Tolland County press., 1883-01-18
her walk next day with her hands full of

Ao1 WalA AOAo u"y "Aon A0A A"aAS A0AA OA ferns.
 "So MT. Armstrong isn't your engaged lover after all p she remarked to Daisy. sI would have been flirting with him be- fore this if hadn't supposed he belong ed to you.'
 ssFGrting Oh, Miss Winter r
 ssHe isn't bad hand at the pastime himself" remarked Miss Winter, coolly. She understood the situation much better than she pretended, and liked Ralph none the less because he seemed on the point of deserting his little white Daisy for her.
 Rick had avoided the lodger from the first. It was a revelation to Daisy when she came upon him one day holding a crushed flower which Miss Winter had worn. He had not been near the village for days. Languid and spirltless he had crept about the house or lain in the long grass with look on his face which went to his sisters heart. She understood it now as she saw him lift the fallen flower and just touch it with his lips.
 "I have been. mad enough for that, Daisy-to fall in love with her. And if I had not thrown away my own manhood, I need not now be in despair-that is the bitterest thought of all.''
 ''It is not too late to be true to yourself yet, Rick
 Sine had little hope that this new feel ing might work some good in him, but before the week was over, he had broken bounds again, as if determined to bury regret in oblivion.
 Meanwhile the time came for Miss Win ter to return to London, and she sent for Ralph, who had promised to drive her to the station. He came with his light car riage and mettled horse, looking neither sorry nor cast down, Daisy observed with throb of her heart.
 ''He isn't false, then he'll come back to me again when she is gone.
 Rick had been at the village. He was on his way home when, at some distance away, he saw the carriage standing at the parsonage gate. Ralph and Miss Win ter were just taking their places in it, the minister stood on the steps, and the curi- ous face of maid looked down from a garret window. As Ralph settled down in his seat, his glance fell upon that shambling figure by the roadside, and he gave vicious cut with his whip; the spirited horse started with plunge, 8 buckle snapped, and then the next instant his driver had losoo all control over him. | Rick had taken in the scene which his eyes rested on, and 8 sudden stiffness went over him.
 "They've been getting married r he said to himself, aghast. "Been getting married, and he has cheated Daisy. But he shan't get away so easy as that" His brain was Tclouded with liquor some blind impulse of rage and revenge moved him, and his fingers clasped and brought out the weapon which he some times carried. They were close upon him now he lifted his hand and fired at the horse, there IS every reason to be- lieve, for there was dangerous embank- ment near, toward which the runaway was heading. But he missed his mark, and the next instant the steel-shod hoofs were trampling him down.
 A little further on and the carriage was wrecked. Ralph Armstrong was picked up bruised and senseless his newly made bride was dead, bullet in her heart, and further back was bleeding, pulpy mass beaten down in the dust, that groaned when they touched it, but was beyond human aid.
 The horror of that time was year ole whec Ralph opened the rackety gate an6 made his way again to the old house Daisy was sitting in the porch, all ir white, as he remembered her so well AAOA LID Wdo i1O1u1AS uO1 11duu, dAu IOoh ing into her startled eyes.
 My little white Daisy !" broke ove1 his lips. 'T never really loved anyone but you, and have come back to ask you to be my wife, after all
 "Oh, Ralph, don't you know ?'
 'Know what ?" he asked, almost fierce ly.
 ''That I am Dr. Lloyd's wife. I wal married week ago."
 "And-are you happy ?"
 He wanted her to say mo-; he thought his own misery would be easier to bear ii he knew she shared it. There was sound of wheels nearing the gate. She turned her face that way beautiful flush ting ed it, and that look answered him withou the low-spoken words
 'I am very happy.