Connecticut western news., 1888-09-26

rolled away toward tho brightness of the western sky. The green-veiled pas senger caught up her parcels, skipped over the stone sti:e with amazing alacrity for so apparently feeble per sonage, and few liko a deer across the wooded solitudes until sho came to a low, rcd farmhouse and entered cosy kitchen, where a middle aged woman was making black berry pies. .l
 Here's your trumpet all mended, Aunt Roxana," said she. "And% here's the alpaca dress aud tho three yards of flannel and the basket with the tea and sugar and spices. What are you going to have for suppcr7"
 "Spriag chicken,a. said Aunt Rox, anna in the soft, subdued voice peculiar to deaf people. ''Theyre on the but try shelf, all dressed and ready. And baked DO atoes and I calculate to have them pies ready to go into the oven right off"
 'splcndidl' sail Lurana Hopkins. 'I want one of them. And I must have tho chickens and that loaf of gin gerbread."
 'Ln, mer' said Aunt Roxanna Is the giil crazy9'
 'Its for the schoolma' am, Aunt Rox- anna" explained Lurana, with hor rosy mouth close to tho ear trumpet. ''Her beau's father came up from the train with me in zadoc Hawlcy's stage, and he took me for deaf woman, because of the trumpet, I suppose, and talked | before mo to his friend real free. And he's come out hero to surprise tho schoolma'am, and find out whether she is good housekeeper or not. And if she isn't, he's going to set himself dead against the match!'
 'I never heard nothing like it in my life" said Aunt Rox.nna.
 ''And she isn't-you know she isn't9' said Lurana. ''She just lives in half Of tho Widow Skcrritts house, and boards herself on bread and milk. But she is 'S "oeo os P~"Su1 onN PeoP'o S"u have all the accomplishments at once---"
 'No, to b, sure not" said Aunt Roxanna, her slow wits following Luranas rapid speech with considerable difficulty. at
 'And she shan't be cheated out of her lover, not if I can help it." said Lurana, hurriedly packing the broilers, neatly wrapped in napkin, into her basket, and supplomentiug them with a loaf of spicy smelling gingerbread, two uubaked black berry pics, pan of bis cult and glass jar of honey. "Now, 9 little canister of coffeo,' she-sail land some of those pickles, and I believe that's all. You must huat up some- thing else for supper"
 And once more Lurana sped across the fiells, crossing noisy brook on the perilous span of a fallen tree, picking her way deftly through the hummocks of swamp, aud reaching the Widow Sxerritt's cottage, while the Blue Station stage, travelling the regular road, was still good mile and quar- ter away.
 Alice Alden, the district school teacher. was just putting the last stitches in Q blue checked gingham gown that she WIS making when Lurana rushed in like a hazel eyed whirlwind. "Quckp' she cried. "Kindlo up the frel Set the ta5lol Your father in-law is comiagr'
 My father-in-lawl' cried Miss Alden, aghast.
 'In the stageI explained Lurana, breathlessly. gro take you by sur- prise, and there's no telling how soon he will be here"
 And then as we'll as she could, she explained this unexpected com bin atton of circumstances.
 tBut" reasoned Alice, 'I do not wish to deceive anybody, l can't cook, I never learned how."
 sFiddlesticks! cried Luraua. 'If men will make such geese of themselves we may just as we'll meet them on thc1r own ground. It would b, just as reaso nable for you to refuse Victor be- cause he hasn't learned the blacksmi ith' s trade or can't preach sermon. Wouldn't 1t now2'
 ''There' something in that" hesitated Alice.
 "Of course there is," said Lurana
 It was 9 o'clock at night when Col. Jones joined his friend Richmond at tho Hemlock Hill hotel. Outside the whip poor sung, the pine woods exhalcd perfume. Within the Colonel rejoiced with an exceeding great joy.
 'Tts all right" said he. "Au as right as possible. walked directly in upon her and there sho was preparing such broi!ed chickens I never tasted, and the coffee was superb. There was blackberry pie that melted in my mouth and hom ,made biscuits, fit for king.
 "Isn't that rather an elaborate spread for one person9' inquired Mr. Rich mond little incrcdulously
 'Oh, believe there was some other young woman to be with her, but she turned shy and wouldn't como in at the last. But she's the prettiest girl you ever saw, Richmond"
 "The other young womana'
 "Pooh, nonsense! You know what ] mean-Miss Alden, herself. Aud