Connecticut western news., 1879-03-19

LII SpAXAe, ny OWu DIObOeIs
 "Ah, Stephen, you have answered your own proposition. Don't you SUD- pose-don't you know-that Tom Demp- sey loved you in return, and didn't Laura know all about it? Do you not know how. the father pictured you to his daughter 2 And then, Stephen, when you came to open your purse to that man as you did-so kindly and 80 quiet ly-lifting him and his loved ones from absolute suffering into comfort and peace, do you not know how the daughters tender, generous heart must have gone out to you in gratitudeP And, Stephen, you stultify yourself when you pretend to wonder what girl eau find to admire and esteem in your manliness. :"
 "Say no more, Dadmun. If you knew how I love that girl I think you would tremble for me. But I shall not let more time slip Ah Whom have we here? That Stark woman, upon my life!"
 "Matilda Stark: ?"
 "Yes. She has come to get my sub scription in behalf of her Cosmopolitan, Interchangeable, Universally Embrac- ing Alleviation Society,""
 "Then guess I'll take myself on. I can't endure that woman"
 Dadmun Garter left by one door, and Miss Matilda Stark, lady who hadre fused to grow old through many yeare- lady prim and proper-entered in an- other.
 Miss Stark had gained MT. Langdon's subscription to her new enterprise, and then sbe contrived, in very adroit and seemingly sympathetic manner, to in troduce the name of Laura Dempsey. Never mind sll she said. A bewildering torrent of whimpering, mincing, wink ing and blinking preceded her main sub ject. Finally she discharged the broad side at point blank range. She had ar rived at the important climax by care fully regulated gradations
 "Ah, me This is strange world, MT. Stephen. But-I think you ought to know it. don't like to tattle-Iwil not tattle But it is my duty to tell you this: I heard Laura Dempsey say she said it in my hearing, and doubt not it was meant for my ears. heard these words: Said she,.. in speaking of you, when some one had laughingly joked her about becoming the wife of Sterhen Langdon-said she, in direct response to the calling of your name R0w h1 Uhx But do care for his moneyl Those were her words, sir, just as she spoke them. But I thought to myself guessed all her care, one way or the other, didn't matter much to Stephen Langdon. And think I iud ged right ly, sir p
 The man replied as best he could. By mighty effort he restrained his deeper feelings, and kept them mostly out of sight; and the Pythoness went away believing in her heart that Stephen Langdon had no love fer Laura Demp- sey. ,'''" .' s1.. An hour later Dadmun Carter found his friend pacing to and fro, bearing in his bosom the sharpest, keenest agony of all his life. At first he refused tc speak but at length the true friend sue ceeded in drawing from him the whole story.
 l "Dadmun, there is no truth in them
 I was fool to think she ever loved m. for myself. Had been poor and lonel,
 she would have passed me by with ute
 contempt! But-ahl l did love her
 God only knows how deeply and hoy
 truely yl"
 For full minute Carter witnessed hi
 friends great agony in contemplative
 pitying silence. It was agony, deep
 poignant, terrible. The strong man wa
 shaken as an oak by mighty wind, an
 the pain was marked upon his face i
 lines dark and startling. At length hi
 friend spoke. There was sympathy i
 his voice, but more of reproof
 "Stephen Langdon, I had not though
 you SO weak and so unjust. I ha thought you man trus and earnest i
 your friendship-not man to desel his post of duty as the first cry of tn , wolf" -... "Dadl Dadmun Carterl Are you madi "I-mad Stephen, you are the mat man. Look at it: As between an ang z and a serpent, you side with the SC
 pent As between Laura Dempsey an ? Matilda Stark, you jump to faith in tt
 Stark O, Stephen r . D "But-man alive !-did you not u q derstand what told you? What she g Matilda Stark-told me ?"
 = "Well--there yon have a cause d trial between Stark and Dempsey. Ha' E. you heard from the defendant2 o, ma s man have you lived all these years wi J. the need, at this late hour, of heari1
 from me and that case never was betwe, u man and man that had not two sides @ it. But beyond that, in this case, vi is the complainant First What is h Il character? Do need to tell you?" II Langdon shook his head blankly, b ' indicative of negation.
 !; "Next, went on Garter, "what 'e terest, if any, has she in the matte W Stephen, are you blind? Don't y I know that Matilda, Stark, sought 70 n smiles, your society, your hand f. openly and unblushingly, and so p' es sistently, that everybody smiled in d Ut dain |? And do you know that she | a since labored-worked in every way Ill bring about union between yours 30 and her younger sister, Sophrisb Don't you know ita"
 1d Stephen looked up like man trYi