Connecticut western news., 1883-09-19

nized, just three weeks previously, be- tween one Thomas Gordon and one Rachel Cheal.
 And the fair maid of Cherbury-what of her? Verify she, too, like her lover, has passed through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, as her wasted face and | great lustrous eyes bear record. Day in, day out, fair weather or foul, she must needs stray aimlessly to the beach where the last kiss fingered upon her cheek, and the last good-by was whis- pered. She is never alone. Honest Humphrey-broken in spirit now, and bowed with grief, yet loving his poor shorn lamb still more tenderly than of yore-is ever at her side; and to mur- mured questions-the expression of pas sionate yearning that is within her as she gazes beyond the waters of the bay and l beyond the horizon-will give answer in softened words, hopeless himself, yet re- luctant to crush the last futtering ves- tige of hope.
 It is in the gladsome sunshine of 8 young May morning that gallant ship, which has voyaged from afar, bears up in Harwich roadstead, and signals for pilot. Not long has she to wait for 8 response. A trim little craft comes dancing over the waves like white winged gull, and swings up gayly along side. In another minute George Cheal has swung himself aboard, and little Jim prepares to put about and return. But on the deck of that gallant ship it would seem, i'll good sooth, that the sea has given up her dead; for stalwart George, gazing with startled eye on face which greets his sight, staggers back and grasps the taffrail for support. Few words pass between the long parted friends, for their feelings are too deep for utterance; but moment or two af- terward there is wild scream of delight from alongside, for Harry Reed has descended into the boat, and mechanically taken the tiller. A little later the boy Jim has unloosed the arms he has thrown about his old comrades neck, and scrambling forward strains his eyes toward the harbor which the little craft is now rapidly nearing, and in very fever of excitement imparts the intelligence that Humphrey and Rachel have come over from Cherbury, and are awaiting his return.
 Halting of speech, mechanical of ac- tion, stony-eyed as one who dreams, Harry Reed sits with his hands on the tiller, asking no questions; hearing nothing beyond the quick throb of his pulses, and the surging of the blood in his ears. So the moments pass, and the boat is brought up alongside the harbor steps. Yet another brief interval, and Harry has fumbled his way mechanically up on to the pier; and moment more and he becomes suddenly conscious of ti,o approach of womam' figure, of a passionate cry in his ears, and of half fainting form in his arms.
 Rachel, Rachel P groans the strong man in his agony, when his voice at length comes to him, ''couldst thou not have remained true to me even this short while p Her fingers move over his face, as the fingers of the blind move. "True, Harry?" she murmurs; faye, true till death P
 ''True?'' he cries, casting her from him in sudden frenzy of passion, 1 "when thou'rt married 20
 Married p she whispers, gazing help lessly into his face. Then suddenly she comprehends, and begins to laugh hys- terically and sob; and he, by some sub- tie intuition, suddenly comprehends also, and, straining her to his heart, cries:
 'Idiot that I have been! T was blind-blind; but now seer"
 And all this time gray haired, weather coast-guardsman has been lacking round and about these two central figures, yawing off as he ap- preached, only to be drawn at last into irresistible contact with them. What further words may have been spoken, ol acts performed, by the little group, his. tory does not record; but that Hum. phrey Cheal quilted Harwich Pier Head that morning with clear two inches added to his stature is capable of dis. tinct proof; for is not Humphrey him. self-a witness as little given to romano ing as any officer who serves Her Ma. iesty on the storm-beaten coasts of these islands-ready to vouch for the fact?
 They did not wait long, those lovers for the last act of their little domestic episode; they thought that, after tha parting of theirs, there was no occasion to do so. It was shortly after day ybreaE on the first Wednesday of the month O. May, that they met; and the following Wednesday, just before noon, the bell' of Cherbury Church rang out 8 glad some peal, and Rachel Cheal and Harry Reed, kneeling side by side, turned ove fresh page, and as man and wife com menced new chapter of the great bool of their lives.
 A Fortune.
 A WestarD ,nininr nonar talIS 4bi