Connecticut western news., 1884-02-13
''They bees not mates, said the sur

geon.
 "True P exclaimed Hobbleden 'Never noticed 1t before. Blamed th' snow for it but they looked like mates when I bought them. I'll go and blow up the shoemaker, to make sure." At the shoemaker's he had ferociou' controversy, but was at last persuaded he must have changed the boots since the purchase--especially as he now rec ollected he did take off his boots il ThornloVe's warehouse one wet day.
 'Must have taken Thornlove's boot feet are small like mine. But there is { pair of brooches between me and my un' feeling friend, and I scorn to call and ask him for my property. Let me see. Best thing for me to do, without being humilated, is to wait till Thornlove gets to bed, and then go and ask Babble to go up and change the boots"
 That very night with mingled thoughts of wife-murder and suicide, subsided among the surging feathers of his soli- tary bed, the jealous Frederick Thorn love. If to die were but to sleep no less comfortably, he would gladly have taken in his arms a sea of feathers, and by re- posing ended himself. He addressed himself to sleep, but she refused to en- brace so vindictive a person. Wakeful, therefore, near midnight he heard some- body opening his chamber door.
 "Can it be the brazen, false Ophelia ? No; it is heavier weight. Blessed if it isn't Babble, actually coming in here. Is that you, Babble ?"
 "Yes, sir" faltered Babble. Thought I'd shine your boots tonight, instead of in the morning."
 "Take lem. Don't come up again."
 ''No, sir"
 And the servant joyfuIly hurried down with them to the kitchen.
 'I'll bet 8 bale of greenbacks that Hobbleden is in the house and has bribed him to get that boot. I thought that man would be coming, finally, and now I'll overwhelm him p
 Thornlove went down in his stockings, and listened at the partly open kitchen door. Hob5leden was really there.
 "That's a mischief making article p said Babble to Hobbleden, who was drawing it on. 'I came near losing my place on account of it; Mir. Thornlove saw your name in it one morning, and thought you cane to the house secretly, and that knew 1t. He suspected that I had shined your boots and his together, and had blundered when returning them. Separate apartments for him and her, this long time, you see"
 "Good gracious P whispered Hobble- den in cold sweat of horror; "could he suppose so ?"
 "But now that you have been telling me how you took off your boots one wet day in his store, it is all explained, and I'll ease his jealous mind tomorrow.
 ''I have awaked from horrid dream, at last p joyfully reflected Thornlove, at this unexpected disclosure; "I'll make amends at once. Come to my bosom, my dear old Hobbleden r' he cried aloud, rushing into the kitchen in his gown and stockings; '1 have been long bewildered by false dream, but now know the naked truth, all things are on proper footing, and everything is as it should be-"
 Hobbleden did not reject the affection ate salutation of his old friend, who, after further revelation of their mutual sufferings, insisted upon sharing his couch with him that night.
 They slept serenely and when they met Mrs. Thornlove at breakfast in the morn- ing the only point upon which they dis agreed was, that they denounced while she blessed the boots which had exercised from her household the green-eyed mon- ster forever