Connecticut western news., 1879-03-19

 thank fortune, there was third party present, and one whom know you will credit ; though, be sure, Miss Stark, did not know she had another hearer. Your oldnurse, Betty Barstow, to whom Laura has given home, was in an adjoining room, and heard every word. Let us go to her. She will be circumspect where you are concerned"
 "But, Dadmun, how came you to know P
 Because I chanced to call on Laura very shortly after Miss Stark had gone away, and found her ill tears. I con- fess to the weakness of curiosity, and, 80 far, of intermeddling. I waited until could speak with old Betty apart, and from her learned the truth. Let us go now. Laura is absent at her school this afternoon. ... ~a
 Stephen Langdon did not fall in at once, but after time he put on his hat and went with his friend. They found Aunt Betty Barstow, a bright, sparkling old lady, who had, in other years, served in Stephens family-found her alone, and to her Carter stated the business in hand.
 "Ol the Baggage! The falsifying, misunderstanding thing!' P snapped the old lady, folding her knitting, and lay ing it aside. "I'll tell you, Master Stephen, just how it was-for I heard every word-every word, just as plain as though I'd sat right before her." And then she went on and told the story. Matilda Stark had come on pur- pose to SOW the seeds of discord and un- happiness if she could. She had told Laura, directly and distinctly, that Langdon cared no more for her than he cared for many others; and she tried to impress it upon the girls mind that she was doing thing dangerous to her peace, and, it might be, dangerous to her reputation, in suffering the frequent visits of such mana man, she said, old enough to be her father, and known society man and gallant. And so the evil woman had gone on, until she had goaded the poor girl almost to madness.
 "But," said Stephen, "Miss Stark told me that Laura distinctly, and in so many words, told her that she cared not for me, but that she did care for my moneyl"
 The old woman put out her hand.
 "Hold on! !" she gasped. And after 8 little thought" "Oh, I have it all now. Oh, the wicked, wicked woman If she had told you all that the dear girl said, it would have sounded very differ mt. Here is what Laura said-I can give her very words: Miss Stark had told her that people accused her of hunting for @ rich husband, and that she never would i i have looked with favor upon Stephen Langdon had it not been for his wealth. And then Laura said-'I care not for Stephen Lsngdon wealthy! I never cared for him as owner of vast estates- neverP And then the serpent said to her, in her wheedling way And so you wouldn't care for wealth ? And here is what Laura answered to that: Yes, she said, in her sweet way, should care for wealth, because with wealth I could make so many people happy. l should love to be able to lift the burden of sorrow from every human heart j; and the possessor of wealth can do so much
 O, so muchp That's what she said,
 Stephen, word for word"
 The sunlight had come, and Stephen Langdon's heart bounded up and found it.
 And that very evening he sat by Lau. ra's side, with her hand clasped in his,
 and listened to the story from her own
 lips; and before he went away he had set the day for their marriage, for, he , knew-knew it in his innermost heart , that the sweet girl loved him truly anc ? devotedly.
 Years have passed since that time, ani Stephen Langdon has never had occa sion to doubt the love of his wife. And moreover, the forecast of Dadmun Gar ter has been fulfilled in every particu s lar. Stephen has been raised to plan' n of healthful, haypy life before unknown < and, under the gentle guidance of hi = wife, entered into her schemes of low
 and blessing, in rich return, of all wh ,, have the heart and tue will to appre ciate true Christian goodness.