Connecticut western news., 1882-04-26

his straw nat and slowly rubbing his face with his ample bandana. It was a shrewd though benevolent face, framed in waves of iron-gray hair. "I see ye look kinder peaked. The weather has been tryin'. I've felt it myself an ached in my jints the wust way"
 "It's my soul, deacon," walled the widow, dropping into chair and cover ing her face with her apron. "I have always hankered after romance, an I've had one, and wish was dead an laid beside Caleb"
 "Oh, no, ye don't, Miss Appledore, g said the deacon, in the caressing tone in which he would address a sobbing child. ''This worlds a booty good place, an with few exceptions, folks are pretty good. I Icome over to fetch a few of my sweetin's an to tell ye thet that there offer I made ye spell ago holds good yet. I rally wish ye'd con- sider it agin."
 Mrs. Appledore remained silent be- hind her apron.
 "Ef ye'd hev me-" repeated the dea- con in low voice. ''I know I ain't half good huff an thet I'm kind uv an old fellow, but I've got comf'able place an comf'able things in it, and I've been sot on ye this long spell, as ye know. I dare say was 'tached to Lucy more'n I shall ever be to anybody agin. We sort uv growed together like, but so did you and Caleb, an I'm sure I'll try ter make ye happy, an yer two little gals as sweet as two pinks, Il be to me jes, like the little gals lost."
 Mrs. Appledore did not remove her apron, and after pause the deacon fal- teringly continued:
 "I s'pose 'taint no use ter argy. Folks heze their own idees of such things; but anyways, I'll stand yer friend"
 The widow rubbed her eyes and slow ly let fall her apron.
 ''1've always had the greatest esteem for you," she said, with little shake in her voice, "but never knew how good how much think of you. I will -"
 The Deacon started up, "Will ye ?''
 Mrs. Appledcre had taken refuge in her apron.
 "Will ye really, Rosetta ?" he re- peated.
 The bowed head covered in the blue gingham nodded.
 "Ye shan't regret it." said the Dea. con solemnly and awkwardly laying his big hand, coarsened by labor, on her shoulder. ''Lord bless the little woman -an' our home. Our home," he spoke softly as if to himself.
 "P'raps now," he continued after a minute, ''I'd better drop in and see him, an in tellin' the Rews might mention casual like we're goin' ter be married soon. An thet nobody'll trouble any. body that stays t hum, an that I'm able to help an eddicated man to good place, real neighborly, cause my broth CT Eben out in Kansas wants clerk. '
 Mrs. Appledore said nothing, but the Deacon seemed satisfied with her silence, for he did just as had he proposed. Pro. lessor St. Clair Smith was discharged from jail, and in three days he and hls pale little wife had left Tony Allerton's cottage on the mile strip to return nc more.
 In about fortnight Dr. Ollapod at. tended a quiet wedding. "You had g romance at last, Rosetta. might bet ter say two of 'em," whispered Mrs. Phlox as she gave the bride sisterly kiss. "The adoration of the Professor was like things in a novel book, but marvin a man whose goodness an farm can't be paralleled in the county is TO- nance that has sense in it, an wish you joy"