Connecticut western news., 1883-10-03
VOL. XIII.

They were to spend the summer sea- son. There were other boarders who re mained the year round, among them Al Ian Fairlie.
 Innocence had never seen him il miners suit until that day when he ha6 come from his work to meet her an6 guide her to Q new sketching ground but she thought him very handsome in the blue-fiannel shirt, his strong arms bare, the fair curls showing their crisp. ness under the simple cap.
 Innocence ran feetly up the old stair. case to her mothers room, and Allan Fairlie went back to his labor. | He walked and worked with 0 musing eye. It had cost him something, stirred him painfully, to refer to his experiences. He was not in the habit of speaking of his misfortune.
 His unj just disinheritance was a sore spot, which he was not fond of probing. And new thought haunted him now, which he tried to put aside, and, leaving his monotonous task, began to talk with the men about a proposed blasting of rocks for which @ heavy train would soon have to be laid.
 s'You'll be careful, boy-eh? Blast ing is dangerous york;" said bent, little man, in low tone, at his elbow.
 'I'n be careful, father," with rare smile. "We shall not be ready for 8 few days, any way"
 But when work hours were passed the haunting thought again took possession of him. This blue-eyed girl, whom he had known but brief month-he loved | her !.
 After he had parted from her the truth broke upon him. How fair and sweet she was and how fragile! Who should win must keep carefully this delicate flower, though Innocence was far from believing herself not strong, and, indeed, had peculiar elasticity of constitution.
 It was rather tenderness and sensi- bility of nature, which seemed to need protection and the fostering care of love
 Did he read aright those eyes of blue ? Had he found favor in their sight? The thought made his countenance luminous for moment; then it grew downcast.
 He was poor and homeless man. He had no wish to wed one he loved to such misfortune. What would any woman gain by giving up her freedom and inde- pendence to marry him |? He could not support wife ill comfort. He would never ask this girl to live on miners wages.
 How lovely she was in the. Sunday calm of the next day, walking slowly along the pretty path of the old garden, among the tall red hollyhocks, in dress of simple white, with ribbons to match her eyes
 He walked by her side. The attention with which he regarded her did not dis compose her. It was part of Innocence's charm that she seemed quite unconscious of her beauty, and unaware of its effect upon others.
 sHave you heard the news," she asked-'that the heiress of the Earle place is going to take immediate posses sion ?''
 'I had not heard" And added. "It does not matter to me-" But something mattered. He sat down wearily when she paused at a rustic seat under an old tamarack-t tree.
 "The housekeeper told Mrs. Lord, our landlady, that they were expecting Miss Earle this week. But perhaps you do not like to talk of this ?"
 'I do not p he answered, briefly. He missed her glance of sympathy, but he felt that she pitied him; yet, she could not know how the world seemed chaos about him. Would he had never been born if the best things of life-affection. home, wife-must be denied him. He loved I this girl; he would love no other, and he could never call her his. Yet, the grave, reticent face of Allan Fairlie be- trayed little.
 Day by day he fought his fight. This Miss Earle, this unknown cousin of his how fortunate was she He recollected that he would be ex- pected to call on her. An, that was asking too much Though he need have no anger against her. He had heard that she had been poor He be- ieved she was an orphan. Yet, she was fortunate.
 Round and round went the weary cir cle of thought. There was nowhere any relief but in the depths of toll in the mines. Physically wearied, he would spend his nights in sleep instead ol thought.
 At length came the day appointed fol blasting the huge mass of rocks which obstructed the opening of another shaft The task was his, and the trust an i'm portant one.
 The train was laid and the localit, cleared. No need to warn, those who were familiar with the danger of sucl an explosion, but a lookout must b. kept for persons unconscious of tn, peril.
 Yet all seemed as 1t should be- Tn red spark was creeping up the hill on it way to the powder filled drills. Tn explosion would come, and no one wa liable to be hurt by the flying fragment of rock.
 Gathered in knots at intervals of saf distances, the men waited for the ter rife blast.
 Suddenly hand grasped Allan's arm
 "Look there, boy p whispered ol Mir. Fairlie, hoarsely.