feel in the least indebted t you for repeating it to me, Miss Lu cinda. My beautiful stepm other love my father dearly when she marie him-five years of utter devotion to hi interests, and her crushing grief at hi death proved it for me-nor do believ she loved any one else when she mar ried him. And if she chooses to marr MT. St. Charles now, she is at liberty for all in Circleville;" and bowin with the barest civility to Miss Lu cinda, Linly left the shop.
 The cool air of the village street cooled her burning cheeks; but ho' her loyal young heart ached in he burning bosom! Not for worlds woul she have had Miss Lucinda confirmed her suspicion that she loved Rupert $ Charles; but it was the cruel trutl He was so kind and fine in his natur' so handsome and unspoiled by his rapi success in life, no wonder the girls heart worshipped him. She had neve believed that there was anything b. tween the cousins but cousinly kindne! and freedom. But perhaps others kne better; may be she acas s'blind."
 A feeling of bitter desolation fell upo her as she entered the broad gates Ryelands, whence her beloved fathe whose pet she had always been, had bee carried scarcely half year before. Sl loved Hermione, and had believed tn Hermione loved her best of anything the world, but now it seemed as thoue she had no home in any heart.
 MT. Charles beautiful mare Sultan stood tied to tree. For the first tin the sight gave Linly pain instead
 leasure. She did not wish to me