Connecticut western news., 1878-12-04


 when she glided up to him and put her hand on his arm, and whispered that she wanted him to steal down with her to the front basement and see the tables; and when on the stairs she had fingered a step or two above him, and, resting her little kid-gloved hands on his shoulders, putting her soft cheek to his, had whisp- cred in his ear, "Where's my Christ mas ring that you promised me?" Jack felt his head spinning round. It was mercy he didn't tumble down on poor Mrs. May in the corridor below.
 And Jack says he don't know how it was-his heart beat so that he thought | it would burst the buttons off his new vest, and the Piccadilly collar might as well have been halter about his neck but that he turned to the dear little woman and told her that he worshired the ground she trod upon, as she very we'll knew; that he loved her with his whole heart and soul; but as for bring ing up the rear-guard of an army of fellows with rings, he couldn't do it. Smith and Jones, and Heavens knows how many more, had gems in their pockets for her 1; but as for him
 "As for you," said Miss May, in her low musical voice, "you gave my ring to somebody else. I saw you. was looking out the second-story back-room window, and saw you come in and save the life of that poor man, and give such delicate, sweet pleasure to the poor little girl, and make them all 50 happy; and oh, Jack, IT want you to be happy too. love you, Jack"
 And by that tine Jack said they had got to the front basement door. But he never saw such tables they were tipping about all over the room-meats, confectioneries and all-and the floor went up to meet the ceiling, and the ceiling went down to meet the floor, and his eyes were 50 blurred with happy tears that he couldn't see straight for half the night and later on he thought it would help him to realize it all if he went out and told the cold wintry night that he had been mistaken when he sang that little song and there he found Smith leaning moodily up against the window-shutter on the front balcony.
 The full, happy heart of Jack went out to Smith. "What's up, Smith, old fellow?" he said.
 "Why, the fact is, Jack" said Smith, eff there's bloodshed between me and Jones, you'll know whose fault it is. Through some despicable chicanery of his, he's got the better of me with Miss May. She refused Christmas present from me O little while ago-a ring, in fact-and told me that she had decided upon an individual preference which would preclude the possibility of &C., cepting any presents this year. Of course it's that scoundrel Jones. Now I wouldn't care, Robinson if she had chosen an honest fellow that would make her happy; but to pick out fellow so
 wretchedly inferior!"
 Women will do these things" said Jack; "the most perfect of Gods creatures will stoop to the most in-
 significant. But it isn't Jones-it's mel"
 "What p roared Smith. "Yes," pursued Jack. "I'm as much
 surprised as any body. I've worshiped her this many day, but I never hoped
 she would care for me. It was all brought about by Higgins" And then Jack went on to tell of the
 whole circumstance of the night before, of his timely visit to Higgins, and Miss Mays presence at the back-room } window.
 "Her dear little heart was melted, J : said Jack.
 "And so is mine," said Smith. "1 wish to Heaven this ring could be melted
 too. See here, Jack, take the thing and raff1e it off for Higgins, will you |? You're good fellow, Jack, and deserve to be
 happy. Can't go and have dance with Miss May, and tell her SOP" Certainly" said Jack, and as he
 fingered in the corridor to see Sophy
 through the quadrille, he found that Jones was also watching her moodily from under the stairway.
 "I suppose you know," said Jones emerging from his lurking place, and furiously bearing down upon Jack"
 suppose you know that Miss Hay ha.
 desided to trust her future to that viIlai1 3 she is dancing with p
 "No," said Jack.
 . ooh yes," said Jones "it's settled thing. She told me so in as many word
 when I offered her little Christina 8 token tonight. I didn't mind her re = fusing the ring but to tell me that i 8 was because of a preference she had de = cided upon that would hinder her iron t accepting any presents, it was too much f Robinson i; it favored of Smith too strong l ly. He's got to answer to me for thi t trickery. To think of her choosing sucl 8 a shallow, vain, miserable peacock l !. it had been an honest, straightforward a fellow like you. Robinson" l "Thank you, Jones, said Jack, ''that' a the very one she has chosen-it's me a Jones It was all brought about by al e impulse of generosity on her part" sai, y Jack and then he went up to tell Jone o all about it.
 "Good heavens, Robinson p sai h Jones, " something must be settled upo k for Higgins till he gets strong" v "That's what Smith says," said Jack d "he's just given me ring to raffle fo e him."
 l. "Here's another," said Jones, takin o out the gaudy case {; take charge of il