Connecticut western news., 1884-12-24

Phelps. "I thought of course it was Lucretia. I saw them come ashore after dusk, and they stood at the gate and talked till all was blue"
 "I suppose they was talking about Lucretia," persisted Miss Rich; "a man always likes to talk about his sweet heart, you know"
 "They must have had heap to say. He seemed as much interested as when he's expounding Scripture. They looked mighty affectionate, too. I don't be- lieve Lucretia d have liked the looks of it."
 "There ain't nothing jealous about Lucretia; O parsons wife ought to set her face agin such thing" - It was about this time that the parish picnic occurred-an institution which everybody believed in. Hadn't there been more matches at the last than dur ing all the year besides2 And wasn't it fine chance to test Miss Phelps's rec ipes, Miss Rich's cream pies, and Mrs. Dr. Slows tarts Of course Lucretia went, and Mir. Lindsay with her. Susan happened to be making preserves and pickles that day, and the berries wouldn't keep, and so she staid at home. At about the middle of the afternoon, when they had had dinner and cleared away, and things were little slow, and they wanted somebody to start the music, Mir. Lindsay was nowhere to be found.
 "Oh, he's gone of with Lucretia somewhere" said Miss Rich, who felt it her duty to account for him.
 "No; there's Lucretia now, talking about free. will with Dr. Slow"
 "P'r'aps he's gone home to write his sermon, suggested somebody else, the pi chic grove being only half mile from town.
 "Or he's finding tongues in trees and sermons in stones out here."
 But at sunset MT. Lindsay strolled back, with Susan on his arm, in time o join them at tea, and he and Susan made the coffee, and pitched the tunes they sang before the day ended.
 "Now wasn't that real thoughtful in Mir. Lindsay to go after Susan? That's what call real Christian, and 8 brother in-law worth having" commented one old lady.
 But when Mrs Bishop, who had staid at home with teething baby, reported that MT. Lindsay had not gone home to write his sermon, but had walked straight into Susan's kitchen, and had helped her seal up the preserve jars and set them away, and had sat in the front porch an hour or two afterward with her-when he might have been with Lucretia- reading secular poetry, and not Dr. Watts or Charles Wesley either, the par ish rose in it's wrath to woman. This would not do: Lucretia must not be triHed with. Mir. Lindsay had inspired hope in her gentle heart; he must marry Lucretia or leave the parish.
 "You see," explained Mir. Phelps, i've want to settle you, Mir. Lindsay. You suit us to T, but 1t kinder seems as if you ought to propose to Lucretis Shaw, you've been so attentive"
 Propose to Lucretia Shaw r repeat ed the young man with @ startled air. 'What has that to do with settling me ? Is every clergyman who comes to Len nox obliged to propose to Lucretia Shaw as preliminary preparation ?"
 "Well, no, not exactly" laughed Mir. Phelps, mot unless he's give the parish reason to expect it. You know we don't want the credit of settling a philander. ing parson who makes love right and left. I'd no idee that the thought would be new to you, but the parish had set itf heart on the match, you see, and we wouldn't like to settle man, if he was eloquent in prayer, who'd trihed witt the affections of one of the flock, you know"
 ''But, my dear sir, said Mir. Lindsay "I'm not in love with Lucretia Shaw. You wouldn't have me perjure myself P
 ''Not- in love with Lucretia The parish won't believe its own eyes agin, l reckon"
 "Well," said Mir. Grimm, seve rely i've couldn't think of settling preacher that hadn't no more principle than tc throw over Lucretia Shaw after taking tea so much to her house and raising her hopes, as it were"
 Perhaps" said MT. Lindsay, after 8 pause, "perhaps you will be able to for give me for not proposing to Lucretia l when tell you that have already pro posed to Susan. You see it would com plicate matters little if were to ac cede to your wishes. However, have lately received call from a Western parish and should feel obliged to decline the Lennox parish, even if you hac thought me worthy of it, as this other furnishes wider field of usefulness
 "And larger salary, suppose" added Mir. Grimm.
 "And larger salary" allowed Mir Lindsay. "Double, in fact'
 'T suppose" persisted Miss Rich i the wedding; "I suppose Lucreti' must have refused him first. "-Harper' Bdzar.