Connecticut western news., 1888-11-07
THE LOST SPECTACLES.
BY EMMA A. OFFER

'I laid 'em right down here," said Mir. Bennett; land now they're gone"
 Myra looked up from the long sup portable she was clearing, with a sur prising lack of agitation. She had not kept house for Mr Bennett for tho two years since his wife had died without learning that he was very probably tho most absont-minded old gentleman in the world.
 '.Laid lem right down here," Mir. Bennett repeated, furbling about on the kitchen window-sill; land now they ain't hore. Funnyr
 He spoke querulously; and after a long, hard day with the thrashers it was not much to be wond cred at.
 "Are you sure you left thom therei said Myra She had put the same question on hundred previous occasions; but she spoke patiently. She had had a hard day, too,-getting dinner and sup per for eleven men was no light task, but Myra's sweetness was never ruff1ed. You could have guessed that with one look into her soft calm, pretty bluo eyes.
 'Am I suref' said MT. Bennett sharply, dropping into chair and wip- ing his face with red handkerchief. "Now, what's the use of saying that, Myryi Don't always know where ] lay my spectaclesf Irecollect putting 'en down there, jest after supper; and then I stepped out to settle up with Varick, and fused round the barn . little, and now come back and they're gone Irocollect it, said M. Bennett ss though his recollection was a thing not to be disputed. 'And they're my best gold bowed glasses; I don't wear 'em common. Idon't know what put them on today for Jest to got lem stol,, Ispo,e."
 ''Stole" said MyrA in shocked re- monstrancs.
 ''Wal I've got my suspicious" MT. Bennett responded, crossing his leg. with . jsrk. 'Tve got lem Wha, do you think, anyhow, O folks that hire out to Varick to thrash for a dol. lar day, swearing white shirts and collars, and having hands just as whit; as that platei What do you think of iti' Mr. Bennett demanded, COZ clusively.
 Myrss gentle face, bent over thu butter-dish she was scraping, flushed warmly.
 'Do you mean Mr. Goodwinf' sh faltered.
 How'd you know himf' said MT Bennett suspiciously.
 "Oh, live met him" said Myrs timidly. "Hes staying with the Blacks next door to Aunt Mary's. Ho's MT Blacks nephew; and hos in Aun Mary's sometimes. I've met him there. l ''Hmi hev-hev youf' said MT Bennett, with contemptuous grunt
 "Wal, you better let him alone; that my advice If ain't loosiug my guess he ain't fit for nobody to meetI"
 Myrs, rsd-cheeked, and brushing tn table-cloth with dutteriag hands, wa silent.
 "Does 1t look jest right" said MT Bennett sternly, 'for . young man aslick and good-looking feller thougl
 he be-to be going around with Varick'
 thrashcrs, with them citifed ways"
 ''Hs's doing it on account of hi health" said Myra bravely interrupt |. ing. "He came away from the city fo country air and exercise, and he's inde
 pendent enough to take tho exercise
 way that will bring him a littl money. He isn't rich"
 ''How do you come to know 6 muchf' said MT. Bennett, acridly "Told you, chi Wal, it's my advie not to lot him tall you any moro. Won no good come of 1t. I tell ye Two ge my suspicious It ain't jest righ, don't care what you say; somethin . wrong about it For feller like ths to go round thrashing in the, clothes-'
 'I suppose they're all the clothes h has with him." said Myra, patiently. 'In them clothes, and with that a O his. You need't tell mer' MT. Be, nett ended, vaguely but immovably. "Yes, his manners are better tha
 syd Young's, or varicks," said Myr
 looking ruefully at the stained clot where varick had eaten. "But is th' . anything against him, MT. Beunetti "WsI Iknow jest as we'll as l wal to whore them glasses hev gone to, said MT. Bennett with stubborn frat ness.
 "Do you seriously think that M Goodwin has taken them7" said Myr her pretty eyes remonstrantly wido. 'Pretty clear case, seems to me said MT. Bennett, doggedly. 'Thel wouldn't another one O them men done 1t; know lem alL I want ov , pleased with him fust minute 6, . him" Nyra put the goblsts into the dis pan silently.
 Anaa .A.