Connecticut western news., 1885-02-25
MO N E Y.

Ezra Alden was in love with Clara Scudder, and sometimes in moments of great exaltation-ior he was 8 modest youth, as every true lover should be-he had dared to think that she did not frown upon his passion. But Clara was the squire's daughter and an heiress, while Ezra was but small farmer, and so far from successful in that pursuit that it seemed absurd as well as impos. sible that he should aspire to the hand of the lovely Miss Scudder, who had been courted in vain even by fine city gentlemen. So he had sighed and cast longing looks from his place in the choir (where he sang in fine tenor voice on Sundays) into the squire's pew; and more than once he thought pretty Clara blushed brightly, and he knew well enough that she always smiled sweetly, and her voice when she spoke to him had caressing sound, and alto gether her manner toward him was not discouraging.
 But Ezra would not be encouraged. He felt that it was useless for him to ask the squire for his daughters hand un- less he had good pot of money in his own hand with which to back his pro- posaI. So, instead of trying to compass the desired end by increased industry, he neglected his little farm more than before, and spent his whole time in wishing that he could find pot of money somehow, in the manner of old fashioned stories-at the foot of tree or under the foundation of his house. I believe he would even have sought it at the end of the rainbow, like the boy in the nursery rhyme, if he had been told there was a good chance of finding it there.
 Suddenly rumor spread abroad that wonderful gypsy had appeared, who was telling people fortunes that came true in the most remarkable manner, and all the country side was in state of excitement on the subject. She was of somewhat exclusive character, this madam gypsy, and could only be con- suited in certain place, in the shadow of 8 wych elm, in the open air, and dur ing certain hours-these hours being between the last rays of the declining sun and the first shadows of coming night
 Of course the rumor of the gypsy's marvellous fortune telling reached Ears Alden, and equally, of course, he was much exercised in mind concerning it He found out the place where the for tune-teller divined these fair fortunes and one evening, after watching the SUI slowly disappear behind the wester1 hills, he repaired there stealthily, and little afraid of meeting Clara Scudde somewhere in the vicinity, for the wych elm was just on the further side of tn, Bquire's farm. However, he met no on, except hurried squirrel fast speeding to it's home, and it was even more scared at being met than Ezra was !; so he has tened to the wych-elm, and there, sur enough, was madam gypsy, sitting curled up against the trunk, and look ing precisely as if she were waiting flo him.
 She was very old woman, bent al most double; her lined and wrinkle, face was the color of a butternut, an the tangles of her hair hung in elf-lik grizzled locks about her brow and owe her cheeks; but her black eyes had wonderful brilliancy and such a kee look that they seemed to see righ through him. She was wrapped in tattered old scarlet cloak, and hood ( the same was drawn well over her head She gave quick nod to Ezra, and mo tioned him to take seat at her fee which he did with his heart humping a if he were before the Delphic oracle And when she spoke he had to bend h head and listen very attentively, for nc only did she mutter her words in yer toothless fashion, but she spoke in s low tone that he had some difficulty i hearing her. But he made out that sh said:
 T was expecting you, my son, and know what you come for;" and then sI held out hand even more buttern, than her face-a shaking and tremulol hand; and Ezra made haste to cross u palm with silver, that being, as l knew, the time-honored custom. Tn happened before we had begun the r turn to specie basis; and silver VI scarce, but Ezra had in his pocket
 half-dollar piece, with hole in 1t and cross drawn on it's face, which he hs kept many years for luck. So, as the could be no more suspicious occasic