Connecticut western news., 1886-11-10
THE OLD SLEIGH.
"'Lizabeth r "Comino,"

Coming"
 sThere, mother, old Specklc has re- turned thanks at last" holding up a plump, white egg that would do credit to any queen of the poultry yard.
 "Well, I alters said that hen was thankful for past mercies, though your father would laugh every time said so. Liddy Stephens has jest been here. She wanted to sec you, but you was gone so long, I thought you must be down to Miss Pennelrs."
 s'Yes, I met her as she came through the yard"
 s'She didn't tell you the news, did she"
 ''She told me Will Marston had re- turned from California"
 'Tt does beat all bout that boy Seems jest like the piece O poetry you read sometimes about the feler that went off and 'stayed so many years, and then come back and took his mother out O the poor-house-only it's the father this time. The very worst of the deacon's six it called him, and that's jest what Will was then. never believed he had anything to do with that scrape down to the village. Liddy says he is terribly rich, and is going to take care of his father. The deacon must be glad, for I guess he stayed with Caleb most as long as he can comfortably. They say he's going to marry Sam Miller's daughter Ruth. You sec, when Bob Miller went out there for his health, Will found him out and done little kindnesses for him, and when he was too sick to write home, Will wrote for him. Part O the time Sam was sick hisself, SO Ruth answered tho letters, and he fell in love with her in that way. There didn't anybody but the deacon and the Millers know he was coming. Sam drove down to the depot and carried him up to Caleb's. Guess they was some surprised to see him."
 There is no knowing how long Mrs. Allen would have gone on, her tongue keeping time to the busy click clack of her kneedles, had not MT. Aliens step sounded on the walk.
 'L'zabeth never talked much, and the mother did not mind her silence to- night. A slight quiver about the sensi- tive mouth alone told how keenly tke words were felt, and the sigh of relief whichescaped at the welcome sound of her fathers voice was lost in the noise made as he entered stamping the snow from his boots.
 ''Why, father, does it snow2 I been so busy talking haiu't thought to look out of the window for some time"
 ''Yes, it's begun to come down righ, smart; shouldn't wonder if it was good sleighing by tomorrow"
 ''You don't think it's going to be long storm2"
 Mrs. Aliens face had an anxious ex pression as she asked the question, fol long storm meant days of exile fol her.
 ''No, sh'll be surprised if it don' clear up by tomorrow noon-so's Liza beth and can take a ride to the village that'll be treat, won't it, darter2" ant the smile that lighted up his daughter face pleased him better than any answe could have done.
 'Guess I'll get the old sleigh out. Bel : Smart's been down to the city and h says he saw lots jest like it; it's fv years since sent Jim down to the vii lage for the new one, and it's never beel out since. Pm glad it's come int fashion again, for never enjoyed my self complete In the new one-alway felt little above my station," and Far mcr Aliens laugh rang through the olt sitting room at the fitness of his re mark.
 "Well, Elizabeth, you get supper o the table, and I'll tell father the new while he warns his feet. He's ben dow to the wood lot all the afternoon, an hain't heard nothing of the strang things that has ben happening Il here"
 Having arranged things to her sati' faction, the stockings, Mrs. Allen ha' dropped on the entrance of her husband continued to grow under her delft fingers while the news lost none of it's interes with repetition.
 That night, after Elizabeth had take her candle and said good night, MI Allen sat for some time looking at tn fire, then suddenly broke out:
 'sMother, don't you think 'Lizabet looks kind O peaked latelya The E, she don't seem to eat as much . usual"
 ''There, father, you're always frettin bout that girl. I don't know wh; you'd done if you'd had six, like yo' brother Jonathan"
 sT didn't know but the news abo1 Will might affect her some. Yc know they used to think so much of eat other"
 s.Maasy, father! That was years ar ycars ego, when they were childre 'Lixabeth's too sendble girl to let fslles Hks Wfll Narston to disturb he Hhen he aenpped writing to her shs ga'