Connecticut western news., 1885-01-28

motner upon the SuDJect. put even as she pondered, the newcomer rose to get a drink of water from the stone pitcher on the table. One or two long, wig orous strides, and then catching a glimpse of Isabels startled face, the S0id.iSant Louisa Ann subsided once more into the halting limp of old age.
 But that one instance of forgetfulness had been quite sufficient to confirm the young girls already aroused suspicious.
 II was right" thought Isabel, her heart beating wildly. "I was right l She is TO woman, but man in disguise. Aud Grandmother Kesley never sus- poets Oh, what, what shall I do? ?"
 At that moment Mrs. Kesley rose, and, taking the shining brass candle stick, began slowly to climb the steep stairway that led to the attic of the one- story dwelling.
 "For I s'pose," she thought, "the poor, tired creetur Il be glad to get to bed; and I may as we'll see if the little cot in the north chamber is all right, with blankets enough to keep of one's death of cold"
 Isabel had risen instantly to follow her, when, with one forward stride, Louisa Ann Paddock" closed the door at the foot of the stairs and drew the bolt.
 "Stay where you are p uttered low voice in unmistakably masculine ac. cents.
 Isabel uttered wild scream.
 "Help" she shrieked, involuntarily uttering the watchword, although she knew no human ear was nigh to respond. "Helpl For heavens sake do not murder us, two helpless lonely women I"
 'Isabel !'
 In an instant the brown cloak and hood lay in lump on the floor, and she was clasped in pair of arms that were as strong as they were tender. And through the cannonade of knocking and rattling at the stairway door, kept up by Grandmother Kesley, who had been alarmed by her granddaughter's scream, Isabel could only gasp out the half audible syllables:
 "Oh, Fred Fred Hensley how could you frighten me so ?"
 "Open inc door, some one p squeaked Mrs. Kesley. "Murder Thieves Fire Robbery! Let me in, say p
 "Grandmother, don't be frightened, ' cried Isabel tremulously, "I'ts only Fred p
 "And," added the stranger, blandly, "Fred will be very happy to unbolt the door any moment you are willing to sat. isfy your agreement p
 What agreement2 ?" demanded Mrs. Kesley.
 "That if once I found my way inside your door 1 might have Isabel and vel comel"
 "I never said so P cried the old lady.
 S'But you wrote so, said Fred, calm. ly, 'and I have it down in black and white p
 Grandmother Kesley made no attempt to deny her own '.hand-of-write, but changed her tactics with laudable promp. titude.
 "Isabel, are you going to keep me here In the cold all night Why don't you open the door ?"
 "'I can't, grandmother r faltered Isa- bel, her cheeks radiant with bushes. "Fred won't let me stir p
 (But then she didn't try very hard I
 "Ill tell you what, ma'am," said Mir Hensley politely, 1T shall be delighted to release you at any moment you vii say Yes to my suit for Isabel !"
 There was 0 moments meditativt silence, and then Grandmother Kesle, sensible to the last, uttered the fatefu monosyllable
 "Yes p
 And when she emerged from her stat' of siege on the stairway, the only ob servation she hazarded was:
 "Young folks will be young folks and there ain't no use fghtin' agains Fate p
 "And I thought you were robber said Isabel, looking with timid happines into her lover's eyes. "come to stea Grandmother Kesley's jewels p
 "So am !" said Fred, smiling. "An, I have stolen the very brightest of then all !"
 When Frederic Hensley went away fortnight afterward, he took Isabe Darling with him as his bride, an Grandmother Kesley's wedding presen was the wooden box of antique treas ures, gold beads, amethyst necklace an