Connecticut western news., 1878-11-13

"Now," said the hospitable Rose, "you are all to stay to tea-Steve Bel den and all, and we will all have good time am going to make some French biscuits.''
 So away she flew. The rest of us sat little while talking, and then mother went to help Rose, and Will said he had an errand down the stret.
 "Put on your bonnets, girls" said Steve to Nell and me. "Put on your bonnets and your new shawIs. There is just time for walk before supper, and shall be proud to have your com pany if you will go."
 Our new shawls Nell smiled assent, and slowly refolding her white crape, placed it around her shapely shoulders with the air of princess. I thought to myself it was fortunate I wore my black silk, for the lavender would go so nicely with it and Rose, putting her head in at the door to see what we were doing, exclaimed that must not wear my old bonnet, but take her stylish lit tie hat with the ostrich plume. So l equipped myself, and took sly peep in the mirror to be sure that the laven- der shawl was really as becoming as I hoped, and then, with hutter in my heart, started out with Nell and Steve, and was the one nearest to Steve.
 We walked down the principal village street, and then turned off by the wharves-the wharves where I had played so often as little girl, but where now had to walk with quiet dig nifty for fear of brushing against the damp barrels and the spars lying there. The Mary Ann lay at Anchor little way out in the harbor, and Steve said the old ship looked more like home to him than anything else in the world.
 "What red sunset we are going to have, ; said Nell, looking dreamily sea- ward "the sky is ruby and comedian p
 'sIt reminds me-" said Steve, "of a redder sunset six months ago, the after noon we set sail from Hawaii. The men were singing as they pulled at the rop es, and joined in the choruses but felt lonely enough when the sun went down, and we had almost lost sight of the island, and the Albatross lying at anchor, with your Uncle John on board and Ben Gardiner"
 "Who's Ben Gardinar ?" asked, for knew all sailors families, and no one # 4I,ak Aol 1ol port.
 "Oh, Ben shipped from New Bed ford, replied Steve; he and were just like brothers, and we hated to part. But the Hawaii owners gave him every in ducement, and he was anxious to get to be captain before coming home, so he stayed out.
 had never been in New Bedford, but Nell had, and I glanced at her to see if she knew Ben Gardiner but she ap- peared not to be listening; she was looking far away to the eastward with flushed cheeks and parte d lips.
 "He was the best fcl How ever saw, Steve went on, enthusiastically, as brave as lion and as true as steel. l don't believe he ever had cowardly or dishonest thought In his ife."
 And Steve's eyes kindled as hepraised hts friend, while l thought to myself I did not believe his friend could possibly be any nobler than he. For within these few days, Steve Belden had suddenly become my ideal. But oh, these cling ing folds of my lavender crape shawl They seemed to wrap me away from him after all, to separate us forever for it was not poor, dishonest heart beating behind them which could never bear the clear, searching sunshine of his love even if he had loved me, and that he probably never would now. Maybe he would. love Nell. o, how lovely she was at that very moment, looking wistfully out over the sea
 "What big blue eyes you are making at the waves, Georgie said Steve, softly, coming little nearer and your cheeks are as pink as the rose-shells wo used to gather at the islands!''
 "Tell me more about Ben Gardiner, J I said, desperately, "more about how noble he was."
 Nell looked around rather surprised, and Steve asked soberly
 "Why, do you know Ben, Georgie ?
 "No, I don't; I never heard of him before but want to hear about how good he is because he is your friend. And with the last word it dawned upon me that had better be more careful oi my speech, but Steve was already answer ing me.
 "Why, don't know exactly how te begin about him." he said, Che is SC nnselfsh he is always willing to helI any one out of trouble, from a mate down to monkey. have seen hin jump overheard tune and again to save poor creatures from drowning, and have seen him stop to tako wretchet buzzing fly out of a spiders web. Ant i; you couldn't get him to tell lie, not fol all the mines in Peru. Shall I tell yo1 about the time he was so honest and fair when We were drawing cuts who should have furlough on shore, and we were all pining to set foot on land once more he more than any of us ?"
 ooh, no, never mind p I answered . hastily, with little shiver; "wait til , 1 wa oet home HT'm ooino Ho ,,iok n,