Connecticut western news., 1884-09-03


 to hear aught of me or mine. You have chosen to wound me in the tenderest feelings of my nature, and to insult hin, who Is now my husband. shall never | forgive you. Never again to my dying day shall your name, or any illusion tC you, pass my lips. l sever the connec. tion between us. Should I have chil. dren, they shall grow up in ignorance oi my relatives save those upon their fathers side. have pledged my hus- band to a like VOW, and it shall be kept Before could recover from the surprise her implacable words caused she had gone. This was the last time ] ever saw her.
 'Now, my nephew, your mothers VOW was wrong and I have no doubt that ere she died she would have gladly re- called it. I am old and alone in the world and in sad need. You are young and strong and to you Iturn. implore you, as the last of my family, the only one living upon whom have any claim, to come to my succor if it be possible for you to do so. Your uncle,
 STEPHEN HARTLEY.
 ''Mr. Henry Holmes."
 'I am glad you are going, Harry, Thalia said, as she finished reading. 'Poor old man, all alone in the world and needing aid-his is sad lot"
 "I knew you would feel so, my dar- ling," Harry answers; and then, the let ter forgotten, they talk as lovers de- light to do, until the moments, flying by, bring at last the dreaded time of parting.
 "Who is the drone now, Thalia Riv- CTS, should like to be informed ?" ex- claimed Ida one evening coming into her cousins room fully arrsyed in an ex- quisite ball costume. "It is almost time to be going and here you sit with that everlasting picture in your hand 1 Thalia Thalia haven't you forgot that nonsense yet ?"
 No, Thslia has not forgotten, although the last three years have been be- wildering time to the girls shrinking, retiring nature. She is growing more accustomed now to the thousand demands and forms of society, but they weary her infinitely.
 Not one word since their parting has she heard from her lover; but, as she had truly told him, "neither time nor place can change her heart, and deep down in its pure recesses is still enshrined one handsome, dark face, with grave brow and speaking eyes.
 "What do you think Renie Andrews told me this morning ?" Ida says a month later.
 "I'm sure I do not know" Thalia re- plies, looking up from the book she is reading.
 "Well, what would you say if my coroneted destiny were even now on his way to England2 Renie tells me that her cousin from Ireland is to arrive in time for her fete, and that with him is to come veritable Cresus and heir to a prospective title. Rsnie says that he is handsome, too, for she has seen his picture. tell you what, Thalia, I feel it in my bones-as nurse used to say that the young stranger will not return to his ancestral acres as unencumbered as he comes. Some English girl will certainly captivate him; and why should it not be your humble servant ?"
 By the time her cousin finishes, Thalia's face is full of the amusement she cannot repress; but Ida is too much engrossed with her pleasant fancies to notice or be offended. The same afternoon the postman brings letter to Thalia, ad- dressed in bold, manly characters. She has never seen Harry's writing, and yet her fingers tremble, and her soft cheek hushes, as she opens the envelope; for something tells her whose hand penned her name. Inside are only few lines
 "DEAR THALn-Gf I may still call you so)-This day in which I write brings you your twenty birthday, and the end of the period of our proba- tion. If you remember and still ad- here to the words you said as we parted, send to me cluster of flowers like those took from you as @ remembrance, and which have worn ever since close to the heart that beats now as fervently for you, and you only, as it did then, three years ago. HARRY"
 An address follows. The next mai bears with 1t Thalia's answer. What il is the reader may surmise.
 The weeks glide by, and at length to Ida's great delight, the day of the looked forward-to garden fete dawns. Ida looks regally handsome. Thslia's quaint sim plicity of dress suits the girlish style we'll. The afternoon is waning, and as yet no distinguished stranger has made his appearance.
 It is warm, and, little tired by ( game of lawn-tennis, Thalia strolls of to rustic seat. Throwing aside her hat, she leans her head upon her hand, and for while loses herself in happy day-dream. Suddenly step approaches and well-remembered voice speaks hel name.
 With startled eyes, ThaIia springs to her feet to find herself drawn to a warm ly-beating heart.
 "Do you know me, Thalia?"
 "Yes," she whispered; Git is my lover come back to me-"
 He laughs-a joyous laugh.
 "My constant darling p he murmured "And you still are ready and willing tc leave your luxurious home and become poor mans wife ?"
 "We will not be DO or, Harry, for VI shall be rich in love"
 A look of almost adoring affection fill the young mans earnest eyes as they rest upon the sweet, downcast face.
 'I have something to tell you, little one," he says, "that will surprise you I went to Ireland expecting to find [