Connecticut western news., 1879-01-15

brella-stand. A long, thin table, with a rail at each end, meets his eye instead, fianked on either side by rigid chair with 0 marble seat and marble slabs let into the bottom. The whole aspect of the house is altered. The heavy carpets and broad, silvered rods are taken up from hall and staircase. There is no sign of the register in the polished oaken floor. The heavy walnut banisters are gone, and replaced with spindly oak rails, each one conspicuously fastened by brass rivet.
 "What's the matter? Had fire ?'' asks the bewildered gentleman. He doesn't look very much pleased; but Mrs. Smithers is confident of the effect of the parlors. She glides forward and draws back the rortiere. There is no door now.
 You didn't tell me anything had happened" said MT. Smithers. "Well, you shall have it all fixed up nicely again. What was it? Furnace Aues evidently-the furnace isn't going. All your pretty carpets, too ?" and he glances down at the expanse of polished oak, re- ieved by Turkish rugs, and stops before the mantel-piece. When he last saw it it was of marble, carved elaborately. Now it was replaced by one of oak, which ran up to the ceiling in series of shelves interspersed with small look ing-glasses.
 The portraits of Mr. Smithers' jolly old papa and prim-looking mamma, which, in massive gold frames, had filled either recess, had also been ban ished. The portraits of the king and queen of the storks, on long panels in wide frames of oak and gold, filled their places. This was too much for MT. Smithers. He fell into a long, legged Eastlake- chair which stood be- fore small wood-fre perched upon Q pair of tall brass andirons, and took out his pocket -handkel chief.
 'sI wouldn't have parted with pa and mas pictures, now they are getting so old, for any money" said he. "Tell me all about it, sis"
 ooh, the pictures are quite safe, Jeremiah" said Mrs. Smithers. "They are in your bedroom. There hasn't been any fire; but found out that we were furnished all wrong-no taste shown at all, you know and I went to a lecture, and I really felt ashamed and how I've worked to get things perfect before you came. Don't you think the dado is elegant p
 Whats that ?" asked Mir. Smithers, in a queer tone, speaking softly, as he might to baby.
 The border round the room, you know," said Mrs. Smithers.
 "Um P said Smithers. "I should have thought it was dido. Well, where's the mantel-piece ?"
 "Down cellar" replied Mrs. Smith CTS, twith the doors."
 "Oh p groaned Mir. Smithers, chow hard these chairs are I must walk about to rest myself little. Are the chairs and sofas down cellar, too?"
 "No, I stored them," spid Mrs. Smithers.
 After that the married pair walked about the house and looked at the im- provements but MT. Smithers never smiled.
 "Dont you like it, my dear ?" asked Mrs. smithers, tremblinely.
 "Very nlce! very nice p said Mir. Smithers, in soothing tone.
 "I'm sure it must be perfect" said Mrs. Smithers. "I've acted on Terence Shocks advice all the while."
 "Eh!' cried Mir. Smithers, sharply. Then he added: "Don't get excited, my dear. Go to bed quietly and take good rest, and you'll feel better to- morrow"
 N'' I'm sure I'm very we'll indeed, Jere- miah," said Mrs. Smithers.
 "But you are tired, you know tired" said Mir. Smithers. "Go to bed there's a dear. I'll send Fanny up with you.''
 "Why should the chambermaid 20 up stairs with me?" cried Mrs. Smith CTS, beginning to feel mysteriously ter ri6ed.
 "She sha'n't, then p said Mir. Smith CTS. "No, she sha'n't, Kitty p
 Then he himself accompanied Mrs, Smithers to her apartment; saw that she retired, tied handkerchief, wet with spirits of camphor, about her head, and left her to herself. Poor Mrs. Smithers was afraid to resist, fearing that her husband might be insane enough to be dangerous. She lay staring into the darkness in the greatest misery of mind, not knowing what her husband might take into his head next. MeanwLil that gentleman had rushed in haste to the family doctor.
 Doctor" he said, sitting down in the physicians study, "I've got a terrible thing to tell you.. When I went away from home, I left my dear little wife aa well as I could wish, in as snug home as woman need to have-but you know my house, Doctor. I came home to- night and find the poor soul quite out of her mind-quite out of her little mind, Doctor. She's packed off all the comfortable things. I don't know where had the doors and mantel-pieces taken down cellar, and hung up horse -blankete on rods and rings; sent away the car pets and rubbed up the floors and scat. tered about a few fuzzy rugs. She won't have the heater fire nor the gas and there's a lno of wnnd on snrna of ,1az