Connecticut western news., 1877-06-22
VOL. VI.

tion, land a likelier and more fore handed girl there ain't going in these parts, if do say it myself ''s5 .... Hugh shuddered little, but Pa tience returned, and the blacksmith counted out the change. ~"I was just tellin' this ere feller Patty, how smart you be, can bake, knit and sew, and as for playin' the pianner, and singin' you can't find her beat. Where are you stoppin p he que ried of Hugh, while Patience's face grew as red as the peonies in the garden at the side of the shop. ....tt
 "At the Burns farm" ....at
 'Lor then you're the city chap Eve heern tell of; well, you must come and see us some day, when you get tired of doin' nothing, and Patty will play and sing for you" s. .t
 "Will you?" queried Hugh, looking at Patience. 4 ..-. .. .a.I
 Certainly, if father wishes me to do so." .....t l5... ..-. e... :., .,a-. ....
 "Will you not for my sake ?'' he asked, softly, as the blacksmith struck heavy blows upon the anvil. ''I am a stranger, you know, and you ought to take me in." -....- ........ -.-.-
 ''She laughed soft, sweet laugh. a...
 "You will not complain on that score" she said, eff you stay at Burns long,"
 He smiled as he thought of the three ancient Misses Burns, who had tried to make it pleasant for him since he had been there. -.s ,-s-.e .-..a..- ". ..s..
 Of course he came over, and the very next day at that, and heard Patience play and sing, which she did extremely we'll; and thus the summer passed away. a He loaned her some books, English French and German, for he found her proficient in all of those languages, she having graduated at a neighboring seminary. He taught her botany, and she taught him love. For he had learned to love her as man, loves but once, still, with maddening sense of powerlessness. He could not marry her. He was engaged to Miss De Marrenne, for one reason; he had not money enough to support wife, for another reason; and her people-he shuddered at the thought, and yet he could leave, her to be woeed and wed by some rustic boor; he must know if she loved him; so one day he tried an ex- pertinent. -r 5's57 @ ,i a. He was lying in the grass beneath a tree in the orchard, at the back of her fathers house and she was reading to him. He raised himself little and looked at her, then he softly repeated -
 'Maid of Athens. ere we part, -..a. ...r. ,.. .
 Give, oh, give me back my heart f-,.. .r
 Or, since that has left my breast sa Keep it now. and take the rest!
 z Hear my VOW before go, "s+' q
 My life, I love you -] -a "'E -ts She glanced at him quickly, and all the warm blood gathered in her face. At the corners of his mouth smile lowered. -se5 .t -t7 a.. .'r "Maid of Athens I am gone:
 Think of me, sweet, when alone,
 Though 1 fly to Istambol,
 Athens hold my heart and soul,
 Can I cease to love thee? No!
 My life, love you ]" |. --. " He had risen to his feet with the last verse, and the smile deepened as he saw her lips quiver, and heard her voice falter, as she said.-.- .t,..r.- ...E 5.........
 "Are you going?" e . -.--G
 "Yes, he answered, CT must; when duty calls, must away" he laugh ingly said. ;.r....g...=..5 az.-lr.r.s
 "Don't!'' she said. s"Don't laugh [" and the tears dropped on her book
 Patience, darling" and he was on his knees before her, "are you sorry that am going? Will you miss me ?"
 ''Miss you!'' she said. stI shall die without you" @ 5+
 It was not the words that struck him as much as the tone, the pathetic mournfulness, and in that moment he realized what blank, yes, worse than blank, the girls life would be to her if he should leave her forever; and he clasped her to him, and said.
 "You will not die, for I shall return to you, my darling, ..-.......... ..
 She laid her hands upon his shoul- ders, and looked up into his eyes.
 "I believe you," she said, and of her own accord drew his face to her and pressed her first kiss upon his lips.
 Hugh Nelson thought of this, and lived it all over that quiet night. He thought again of their final parting, of his repeating slowly after Ruth's en- treaty. He saw again her white face, looking after him as he rode slowly up the hill, and out of sight, and heard her lips repeat, "The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me-"
 And he had not seen her since would never see her again, perhaps, or, if he did, his wife would be with him, and she might be married. No, he did not fancy that, though no mat ter what we do, we never like to be forgotten. -.. ..es. .r..
 "Hugh !''
 He started in his chair.
 "Irene, is this you?'' l
 "Yes, could not sleep. I wish to talk to you.' .-...
 ''Sit down, my dear,"
 Now, if Irene had spoken softly and lovingly, Hugh Nelson would have been consoled, and been true to his al legiance, would have forgotten in the warmth of new love the tenderness of the old but it was not Miss De Mar renne's nature to speak softly at any | time
 ''Who is that Pitcher thing?" sh, asked scornfully,
 ''I do not know to whom you refer.
 "Oh, don't prevaricate mean tha Patience Pitcher of whom you spoke, GA lady"