Connecticut western news., 1882-06-28
MILLICENT's HERO.
BY ELIOT M'coRM1oK,

luu1uG u1u1S6u III pOS1I1Ou GO marry, and having known Millicent Bruen more or less intimately for six months, Jack Wendover felt that the time had come for him to express the devotion which from the first he had entertained toward that young lady and ask her to recipro- cate 1t.
 It is evident he counted without his host, as the following remark by Miss Bruen plainly shows:
 "But this needn't be the end," ap- pealingly; sit needn't disturb our friend ship, MT. Wendover. like you so well as friend-better than any one know, only not as the man "-the color rushed up into her face. but she kept on bravely-''not as the man whom I woald marry. He must be hero like Sir Philip Sydney or the Chevalier Bayard."
 Jack smiled humbly.
 s'Do you think you will know him when he comes ?" he asked.
 It was. not happy question. She thought he was ridiculing her, when he had no such intention. The color came and went on her face, leaving only red spot on each cheek.
 tI have not the least doubt but that I shall, she said coldly.
 Jack rose from his chair. "Well," he said, wearily, "Isuppose you know best. I never set out to be a hero. Good night, Miss Millicent."
 Now, if Millicent supposed that Jack Wendover, rejected as her lover, would be content to remain her friend-on the same intimate terms, that is, as had hith- erto existed-she showed small knowl- edge of that young mans nature and a limited appreciation of such affairs. With Jack the friendship had been only a preliminary to lis proposal From the first he meant to marry Millicent, if he could, and all his visits and atten- tions were so many means to this end. They had given him pleasure, as any pursuit does on which a mans heart is bent, but it was mixed with restlessness and uncertainty and pain. The chief element of pleasure had been the possi- bility that some day or other she might be his. Now this was taken away. In it's place remained & dull sense of dis appointment which Millicent's presence could only emphasize. What he wanted was not her society for an occasional evening, but Millicent herself and if he could not get that he would not expose himself to the tantalizing fascination of her presence. From that evening, therefore, his social visits at the Bruens came to an end.
 This was something Millicent had not bargained for. She felt grieved and disappointed, and it must be said, lit. tie indignant. Her father, too, without knowing the cause, perceived the deser- tion.
 "Haven't quarreled with MT. Wend. over, have you ?" the old gentleman asked suspiciously, after month or six weeks had gone by.
 "Tm sure, papa, never quarrel.
 "Well, then, don't know what's got into the man-unless he's found girl Strange if he hadn't. Might just as well have had him yourself, Milly."
 Millicent felt indignant with herself for blushing.
 "1'm sure, papa" loftily, "Mr. Wendover isn't at all the kind of man I should like"
 The father shook his head. "I'n afraid you'll go through the woods, he said, "and pick up crooked stick. ] don't know any young fellow I like bet ter. Besides, I owe him debt of grat itude. It's due to him more than an, one else, Milly, that we're not in ths poor-house."
 Millicent turned white.
 "What do you mean, papa2"
 "I mean, my dear, his compan, has taken my boulevard lots eff m, hands and saved me from being bank rupt."
 1t was brief statement of disagree able fact. Milicent did not like to thin that she even might be poor, And t owe their wealth to John Wendover, wh had given her besides, all the love an devotion of his life, was hardly tolerablt If her father was indebted to him ho much more was she And how coul uhe eyer pay the debt, says by '