Connecticut western news., 1882-04-19

spicuous by reason of the green leaves
 and blue f1ag-lilies of enormous size
 that were profusely scattered over it,
 which, Miss Phebe being rather short
 and quite stout, and she rather tall and
 quite slender, effeetually concealed her shapely form, and left unconcealed her feet in stout low shoes two sizes too large for them. About her neck, which was long and slender and graceful in the soft ruches and laces she always wore, she pinned flat linen collar, and just behind her left ear, so that it dropped over against her cheek, making her brunette complexion look positively sallow, she pinned spray of the bright est blue larkspur.
 And thus she presented herself before the much astonished Miss Phebe and MT. Peter Candy. If the latter was also much astonished, as beyond doubt he was, having heard glowing account of her adopted daughter from his hostess, he never betrayed it farther than by slight opening of his dreamy, half-shut eyes. He was 8 willowy youth, with fair, willowy hair falling nearly to his shoulders, a forehead low but not broad, and chin decidedly the reverse of his friends and teachers. And he wore dark purple velvet coat, and white lace and lavender silk scarf, and there foated about him the delicate perfume of the violet. He rose when Verona entered the room, and greeted her with languid bow, which she re- turned with an awkward courtesy, while Miss Phebe's face became marvellous study, from the wonderful commingling of expressions there, as she led the way to the dining-room,
 "You-ah-you like country life 20 said Peter-I should say Aurelius- when they were seated at the table.
 "Oh, yes," replied Verona, with in- fantile fervency. q dote on COWS" :"
 "Cows? Oh! ah yes. They-they
 "Don't bite you, and they give milk and cream and butter," explained Ve- roma.
 Peter-that..is is sAurelius--almosts smiled. ''And do you dote on horses, too ?'' he asked, patronizingly.
 ''Yes; but sometimes they kick. I'm afraid of them when they kick. But T. oh, how I'-clasping her hands-s'love p
 Chickens p repeated Aurelius, in a dazed way.
 'Yes; they lay omelets and custards and eggs" said Verona, nodding her head with the air of one who imparts lseful information. And there the con- ended.
 Mir. Peter Aurelius Candy left for nome on an early train. "Your adopted daughter is simplicity itseH," he re- marked to Mss Phebe, while bidding her good-by, "but fear we are not af- inities.''
 ''Oh, Verona, how could you-how could you be so-" began Miss Phebe, as soon as he was gone but an uncon- fit of laughter prevented her finishing the question. And before the laugh was done, away danced Verona to the snuggery to do her hair in the usual style, replacing the larkspur with an orange and maroon nasrurtium flower, put back the tooth, and ex. change the loose green and blue fig ured gown for natty gray flannel boat ing suit with dark red trimmings.
 And at the rowing party-she and he had a little boat to themselves, and somehow or other it was always very much behind the others-she told Ar thur all about it.
 "Oh, dear me, how funny it was !' said she. 'But it served him exactly right, for l happen to know that he thought Mother Phebe had a fortune with which to endow me, whereas she has only enough to keep herself comfortable, lear old darling. And in consideration of that fortune 1 have no doubt that had he seen me at my best, he might have ,ondescended to have been pleased with ne. But he was wholly unprepared for inc version of rural loveliness that burst upon him. Oh, Arthur, you can't imagine what fright I was !''
 'I can't imagine you a fright under my circumstances, said Arthur, think ng how beautiful she looked framed in he moonlight.
 ooh, but I was p holding up her land, which she had been splashing in he water, and looking refectively at he sparkling drops that fell from it. T wouldn't have you see me that way or anything"
 s'You wouldn't p capturing the hand 70 suddenly that the boat nearly upset. ' What? Can it be? Dare hope that you"
 "Of course I do, and always shall, whether you propose or not"
 "My angel p exclaimed Arthur.
 You ought to have seen me at din. ler-time," said Verona.
 "'Twould have made no difference to me-" declared the lover. "And oh. my darling, I should have asked you to share my life six months ago, only I thought, as the other fellow did, that you were an heiress, and I have nothing out the hope of succeeding to the gov 9rnor's business, which isn't a very one."
 "Wel, do you propose now? No lime, no place, could be more appropri- ate; the moon looking down from starry skies, the water all siivered by her light. ! faint fragrance of water-lilies prepar- ng to 'put off sleep in the cool air. md somebody or several somebodies in 'he other boats whistling Charlie is my larling' as 8 signal that we'd better