Connecticut western news., 1886-08-04
VOL. XVI.

ing a new dress now and then out of the rent of their big spare room. And MT. Trudkins brought letter of recommen- dation from a friend in Packerton, and he dressed in the latest fashion, and had a big black moustache that overshadow- ed his upper lip like penthouse.
 "Oh, ma, how very genteel he isl" said Abby Jane, all in a flutter of admir- ation.
 "A very nice young man indeed," responded the deacon's wife.
 And the very next week, Abby Jane came down to the Leeds farm house.
 'Have you heard this news of your Eliza2" she asked of the farmers wife, in mysterious whisper.
 Eh2" said Mrs. Leeds.
 "She's nothing but play actress, 1" said Abby Jane, nodding her head until the stuffed blue bird on her hat quivered as if it were alive. "Mr. Alphonso Trud- kins saw her himself in the Great New York Combination troupe. She was acting a woman who was married to Cuban, and lost her pocket handkerchief, and was afterward choked with the pillows off the best bed. Dcsdemonia her name was, think"
 "Well, and suppose she was7" said Mrs. Leeds, who was too good general to let the enemy see what havoc had been carried into her camp. "What then2"
 "What thena" echoed Abby Jane. sWell, I do declare, Mrs. Leeds, I am surprised"
 'T don't believe word of it." said Mrs. Leeds, de6antly.
 "But MT. Trudkins saw her with his own eyes!" cried Abby Jane, flushing scarlet with indignation. ''He knew her the minute he looked at her yesterday in church. Elizabeth Ellesmere her name was, he says, in the advertisements, and she danced dance, with yellow scarf and lot of roses, between the pieces, making herself out to be Spanish man. doline player. It's enough to make one's hair stand on end to hear MT. Trudkins tell about it."
 sIt don't do to believe all one hears, J said Mrs. Leeds, losing all count of the eggs she was breaking into china ' bowl, in her consternation. 'And Stapleville does beat all for gossip" "Well, you can ask her yourself, and see if she dares deny it said Abby Jane, exultantly. '.Here she comes now. Ask her-only ask her!"
 And Eliza came into the kitchen, with the spice box in her hand. MT. Villars followed close behind, flaming himself with straw hat.
 'I have come from the men in the hay field," said he. ''They want another jug of cool ginger and water, with plenty O molasses stirred in, Aunt Leeds. Coco morning, Miss Clark! hope the dca con is quite we'll this morning2"
 Abby Jane turned pink, and smiled her most seductive smile.
 "Oh, quite SO" she simpered. CT only came on"
 'Is it true, Elizaa' Mrs. Leeds asked sharply. ''Have you been deceiving me Are you play actress all this time?"
 Eliza's large eyes turned slowly first t. one, then to another of the little group She did not blush-it was rot her wa, but the color ebbed slowly away iron her cream pale check.
 q have been decciving nobody" sai' she. 'I am not an actress now. hay been one But I did not like the life, s I left it. If anyone had asked me I should have told them long ago." Mir. Villars came forward and stood a the girls side, as he saw his aunt shrin away.
 'sWell," he said, ''even takin , it all for granted, "where is tn harm?" Charles! Charles!" cried Mrs. Leeds putting up her hands with gesture ( warning. Remember poor Avice"
 sIt is because I remember her that speak thus" said MT. 'Villars, calmly
 "I had an elder sister once," he added turning to Abby Jane Clark, 'who "a away from home and became an actress
 She had talents far above the average but my parents were old-fashioned pe' pie, and their ideas ran in narrow groove
 They disapproved of the stage, so Allie
 left us. Whether she is dead or Twin
 we know not, but wherever she is, I a ' sure that she cannot but be good an
 true and pure."
 :, Abby Jane's eyes fell under his cal
 glance. She was little sorry now tn
 she had chosen to come hither and be- ? the news herself.
 Somehow, Mr. Villars had taken it different spirit from what she had a a ticipated. And Eliza's soft, languidl
 modulated voice broke on the constrail
 ed silence like drops of silver dew.
 "I have been an actaess, and perha N I should still have teen on the stage, " S said, 'shad it not been for circumstance My father dealt in stage properties, ane V was brought up to the business, but stil U never liked it. But one cannot easi v step out of the path where one's feet ha a e been placed, especially if one is W
 man.
 'f "However, the turning point came
 last. Our leading lady fell sick of to contagious fever, in lonely village wht le we had stopped to play one night. T k manager packed up everything in pan It and bade us all to be ready to go. to ly him I could not leave Mrs. Montag IS alone. He said that if left the co