Connecticut western news., 1880-09-29

the matter with me. What an escape have had p
 "Yes, you had narrow squeak of it. , Hugh said frankly; "just another pound or two of impetus and you would have gone over the ledge."
 She was silent, and he went on:
 "Do you object to smoke ? Because if you don't I should really like to light my pipe"
 "Not at all," Amy said.
 "There's something comfortable about pipe," Hugh said, when it was fairly alight; "somehow one can talk when one gets pipe alight."
 'I think men can talk at Ill times, " Amy said, with flash of her usual spirits.
 "Some men can," Hugh said. "I can talk with men; but, do you know, somehow I can't talk with women. I can talk with you now because I don't see you, and because I am smoking {; but should feel horribly uncomfort- able if I met you in the morning."
 "I did not know any men were shy with women, nowadays" Amy said.
 "Shy ?' Hugh repeated. "Well, yes, I suppose it is a sort of shyness with me. never had any sisters, and so, you see, I never got in the way of talking to girls. It is very annoying sometimes, and makes people think me bear. I suppose you thought so. You must have done so.''
 "Yes," Amy said. 1T did think you rather a bear. I am not accustomed to shy young men, and simply fancied you did not want to speak to strangers. And now please tell me exactly what happened, because I shall have to tell aunt, and I have only confused idea of what has taken place."
 Again Hugh told her the facts.
 "Then owe my life to you," the girl said. when he had finished.
 "I really don't think you do," Hugh said, in matter of-fact way. "I ques- tion very much if you would have come round out of your faint before could have brought help from Barmouth. However, of course, acted for the best, and it avoided all risk. There was no danger in getting down to you; the little one and I slipped down as easily as possible. If thought you were going to tell me tomorrow that you were very grateful, or anything of that sort, I give you my honor I should go right away by the coach to Carnarvon."
 The girl felt by the tone of Hugh's voice, that there was no afectation about him, that he really meant what he said.
 "I may just say 'thank you,' now?' she asked quietly.
 "Yes, just thank you," he said lightly.
 eff I were man you would shake hands over it?" the girl asked.
 "Yes," Hugh said.
 "Please give me your hand"
 He stopped down, and she put her hand into his.
 "Thank you," in deep, quiet, ear nest voice.
 Then, as he rose again, she went on, in changed voice:
 "Now mind, it is a bargain. We have shaken hands on it. I am not to be grateful and you are not to be afraid o1 me, but are just to be as natural witt me as with Ida"
 "That is 8 bargain" Hugh said, with a laugh. "I don't think I shall fee shy with you in the future. I never talked so much with woman in my life An, here they are with the rope. They have been precious quick about it. , And Amy Herbert felt there was req compliment in the tones in which ht spoke. "Now you must wake Ida How soundly she sleeps! Now let mt help you on to your feet" Even with the aid of the rope it was work of considerable difficulty to ge Amy Herbert up to the top of the slope for she was weak and shaken, and un able to do much to help herself. At las it was managed; and then she was help ed down steep path close by to tn road below, where a carriage from tn hotel was waiting for them.
 twill you come up and see m, aunt?" Amy asked, as they stopped a the door.
 "Not tonight, thank you. I vii come in the morning to see how you ar after the shake; and, please" he said tell your aunt of our bargain. It woul be awful to come up to be thanked"
 "Good-night," the girl said. {" won't forget. Come early. Now, Ids come along, and you will soon be i bed"
 * *
 Two months later Mir. Herbert wa walking up and down his breakfas room in towering passion. Amy WE ) sitting in @ great armchair.
 " It is monstrous, it is incredible, MT. Herbert exclaimed. "Here yo1 for whom I have looked for a capit, match, who refused three of the yer best men in the district last year, al ; away for two months and half at tn beggarly Welsh village, and you con back and deliberately tell me that yo l have engaged yourself to an artist, fe low l never heard of" "Dear old daddy" Amy said quietl,
 "don't get angry about it. Come an sit down and talk it over reasonably, r you always do things with me- I "No, no, Amy. I know what yol ] reasonable talking means r am not