Connecticut western news., 1885-08-12
THE MAJORS ESCAPE.


 very good match indeed, as Miss An gerona, Dilworth and the gossips very well knew.
 To-be-sure, he was rather bald and had a wart on his nose; but, then, he was the owner of many acres of rich land; he possessed herds of fat, short horn cattle and flocks of long wooded Merin0 sheep; he raised untold quanti- ties of amber cane, to be made up into sugar; and was, all told, the richest farmer in the neighborhood of Sugar Maple village
 As for Miss Angerona she was not very young, but neither was she old. She was not remarkably plain, nor could she be called pretty. For the Fest sue was rather sharp-featured and very sharp-tongued, so the neigh bors declared. though the major had not discovered this fact. | Miss Dilworth was not a benevolent person. yet she had taken her orphan niece, Avis, to raise,
 ! Avis Dilworth was hearty, merry girl, in spite of her aunt's grabbed kemper, With round face, deep dim ples in her cheeks, pair of laughing. blue-gray eyes, and plenty of vim and life about her, though demure and quiet as a nun under Miss Angerona's sharp eyes.
 ! Indeed, many people asserted. that if Avis were only decently dressed, and allowed the advantages she de- served, she would be quite belle.
 But Miss Dilworth's old garments, however neatly made over, were not sufficient to set off even good figure to much advantage.
 They were all poor Avis was allow cd, however. and she sighed in vain over the crisp new lawns, the sheer white muslins, the huted rufles and eresh, piumed hats of her more fortu- hate acquaintances.
 At last Major Hartletop had propos- cd to Miss Angerona, in a good. sub stantial, plainly-expressed letter; and Miss Angerona had determined to ac- oep. the proposal
 "lf he is bald and ugly" she re- marked to herself, "he's rich, and money covers multitude of bad looks. Besides, it'n spite that stuck-up Wid- der Flukes, that's been a-settinp her cap at him this month or more; an as long as she wants him I'd have him, if he was bald as an egg an ten times as ugly as he isP'
 But, in spite of his defects, Major Hartletop was good-hearted, and as romantic as many man with glossy head of hair and no wart on his nose.
 He was really in love with Miss Angerona, and after sending his pro bosaI, the moments seemed weighted with lead until he could receive hel answer.
 At last his impatience grew unbear able.
 "T won't wait no longer" he declar ed. T just call around and get hel answer right away, or shan't sleep 1 wink tonight, I know"
 And popping his hat on his head, h. set of on the winding. country roat which led to Miss Angerona's dwell ing, his mind busy with pleasant fan cies of what the future might have il store.
 "How nice it'll be to have my wifi a-setting at the head of the table, O stepping around the house, overseein the butter and cheese-makin'," h unused.
 "An' that pretty Avis, too. Sh shall have better clothes than sh wears now. l s'pose Angerony can afford to dress her any better; but II see to that. She shall have whit dress, with lace founces, an one ( them crimpy things girls wear aroun their necks, to stand up with us in."
 And so, his mind busy with cheerfr pictures of the happy future. he reacl ed Miss Angerona's house. ascende the steps, and vas about to knock o the open door, when shrill, higl pitched voice reached his ear.