Connecticut western news., 1888-05-23
AN OLD-TIME GIRL.

''So it seems Fred Hayes has finally tilted Fannie Howc," said Grand pa West, one rainy morning, as he stood shaking off his drops from his great coat on our kitchen stove.
 "Yes," replied l, as filed pan with apples and prepared to cut them, "aud more shame to him, too. Brought her clear to an engagement, and then left town with another girl, and without one word to Fan."
 s'shameI' repeated good Grandpa West, with an indignant flash from eyes blue and clear as at 21; "its disgrace to any Christian church to let one of it's members go on so. Timo was when he wouldn't have g one scot free, as he has now."
 s.But what could have been donep l inquired.
 ':Donea He'd have hal the full broadside of church discipline on his shoulders fifty years ago. He ought to be dealt with as Harmon Page was, :" concluded grandpa, meditatively.
 "How was that9" inquired I, inter- ested at once.
 q wonder if you've never heard that storyp sad he, with a curious glance I understood better afterward. "Sec here; it's rainy day, and mother won't bo expecting me home. Hand over a knife, and I'll help you with your ap- ples and tell that yarn at the same time"
 We'll pleased with tn, plan, I took another pan, and our fingers flew as grandpa went on with the true and au- thentic history of Harmon Page.
 "You see," ho began, Call this hap pened fifty years ago, and Amityville wasn't then the slow going, dull little place it is now. It was com parativcly new, and was as lively and cnterprising as the new places of the west are today. There are good many old aristo- cratic families, though, and tell II. The very meetin' house slips had to be gauged accordin' to the rank of the buyer, aud tell you old Deacon Avery would never have got the scowl out of his forrard if Squire Page had hap pened to have seat in front of his. ''Dea. Avery had daughter, quiet, gentle girl, with slight, graceful fig ure, and a face-well, you don't sec such faces now days-a clear, fine com plexion, with delicate pink trembling up to her lips when she was spoken to. Her eyes were great limpid wells, changing with every thought, and he1 hair was soft chestnut brown, waving about her fac, in it's owa way ward style.
 ''She was lovely girl, became pro- lessor young, and was always to be seen in the end of the deacon's pew every Sunday, rain or shine. She never had much company, for there was kind o1 dignified reserve about her that ke pt the fellows at distance. But wher she was Hong 'bout IS or 20 Harmon Page began to go with her.
 '.He was handsome, high-spirited chap, lively and full of talk, and a different from Mercy Avery as tw' persons we'll could be. But they lov et each other; there's no doubt abous that Many's the time I've seen her grand eyes sparkle and pretty cheeks flush al Harmon's witty speeches till she wa really brilliant. And he, with hi proud spirit, always grew stran5el, gentle with Mercy.
 ''So in spite of the rivalry that hae always existed between the two fami lies, no one would have disturbed tn two had it not been for Virginia Wake She WIS a cousin of Col Fords frs wife, and came there visiting iron Boston.
 "Virginia was called handsome girl with her brunette face, flashing blacl eyes, and heavy black curls she Wa 1 never tired of Jlngllng around her neck She had good deal, too, of what yo call style and Amityville folks wn didn't know as much of the ways of tn world as they do now wero complete fascinated with hor taking ways. Tn young fellows in particular hovcre around her like moths around candle
 "All except Harmon Page. He ha engaged himself to Mercy, and at frs gave the newcomer the go by Tho Pages and Fords had
 family feud of a good many year standing, which kept them apart fc one thing, and Virginia had plenty ( company besides Harmon.
 "But l suppose HaImon's indiffel ence piqued the girl and she snubbe