Connecticut western news., 1877-12-21

figure, with something which looked like a veritable scythe in his hand. Rosie shrieked, stared an instant, and then sank down upon the damp ground, scat tered her precious seeds as she fell.
 She awoke to consciousness some time after, with the full moon shining Ill her eyes, and pair of masculine arms sup porting her head.
 "Oh, where am I? What has hap pened ?" she cried out in dismay, as she struggled to her feet.
 "Nothing has happened" replied a deep vo1ce; "onIy you were strew1ng hemp, and followed you"
 Rosie ventured one wild glance. A handsome, bronzed, bearded face bent above her.
 "Let me go home," she faltered, trembling like frightened bird, "home to Aunt Eunice."
 "As soon as you please, my dear Ro- sic but don't forget you belong to me now. The fates willed it, you see."
 "Oh, let me go home" cried Rosie, in sore alright.
 "Come along I will escort you to the gate"
 And her strange companion drew her hand within his arm and led her along the moonlit path.
 Rosie's heart beat so she could not get her breath. The instant they reached the gate, she broke away from him.
 "What you wont even stop to say goodbye? No matter, we shall soon meet again. You belong to me, remem- Der. No man alive can ever take you from me and in token of my claim you shall wear this.''
 A heavy gold chain flashed over her head, and quaint, carved locket hung upon her bosom.
 Through the gate, across the lawn, never pausing once to look back, went Rosie, sobbing like a child in her ex- citement.
 Aunt Eunice stood on the steps of the old farm house awaiting her.
 "Why, my dear, how long you have been. Twas just on the point of starting to hunt you"
 ooh, Aunt Eunice P cried the girl, rushing into her arms and beginning to sob outright. am frightened to death. Some one did follow me and speak to me, and oh, look at this on my neck"
 Aunt Eunice led her into the old-fash- toned sitting room, and by the light of the blazing wood fire she examined the locket that hung from the heavy chain
 Well," she said, looking at the pic- tured face it contained, merry twinkle lighting her eyes, {" the face is very nice one There must be something in your hemp-sowing after all, Rosie?"
 ooh, there is something, Aunt Flu nice" panted Rosie. " Didn't I tell you that Jennie Burr's engaged to the man who followed her ?"
 "So you did, pet. We'll, if it must be it can't be helped. You'll have to marry this handsome stranger, and let poor Ben and your promise go:" Rosie flushed oharmingly as she stole glance at the pictured face, but the tears rose ln her eyes.
 "No could never do that" she sad. } "I could never break my promise to poor papa"
 The winter days drifted on in swift , succession, and Christmas would bring Ben.
 } Rosie was in fiutter of intense ex 7 citement. On the Sunday morning fol l lowing her adventure, when she took hel l accustomed place in Aunt Eunice's pew 8 who should she see sitting opposite but the original of the picture in her locket the hero of her hempseed charm? 8 ooh, Aunt Eunice, look, there he is ? l gasped Rosie, her heart in her mouth. : ." So see, my dear," said the old lad, r quietly and after services, when th' 2 stranger came up and introduced him self as MT. Ambrose, she gave him cor a dial invitation to accompany them homo to dinner.
 a Home with them he went aud Rosi r was like one ill a dream. v "Was ever man 80 handsome, s, :. distinguished-looking, SO noble?" sh burst forth when he was gone. "Oh n Aunt Eunice. if poor papa had left m ', free P
 Wait, my dear. When Ben get y home he'll see some way out of the trou d ble. Ben always was clever boy" And Rosie waited, and learned in tn n sons, the lesson of first love-
 It was Christmas Eve. The old sitting l room was hung with holly and mistleto the wide fireplace piled with huge yul 2 logs, and out in the great roomy kitche
 Aunt Eunice was elbow deep in cake a and mince pies and plum buildings, mak ,t ing ready to give her son a substantia
 welcome.
 . "Poor Ben, he'll like my good things
 I'm sure," she said as she trimmed tn
 crust of pie. |" He always was fond something nice to eat and he's bee ' living on blrd's nests and puppies an :" fried mice in that heather country for 6 ,. many years, he'll enjoy Christmas at hom s I know. Here, Rosie, child, run to th N shed and fetch your apron full of chips
 this oven must be a leetle bit hotte ,s Hurry, do p
 1 Rosie hurried ..out but 8 good ha
 hour went by before she returned. 4 s. the garden gate she met her hero-h' " - stranger lover, and Aunt Eunice and he
 oven were alike forgotten. |. "Come here, Rosie," he called, |" - want to speak to you" u Rosie went to his side with burnir - chaaks and downcast avas