Connecticut western news., 1888-08-15

'1 was only joking, Z'p. But you seem to bo awfu'ly ia earnest and sol- emn this evening. What is ailing you, my way9'
 "Nothing much, only I have made up my mind to go away" answered Fir, looking asido.
 "Go away7"
 ''Yes, Melinda"
 "Where are you goinga"
 Anywhere. It makes no difference, so get away"
 And ain't you coming backf"
 "Some day, maybe, if ever get to be of any account to myself or anybody elsc."
 "Ycu are of somo account now, Zip, and you had better stay right where you are." e,
 No; I've made up my mind to go, and I am surc it is the b.st thing that could happen for us all around, so Ill stick to it,'' said Zip, rcsolutcly.
 Melinda was looking out of tho win . dow. When she saw man coming up the lane toward the house, aud recog- nized in the conner Ben Button, a shad- ow of annoyance fitted over her face.
 Zip had been watching Melinda; and when he saw the slight frown on her face, he too, glanced out, and seeing who was coming ho roso to his feet, ready to depart, saying: '1ll call in again before leave and tell you all good by. Good evening""
 Melinda glanced responsibility after the retreating Zip. There was sus- picion of tears in her eyes, and little culver around her mouth, as she mur- mured to herself: ''Foolish Zip! He is going away because he thinks am go. ing to marry that hateful B,n Button, and is jealous. But can't make him see, and won't ask him to stay. I'll die first. There"
 The truth was that a serious thought had at last come to Zip. He was in love, and he knew it. He had looked at himself as in looking-glass, and found out his own worthlessness. More than that, he had determined to go away, change his habits of shiftless- ness, and become a useful man and citizen. He would not ask Melinda for her love until he had made him. self worthy of it. If, however, in the meantime some other man-Ben Button perhaps-stepped in ahead of him, why, he would still be the gainer by an ambition for higher things which, in an indirect way, would be gift from Meliu da
 That evening, Ben Button asked Melinda to become his wife; but she was in no mood to answer him, then, for Zip's foolish detcrmin ation to ge away troubled her in no small degree. She knew, too, that her mother ia vored Ben above any ono else, ano that she would be grieved if Bon re ccived curt refusal, so she told hin she would have an answer ready fol him when he should call again, ane Ben was happy.
 Days passed away. They werc day of hopo to Ben, days of doubt and ir rcsol ution to Melinda, and busy days fo hand and thought with Zip. The decisive evening camo at last and Ben was on hand with his usua clockwork regularity to receive what h. fully expected to be favorable answe to his suit.
 It had been rainy day, but the SUI had broken through the clou Is in tn evening, and was setting bright ant clear, casting it's last rays upon Mrs Spratt Melinda and Ben Button, a they sat on tho west gallery of tn housc.
 q declare, Molinda," said Mrs. sprat suddenly, "if them welldiggers haven gono off and forgot to shut tho gap i the fence around the well." And thcro is Blossie's calf in tn yard now and going straight for tn we'll. I'll go and shut up the gap mother; you sit still,' said Melinda, a Mrs. Spratt was about to rise.
 Melinda ran toward the well, hcadin the calf off at tho same time. She wa about to close the gap in the fencs when hor eyes fell upon the wide open ing in tho ground. She hesitated mo meat, then entered the gap, and aI preached tho we'll cautiously. ca tn lrink, she peered ov,r and looked int the depth below. Sho was about withdraw again; but the ground urd: her feet gavo way, and with lou scream she was hurled to the bottom ( the we'll.
 Mrs. Spratt and Ben saw what hal pencd, for their eyes had fondly follow ed Melinda ia her every movement, an they now rushed to the scene of Il catastrophe.
 Stepping carefully upon some planl that were lying across the opening the well, they peerel ilto the abyss b low them. There was no sound cxcel of clumbling earth and pebbles falliu from the sides of tho well. The cart was loose from the rain during the d a and the break where Malinda had fallt ia had started the walls to caving { around.
 Then large mass of earth fell eras' ing to the bottom of tho well and la bare huge powder hanging as if reat to topplc the next moment.
 A faint moan from the bottom of u