Connecticut western news., 1877-04-27
WHY HE DIDN'T.

"But, Judge, you never told me why you did not marry Miss Van Horn. We all thought that matter was settled, but suddenly we were surprised by the news that you had married stranger in the city, and Helen Van Horn was left disconsolate. I wonder what has become of her; she must have married we'll, however, she had fine chance to choose, for there was scarcely good match in the city that was not at her command at one time."
 "Yes, yes," answered the gentleman addressed - Judge Hume, distin- guished, handsome, intelligent-looking man of about forty-flve years of age; a successful lawyer, who had some years before been raised to the judicial bench almost by acclamation-'sno woman could have married better than Helen Van Horn. Why did not marry her is short, simple story, not without moral; and will tell it if you care to hear it. have never told it before, even to my wife, ludicrous as some of it's phases are. So take a cigar-you will find it a good one-and hear how, possibly, Helen Van Horn is not Mrs. Hume to-day.
 "You knew her father,'' began the Judge, "and will remember that he was reputed to be very rich. However, 1t turned out, upon his death, and after his debts were paid, that there was left mere pittance for Helen, obliging her, | ob off fn 1.-Two with extreme economy ever since."
 s'Do you mean to say that she has never married !'' asked his guest.
 'sMarried!' repeated Hume "no in- deed! and in that may be seen the moral of my story to which I referred. But do not let us anticipate; let us be- gin at the beginning.
 cone evening, going to fulfil an en- gagement with Miss Van Horn, as the servant ushered me unannounced into the parlor, found her engaged in an animated conversation with a singularly handsome young man, who, saw at glance, might readily become formi- dable rival, and felt for the instant 8 sharp pang of that unamiable, discon- certlng passion, jealousy. But as my entrance had been unobserved, I was able to recover myself before saying, in my blandest manner, Good evening" The gentleman started, and stiff1y re- turned my bow. As for Helen, with suffused cheeks she said, Why, MT. Hume, did not hear you at all; you are absolutely as gentle as lamb.'
 "Somewhat angry at her satirical tone, I observed that she was engaged in conversation and probably did not hear me enter, and added that I had called to attend her to the gallery to see the picture she was anxious about.
 "'But really, MT. Hume,' she said, somewhat confusedly. looking from the stranger to me, I had entirely forgotten all about it, and so promised MT. Churchill here to accompany him to see 'Richelieu' tonight
 ''I glanced toward the stranger and he returned the glance with slight
 frown on his face. Miss Van Horn continued, But ohl beg your pardon
 gentlemen, had forgotten you were not acquainted with each other. MT.
 Hume, this is my friend, MT. Churchill of Richmond,' and she carelcssly fel back into the chair, from which she hac half risen for the moment.
 . "'I am sorry Miss Van Horn has SC treacherous memory; but hope, MT , Churchill-with your approval-can bt F prevailed upon to defer his engagement for I assure you the picture is rare gem, and we'll worth seeing. persisted
 in this because I had become slightly
 reused by the indolent way of receiving the homage paid her, and there seemed f to be gleam of triumph in the face o1 my rival.
 l "The young man looked at mt ; gravely, then silently turned to Miss 5 Van Horn for some expression of hel f wishes. He was evidently very mucl displeased at my interruption of theil
 tete tete, and was sufficiently interested
 in the lady to be seriously ruffied by m.
 seeming rivalry; he was not altogethe D pleased with the fact that she seemed t so careless with respect to her engage k ments, which did not accord with hi 6 standard of women. He was a wei t educated, comedy young man of goot
 fortune, accustomed to be well received @ by women, and yet-as he afterward
 told me-he could not help for thu @ moment some apprehension that tn t lady's choice for the evening might g
 against him, for you know I was callet
 fo O loAxy1o in thnSn days s ''As for Miss Van Horn, she sat @ meanwhile, demurely toying with
 large tassel suspended from the arm o }, her easy chair for a moment, as if il Il deliberation, then exclaimed: Really
 1 am sure it must be very wrong in m Il to be so thoughtless, is it not? Here y captivating smile illumined her beauti
 full features and parted her bewitche e lips, just discovering the pearly teet st between them, and she added, will yo
 not settle the question, gentlemen 70 between yourselves"
 'The matter must be arranged i some way, and as was the most in timate friend of the family, and m It rival a comparative stranger, l wa 'p about to magnanimously withdraw m
 pretensions and leave the field, whe
 suddenly there was loud ring at tn front door, and Miss Van Horn startle 10 to her feet with the exclamation: "Al 0' that must be Mr. DeStultus! what 8 H. unfortunate, thoughtless girl am, fc at I do believe am engaged to go to tt al opera with him to-night?'
 lg "That quickly settled the question Il. dispute between MT. Churchill and m! es self; and with a common impulse W d. both rose to our feet, smiled at eac other pleasantly, and with mere