Connecticut western news., 1879-03-19
After His Fortune.
A DOMESTIC STORY,

Stephen, do sincerely hope and pray that nothing may occur to mar your prospects, for I should certainly consider 8 rupture at this stage calam- ity of the most lamentable kind. Dear old fellow, here you are, full fve-and thirty" .-..-.....
 "Not quite, Dad" .... .... s
 'Well, you lack not more than-Let's see. Ahl just three months and two days. But, seriously, Steve, am more anxious than you think. I want you to have home, and be settled down in it :; and, moreover, want you to secure the priceless woman whose love you have woD. What man you might be, with an aim in life above yourself"
 So spoke Dadmun Carter to his friend and chum and college-ma:e of other years, Stephen Lsngdon. They were now advancing towards the middle age, though, as yet, in health and spirit and bodily vigor they were as young as ever. Dadmun had been married almost flf- teen years, and had happy family be- meath his roof.tree, while Stephen had wandered and groped alone, though not without such friends as the free-hearted, careless poesessor of wealth must ever find. Several reasons had thus far held Stephen aloof from matrimony. First He was by nature different and coward ly in female society. Second The class of women with whom it had been his fortune to he thrown in contact had not been of character to command his re- spect and third: He knew that many fair and scheming damsels had aimed to capture him only that they might enjoy his wealth ; for, be it known, he was soidly and substantially wealthy. Though he had for years lived at the top of his bent he had not spent his in- come. The massive principal lay intact just as his father had left it.
 But at length Stephen Langdon had found woman whom he not only loved, but who, he believed, loved him in re- turn, and loved him with truth and faith. Laura Dempsey WAS her name, -an orphan two-and-twenty years oi age; healthful, cheerful, happy, beauti. ful, and good. Since the death of hel father, who had been one of Stephens warmest friends, she had been engaged as teacher of music and drawing, in one of the select schools of the city; and the true feminine graces and virtues were all her own. To be sure, Stephen wal the elder by thirteen years-had been { mate of her fathers in the club-bu still he believed she really loved him, a. he loved herl He felt that he couli take her to his great heart, and hold he. there, safe and true-beloved always while life should last :-"Only," h. sometimes asked himself, "will she lov me the samer When my hair become gray, will she love me as now? And i i-is 1t old Steve she loves or his bi bank accouut9 Does she think most c resting her head on this faithful bosom orof aheedling this hand of mine to sig her checks ?-Ah p
 Poor man we should know how t sympathize with him. Had he love Laura Dempsey less, he might not hay suffered; but his very heart of heart his life of ife-was bound up in her, an it would have made him utterly mise able to know that she could speak h name without warm and generous emt tion.
 "Aye, Stephen-what @ man yo might be, with an aim in life aboy yourself And where will yor find
 "Hush l-I know, Dad,-T know 8 you would say. Bless her dear hear She is an angel. and would bring vel demon to the foot of the cross, I believe but I don't want her co try. I ha, made up my mind, old fellow. I kno she will be my wife when I say for
 have meaningly drawn that admissic from her without committing mysel My only wonder is-and that militat somewhat against her care and judgme how she came to set her heart upon man so much her senior and, above else,-a man whose life has been
 lightly and loosely spent as has mine.
 Dear stephen, you do not pretel
 Shat you are ignorant in that directio
 An don't play the hypoorite p
 "Hypocrite, Dad? Whatd' you mean
 Why, Steve, mean this You kn,
 why, and how, the heart of that gi
 with all its wealth of faith, and love. a
 devotion. was drawn to you. Don't sha
 your head. Listen. If ever a hum
 being worshiped any earthly thin
 Laura Dempsey worshiped her father
 "Aye," cried Langdon, with enthu
 aazn. ssand she had reason. Dear {