Connecticut western news., 1885-04-15

partles, companies, evening concerts and summer picnics And somehow a desolate chill crept down my veins as I thought how lonesome and dreary the old house would seem without Maggie.
 "What makes you think so, Han nah ?" I asked rather dolorously, and the old woman lowered her voice mys- teriously as she answered:
 "Its that MT. Carlisle-he keeps com- ing all the time, and it's my honest be- lief he just worships the ground my young lady walks on. He is very hand some, too, and folks tell me he's worth money" .-.# aa s..Esa-- -..- MT. Carlisle We'll, old Hannah was right. He was a fne-looking fellow, and well-to-do in this worlds goods; but who was there, after all, worthy of my tall, golden-haired princess with dewy blue eyes and lips like scarlet coral newly plucked out of the sea ? Why couldn't Carlisle go of and marry one of the wise Miss Simpkinses, whose mother was on the lookout for husbands as an ogress watches for eatable young travellers !? I began to hate Carlisle.
 "Pooh l" said I, upsetting my waste basket of papers over the floor with an unwary fling of my feet. 'T don'tthink she cares for Carlisle" .-. re. --.e.s
 'fJust you watch her, then, and see for yourself" said old Hannah, wisely wagging her cap border. "I never did set up for Q prophet, MT. Pelham, but them as isn't blind can't help seeing, and our eyes Is given to us to use.''
 So old Hannah went her way, leaving me about as uncomfortable as man has any business to be. My Maggie to be married My pretty blossom to be plucked just as soon as it began to shed fragrance round my door-stone. felt as a monarch may whose domains are invaded by an audacious foe. Should I write Carlisle note and tell him to go about his business, or should simply convey to him by my manners the hint that his presence was no longer specially desirable. or-but old Hannah's words recurred uncomfortably to my mind should I at first find out whether Mag gie really did care for the young up- start?
 My head dropped on my hands-my heart sunk somewhere below zero at the idea I wondered if all fathers felt so when gay young cavaliers came wooing at their gates And, after all, Maggie wasn't my real child, dearly as I loved and tenderly as I had cherished her.
 I think I hardly slept all that night. I tossed to and fro on my pillow, count ing the chimes of the old clock, as one by one it told the hours, thinking about Maggie and Carlisle, and wondering if the tardy daybreak would never redden over inc hilLtops.
 By that time my mind was made up. I would repress all these selfish ideas and only think of my girls ultimate happiness. If she liked Carlisle, why Carlisle should have her.
 l rose, dressed and went down to my study. The first thing I saw was note lying on my library table. Probably it had arrived late last night. I broke the seal; it was from George Carlisle, asking permission to address Miss Magdalen Pelham.
 Well-it was nothing more than I had expected-in fact, it rather expedited matters, which ought not to run too slowly. refolded the epistle, and looked severely at myself in the opposite glass.
 "You middle-aged old fogy," quoth I, staring at myself with the seyerest ex- pression of countenance I could call up at so short notice, 1T see through you. You have dared to suppose bright-eyed Magdalen could prefer you to these gay young fellows nearer her own age-you have even presumed to fall little spice in love with her yourself. It will do you good to have some of the nonsense taken out of you. At your time of life too Did you ever see chestnut tree bios. soming in November or grapevine loaded with blue fruit at mid-winter ?"
 So of I trudged into the garden where Magdalen always walked in the early morning to tell her of young Carlisle'a proposal.
 She listened, looking very pretty and preoccupied, until had finished. f. ."Well ?" said she.
 "Well ?" quoth, ''what do you sayP'' "What do sayP No, of course p
 "You mean yes, my dear," said I, ''h you'll only take time to think"
 'sI mean nor she flashed out "Oh, MT. Pelham, how can you think SC basely of me?"
 "Basely, my dear. I don't compre- bend you" # " l She was beginning to cry now-big, Isparkling drops like the first glittering diamonds of July shower. n
 i"I don't love him. I never can love him." ..-........
 "But, why not, my dear ?" 4....
 Because love somebody else" she 1 sobbed, growing plnker and prettlel than ever.
 | "Who is it, Maggie? You'll tell me won't you? Why, child"-as she shranl blushingly back-"I ana old enough tc be your father !"
 i"You are not I" she exclaimed, indig nantly, "and you are the last person il the world would tell P'
 'My darling, why not P .-..
 The enigmas these women are in stead of answering tae, she began tC cry again as if her dear little heart wal going to break. aa And suddenly great light flashed il upon my mind .,..
 "Magdalenl Darlingl Is it me tha you love p. -.-as ssE
 And in another moment she va laughing and crying on my breast