Connecticut western news., 1883-08-22

My sister Margaret had been sad sufferer for many years. All that broth erly love could do to restore her shat tered health and spirits was faithfully and cheerfully done. For the last eight cen months Margaret had been my only care, for my wife and child had died in one week. leaving me dependent on this truly Christian sister for the sympathy and consolation which her own sorrows taught her so we'll how to bestow.
 We both longed for quiet and repose, for neither could mingle with the gave ties of the town, and Margaret's health imperatively pointed to the country. To the country, therefore, we went and had the good fortune to get settled in pretty and well-furnished cottage, near rail way station south of the Thames.
 We liked the pretty, quiet cottage; and as it had been newly furnished the year before, we had nothing to do but literally walk in and take possession, and soon we felt as much at home as they who had ''lost the poetry of life' could be expected to feel. To Margaret, it was my duty, as we'll as my privilege, to supply the place of other relatives; and from her received all the kind off, ces which the enfeebled state of her health permitted her to bestow upon me.
 It was delightful to watch her improve ment. She did not regain her youthful appearance, for the roses were gone for ever; but she grew stronger and better, from the sense of the delightful freedom which neither of us ever knew before.
 We were very peaceful. Happiness was outof the question-at least, happi- ness in the most comprehensive mean ing of the word. The mourning for the departed had not yet gone from our hearts, although time had softened and mellowed it down to pensive melancholy, as sweet as it was sad.
 returned one evening earlier than was my won't, and found all things await ing my comfort as usual; but Margaret was weeping over a newspaper in the parlor, away from her accustomed seat knew of no intelligence that could affect her in that way. Our relations <: with the outer world were very limited, 7 and they who claimed relationship with us were already removed by death, or by almost immeasurable distance; and of these last we had lost nearly all traces.
 Margaret, I said, "what is it What can affect you thus ?r'
 She pointed to a paragraph in the newspaper, and covered her pale face with her hand. I followed the direction of her finger, and read, with an emotion of pain, the death of Albert Thornton dearly beloved schoolmate of my own ested the sensitive heart of Margaret but that was long, long ago; and aftel many struggles with her affection, Mar garet had given him up, from the con viction that her life was so precariou' that she ha no right to throw it's frai burden on one who was just starting il the battle with the world.
 l now learned that this feeble chile had lived for him-she had lived; but what 8 life It was like shutting out every ray of sunlight from her heart when she gave him up. And Albert with his bright, glad face, beaming al over with health and animation, and giv ing promise of long life, had gone down to the grave, and this poor girl struggling with weakness and pain, wal left.
 was frightened that night at the in tensity of her grief. She was so veal that I feared that any additional troubl would soon deprive her of reason Gradually I soothed her by talking 0 him, and leading her to relate her re newed connection with him. She toll me that although she had refused t marry him, she had yielded to his ear nest wish of corresponding with him and that she had thus kept up that col respondence through the many year that separated them. There was finger ing hope in his heart that they woul yet see brighter days; but in her, never until this summer had SO invigorate her in health and spirits. Albert ha
 eagerly noticed this, and in the lette