Connecticut western news., 1886-05-12

came into Roses heart as she made all speed to follow the dewy track of Lin nets footsteps over the grass.
 As she reached the belt of woods close | to the apple-orchard, she paused in dis may at the sound of sweet, high pitched voice.
 It's Linnet!" she involuntarily ex- claimed. "And she's scolding some body. Dear me, whom can it bel Sure ly not Ajaxp
 'You are thiefp' she could hear Lin- net exclaim-"a robber! Let that bar rel of apples alone, l say. don't care whether you are Squire Sandford or not. That barrel of apples is mine!'
 And as Rose drew near, she could see this dimpled young Amazon resolutely defending the barrel of apples, with her single strength, against Squire sandford and his stoutest farm laborer.
 She stood there, with one slight hand on the red-checkcd fruit, which was brimming over the barrel-hoops, and be- fore her the tall squire and his herculean aid-de-camp were helpless.
 'If you will allow me to explain" pacifcally began the squire.
 'T will allow nothing!" declared Lin net. II repeat, these apples are mine! Touch them, at your peril"
 Thus far the young heroine was con- queror. But alas! in that very moment of victory Nemesis was at hand. There was the dull sound of trampling hoofs, then sullen below, and Ajax himself, bursting through weak spot in the fence, was upon them.
 Linnet Dessoir collapsed, so to speak, at once. She forgot her heroism, her dignity-everything but her danger, and flew, for rescue, to Squire Sandford, shrieking:
 'Save me! save mer
 The farmland dogged behind the wagon; but Squire Sandford never quailed, but held her resolutely in his arms.
 'sDo not be afraid" he said, almost as if he had been speaking to a frightened child. 'tNothing shall harm you, little onel"
 For an instant, things look very black; then Squire Sandford spoke gently once more.
 ''Do not hold my arm so tightly" said he, "Let me get at my revolver. must shoot the brute! No, don't be so terri fled. Do not you hear me say that noth- ing should harm you2"
 And then the problem resolved itself, as problems often do. Ajax, putting his huge head against the barrel of lady-ap- ples, sent them rolling in all directions, and caught his horns in the barrel itself, effectually binding him. He set off at a wild gallop down the hill, believing as he went, and there he met his fate in the shape of two or three men with run ming moose of rope and good stout chain.
 "Hello, petl" shouted Farmer Heb ron's voice. "What's the matter2 She hasn't tainted, has she, squirrel"
 And Linnet, realizing that she was safe, blushingly withdrew from MT. Sandford'. sheltering arms, and ran to her uncle
 'T am 80 much obliged to you, sir, she whispered. "And please-pleas' don't mind what said about the apples
 You are guite welcome to them"
 "Hey9 Apples!" said MT. Hebron "Why, Linnet didn't you know that carted the barrel of apples that tn squire gave you home last night"
 Linnet grew crimson all over, and fec to Rose's faithful breast for consolation
 II shall never dare to look that ma in the face again." she bewailed herself
 "Oh, dear-oh, dear, what must he hav' thought of mew
 But of course MT. Sandford considere it only right and proper to call that eve ming, and inquire how Miss Dessoi found herself; and really the meetin was not half as embarrassing as Lime , had fancied it would be.
 They had good laugh about Aja and the apples; and Linnet confesse how dreadfully frightened she had been "And with reason," said Squire Sand ford. "There was second or two which we were in very serious danger. "But you will forgive me about u apples2" said Linnet, with pretty, coax
 ing earnestness.
 ooh, yes, will forgive you about u
 apples!" Squire Sandford laughing . returned.
 Il And in that moment Linnet thougl
 what a very pretty color his eyes wer T decided that he couldn't possibly
 thirty years old.
 e 'Isn't it strange" said Rose Hebro Il ''that we have lived neighbor to Squi l. Sandford all these years, and he has ne
 CT been more than ordinarily polite d mel And here comes Linnet, and qus n rels with him at five minutes notice, al le calls him all sorts of names, and nc d they are engaged to be married, and
 am to be the bridesmaid" a 'sNot at all strange!" said Miss Desso g 'sTo me it seems as rice and natural at possible. But you are mistaken abo lg his age, Rosy. He is only twenty mir ae And if he were hundred and twen' u' nine, should love him all the same." y' "Of course," said Rose; that is wi Ia all engaged girls ay."-He!en For