Connecticut western news., 1885-09-23
ROSA'S EXPERIMENT..

hUOAN LAI IILGIuIN IL "Dear me-" said MT. Pitcher, "what are our gals so dressed up for? Aint it washing day?" ''Hush, fatherr' said his thrifty wife "They're expecting company. The Widow Rollins is coming to wash to- day"
 MT. Pitcher whistled softly.
 "Phew-wP said he. "ln my young days we didn't hire woman at seven ty-five cents a day when we had good stout arms of our own"
 "Things change. father," said his wife, hurriedly. "Not always for the better, though" |" remarked the good farmer as he got into his one-hurse wagon and drove away. <... "Dear me-" said Rosa, "what a start that gave mer'
 Just like pap said Fanny. "Al- ways coming in when we least expect himr'
 "He's out of the way now," said Mrs. Pitcher, peeping over the top of the big geranium in the window. = "And he wont be back until dinner time" "Do you suppose he'lzbe along soon, :" said Rosa,
 How is body to tell,' retorted Fanny, rather impatiently.
 "Oh, Fanny, I'm afraidp' faltered Rosa. "You take my place, wont you !? He'll never know that it wasn't you who wrote the letter."
 "Rosa, what child you arer" said Fanny, with the calm superiority that belonged to her two years of seniority. "Don't you see that it will never do for you to change your mind now?"
 'I wonder if he's handsome?" ob- served Rosa, with a little excited gig gle. "Ma there's the apple-sauce boiling over on the stove. It will be horrid to have the house filled with the smell of cooking"
 Burnt apple-sauce never yet hurt anybody" said Mrs. Pitcher. as she made haste into the kitchen, where the Widow Rollins was just getting the clothes into the blueing water.
 "Oh, dear," said Rosa, "I am in such twitteration! 1 almost wish, Fanny, that we hadn't answered that adver- tisement."
 "It's too late to think of that now,' said Fanny. "There he comes thi; minutep'
 "Where?" cried Rosa, divided be tween her extreme curiosity to see the man who had advertised for wife in the columns of the Fairoieao Cottaats Journal, and the instinct that bade hel flee to the nearest convenient closet "He is handsomep whispered she.
 "And he has got his yalise with him." said Fanny. "Lap' cried Mrs Pitcher. q won der if he expects to be asked to stay P "Isn't he dressed genteel2" sait Rosa, all in a glow with excitement "Ma, you go to the door. l feel as if couldn't stir step"
 The Misses Pitcher had, in a way taken the thread of fate into their owl hands. In neighborhood like Fair view Centre, where there were at leas five girls to every eligible young man they felt that it was necessary to be stir themselves in order to get married
 And thus considering, Rosa, tn younger, had boldly answered matrl monial advertisement.
 MT. Pitcher was kept in ignorance The girls were morally certain tha ''pa'' would disapprove of their ns7 departure-perhaps even go so far 8 to forbid it, up and down. "Ma," o the contrary, rather liked the romano of the thing.
 If the young man is in earnest, said she-"and don't see any reaso why he shouldn't belt may be an e1 cellent settlement for Rosa"
 At the sound of footsteps on th door-stone, Fanny fled precipitatel Rosa sank, panting, on the hairclot sofa, and Mrs. Pitcher hastened 1 answer the knock.
 "Does MT. Pitcher live hereY' said tall young man, with sandy hair, moustache to match, and pale-blr eyes yelled behind spectacles.
 "He does," falteringly answert Mrs. Pitcher. "Please to walk in. N daughter is in the parlor.
 Perhaps" said the young man, he itatingly, "it might be well for me explain to you that l."
 "No explanations are necessary said Mrs. Pitcher, growing more al more Hurried. "she quite understand Please to walk right into the park Yeu'll And her shsra.