Connecticut western news., 1879-12-10

been to ask Dr. Lyons consent, never dreaming of refusal. They had sat side by side hopefully planning for the future and listening between whiles for her fathers step. And when they heard him enter the house and cross the hall to his study Herbert had risen up at once, anxious to get the interview over and return to her.
 "Give me one kiss before I go, Laurette," he had said.
 But she had laughingly refused.
 s'I will owe it you," she had said, kissing her hand to him as he had turned to look at her at the door.
 She had never seen him since.
 The interview proved to be long, and alas stormy one. Dr. Lyon re- fused Herbert,s oHerzfin harsh, almost insulting terms; and the young man, deeply wounded and mortified, had has, tily left the house, and shortly after wards quilted the country for Australia. Before sailing he had written once to Lsurette.
 GAS your father sets such high value on money, and requires so much," he wrote, CT have resigned my situation, and am going out to Australia to make my fortune. It will be long process, I fear but strong will aud stout heart can do much, and I shall not want for these if I am assured of your faith, Laurette. Will you be true to me, as I shall ever be to you, even though years may pass before you hear from me again, for I shall not write unless I have good news to send. Think we'll before you answer, and do not promise unless you can do so freely and with your whole heart. It is no light thing that I ask, and it may, and probably will, in- volve years of weary waiting. If you have any doubt of your own feelings, of your own strength, I .beseech you tell me now. Remember, your promise once given, shall believe in it implicit ly, and on the strength of it build all my 1ubur0 napplnesS.
 To this Laurette had answered simply, CT love you dearly, and as long as I live I will be true to you."
 Two years later, on Christmas Eve, Dr. Lyon died suddenly. His daughter, in common with most persons who knew him, had imagined him to be wealthy man but after his death it was discov- cred that he had lived far beyond his means, and when all claims were satis- fled a paltry e2O year was all that re- maiued for Laurette.
 It is ahard thing for any girl brought up in ease and idleness to be suddenly turned out of 8 luxurious home and com- pelled to earn her own living as best she may. Fortunately Miss Lyon was girl of sense and resolution, and she had at once bravely faced the position; and though her heart ached for her fathers loss and she keenly felt the change of circumstances, she had nevertheless calmly accepted the inevitable and had taken, without ado, the first situation that offered. Eight years ago tonight Dr. Lyon died, and for eight years Lau- rette had been working hard as daily or resident governess. Ten years had rolled away since she and Herbert parted, and all that time no news of him had reached her. How she had thought and dreamed of him and longed with heart-longing for letter Butno letter had ever come; and year by year hope slowly waned in her breast, and now it was well nigh dead. 'I shall never see him again." she thought. ''He is dead, I know, or he must have had some good news to send me all these long years." She had kept her faith to him inviolate. It is an easy thing to be true to an absent lover if no lover at you1 side tempts you to break your word. But Laurette's faith had been tried by temptation, and her quiet "no" had been so decided that no aspirant for hel hand had ever ventured to repeat his offer.
 This visit to Bristol had quickencd many old recolleotions, and her thoughts this Christmas Eve were sadder ever than usual. Wrapped in her own rehec, tions, she did not notice how far she had proceeded on her way to Stoke Bishop or how slowly the cab was progressing.
 As before stated, it was bitterly cold night. Rain had fallen in the after noon, and before the ground had haG time to dry the wind changed and it had begun to freeze and was freezing still and all the country roads were like glass In the beaten. Bristol thoroughfares and along White Ladies' road progress wal fairly easy; but having climbed the steep bit of hill at Redland and gained the level of the down that stretched be tween that and the pretty village O. Stoke it became difficult for the horse tt stand, and when about halfway acrcsl the down, to Laurette's great surprise the cabman suddenly pulled up, and getting down, opened the cab-door.
 You mnst get out," he sad, rough ly.
 "Get ont p repeated Miss Lyon, il astonishment. "Why, this is not Stok' Bishopl We are not more than hal way across the down I"
 "I know where am we'll enough, bu I can't take you step further. M, 'orse can't keep is feet, and I'm no a-going to lave is knees broke, and ii neck, too, p'r'aps, for anybody"
 "Do you mean to say that you intent to leave me with my baggage here, in thu middle of the down?" asked Laurette quietly. "And at this time of the even ing, too?'