Connecticut western news., 1885-01-28


 quilt and with a great rattling of rusty keys, drew forth small square box, of some aromatic smelling wood.
 Isabel's eyes opened in spite of herself, as the old lady held up glittering string of ancient gold beads.
 "I had them when I was a gal O four teen," said she, nodding her be-capped head. "Father-that's your great grand father Kesley, child-give 'em to me when I finished my first set O shirts for him. And here Is a lot O amethysta my Uncle Poundridge brought from sea there was Spanish ship wrecked on the shores where he chanced to be coast in and them was among the things cast up."
 The purple stones, set in strange, old fashioned fiIagree of finely wrought gold, winked and glimmered oddly in the fre- light, as Grandmother Kelsey elevated them in her skinny fingers.
 "And this ere is gold watch and chain Squire Seth Duplex left your Grandfather Kesley when he died. Your grandfather and he were great friends, Isabel, and the squire was always great hand to do things liberal. But John Kesley never carried the watch-he al- ways said it was too fine for him and he stuck to his old silver one. And here's your Uncle Lamech's silver snuff-box- and your Aunt Sylvy's wedding ring poor child, she died before she'd been married year, and the coral esr-drops she used to wear It's pretty good box full of crinkum- -crankums, ain't it, child ?"
 "Oh, they are beautiful 1" assented Isabel, reused to enthusiasm at last.
 "And I don't mind saying, Isabel, they shall all be yours, one of these days, if-mercy upon us-what's the matter with the child ?"
 For Isabel had sprung from her seat like frightened hare from its form.
 "A face, grandmother--a pale, rigid face, looking in at the window through the darkness without"
 "Oh, pshaw p cried Mrs. Kesley, 'Ethere ain't soul lives within two miles of us. Who on earth should be lookin' in at my winder?" "I don't know;," persisted Isabel, "but did see face."
 Mrs. Kesley opened the door and looked up and down.
 ''I told you so l" she nodded triumph antly, closing and bolting the door. ''Not creetur to be seen, not so much as stray dog. It's your fancy, Isabel p
 And not all her granddaughter's pro- testations could convince the ancient dame to the contrary.
 But about half an hour afterward, just as Mrs. Kesley was spreading the round cherry table with cloth of home-spun damask, two tined forks and plates of some foreign ware. curiously decorated with unlikenesses of birds, bees and in- sects, 0 knock came to the door, and Isabel started again, almost as nervous ly as before.
 It was beginning to snow softly, as Mrs. Kesley opened the door, and the crooked little figure that stood there was powdered over with the white drift-an old woman wearing a crumpled black bonnet, and an ancient brown cloak with double cape descending below her elbows.
 "Who be you?" curtly questioned Grandmother Kesley, ''and what do you want disturbing honest folks at this time O nightP"
 "Im Louisy Ann Paddock" was the humble and consolidating reply, 'and l started to walk from Hollyford to stay spell with Mrs. Squire Johnson below here-she and my mother was first cousins, you know -and somehow I've got belated, so calculated you'd keer keep me all night, on pinch I''
 "Humph l" grunted Grandmother Kesley, "I ain't acquainted with Mrs Johnson, but I've heard she was f dreadful likely woman! We'll, walk in, Mrs. Paddock-it's an ugly night to bt out alone in, and although we ain't nc great hands for company, I guess yor can put up with our ways! Won't yor lay of your things ?"
 "Thankee P said the new conner, in regular New England twang. "I'I take of my cloak, but If it's all the same to you, I'll rather set with my hood on I'm dreadful subject to neurology il the face P
 Aud all they could see of Louisa Anr Paddock's face was the startling brigh eyes that were yelled beneath the scree1 of pair of spectacles. 3 "She's Q queer-lookin' old creetur , ain't she?" said Mrs. Kesley, in whis 7 per, as Isabel helped her ladle up { dishful of delicious, limpid "applt t sauce" from a stone jar of the same B that always stood on the second pantry shelf. Bu' Is1 vel did not answer-sht was watohh g tn } envious crouching fig ure through he half-open door. f "I suppose I an fanciful," though I she-"at least gran lmother always say; 5 80; but I do tl nk the face is just the Q same that was ii. tts led against the win d dow when she was showing me the bo s of old-fashioned jewelry. I wish W t hadn't let her in. I wish there was t man about the house. Iwish.-" n Dear heart alive, Isabel, what O 0 sa tn be you doin'?" scolded Grand '- mother Kesley-"holdin the dish & <? that all tue sirup's runnin' out?" Il And Isabel, with 8 blush and starr
 was forced to own her absent-minded 8 ness
 d Their own utter helplessness, thei @ own isolation and distance from aid 1t the rich old jewels in the wooden casket