Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-11

 | Squire Dolly's son Isaac. It's been a sort of understood thing between lem this long time. And tonight he asked her, up and 1 down, if she'd marry him; and guess she didn't gay mo-"
 Cab, 1el took out his pocket-handl1erchief and wlped the cold sweat off his forehead. l So he was too late!
 | Just then Miss Joanna Fetherbee came around tho corner of the house like whirl- wind-a tall, spale female, a dead match for his own Aunt Myra ! George Fetherbeer sad she, 'I'm astonished at you! Sittin' idlin' here, when you promised to catch them two red chintz roosters when the fowls was gone to roost, so conld get their necks wrung be, | fore"
 She stopped short at the apparition of | Gabriel Gaynor. Gabriel eyed her thought 1 fully. She was a half-sister of George, the child of old Deacon Fetherbee's first wife. She was neither young nor beautiful, and | her temper was well known in the neigh l borhood; but she was a Fetherbee, and as such joint heir to the jewels with pretty Mary. Gabriel remembered all this, and promptly stepped into the breach. | 'IH catch them chintz-colored roosters for you, Miss Joanna," said he, gallantly. '1'm always pleased to be of service to the ladies'"
 l And so this mddle-aged Cupid and Psyche disappeared into the hen-house, with Q candle; and after ah absence that appeared | perfectly unaccountable to George, who still sat thero polishing off the gate-pin, re- appeared with the cackling prey in safe custody.
 ''Let me wiring their necks for you, dar- | ling,n said Gabriel, spasmodically. "Oh, never mind, dear,' chirped Joanna; {; but she rushed off to her own room, never theless, nearly upsetting Mrs. Fetherbee CD | the stairs. | ''Ehs" said George. "Yes,n said Gabriel, changing from one l basket of chickens, s'she's promised to be Mrs. Gabe Gaynor.' | "Aint this rather student" said George, staring with all his eyes. | Such things always happen sudden at the last" said Gabriel, composedly, I Wont you make ruther an elderly pair O turtle e-doves9n said the audacious George
 That aint nobody's business but our | own,'' said Gabriel 'Jest fetch me an axe, George, there's a good fellow. I low it's easier to chop off these fowls heads than to wiring their necks."
 Mrs. Fetherbee smiled when she heard the news. '1'm not sorry," said she. 'Jo- anna has always been a trial in the family, | but there seemed no way of getting rid of l her"
 "Gabc Gaynor must be an alfred fool" observed George Fetherbee. "Why, she's forty, if she's day! And her tongue" 1 Hush, my son." said the gentle mater | familias. ''It's all for the best!" | Desirous though Gabriel was to learn the story of the family inheritance, he judged it best to ask no questions at present
 II don't want lem to think I'm marryn into the family just for that,'' said he. ''Jo- anna thinks Pm desperately in love with l hera''
 "Let her think so,' said Aunt Myra, sage ly holding her head. ''We're playing for high stakes; that's what we're doin', you and me, Gabe Don't set's run any risks"
 It was the day before the wedding. Ga briel Gaynor was sittlng before the fire try Ing to think of something to say to his fancee, when George Fetherbee came in. ] "Well, said he, "they:ll be here tonight y
 "Who?" said Gabriel "Why, the Jewels" Gabriel prlcked up his ears.
 "Eh?' said he "How are they coming ngs By expresss Is that quite safe, do you thinka''
 By expresss" echoed George. 'No. Why should they come by express. They are coming in the cars, like other folks"
 ''Vho be?"
 ''The Jewels. Let me sec There's Aunt Leah, and Jane, and Eliza and little Reu ben." s
 "I- -don't-think- -I-understand-you, y said Gabriel, slowly. "I s'posed they were family jewels.'
 'so they be- Fathers cousins"
 "Folksa''
 "Why, yes. Did you think they were cattles' retorted George Fetherbee, laugh. ing. ''They've been left unprovided for, by 1 Uncle Peter Jewels death, and mother thinks we can manage to make home for them tere They're very nice, clever peo- pie, and the children will be very helpful about the place."
 Gabriel Gaynor's lower jaw dropped. Sc this was the end of the Family Jewels! And his heart sank within him as, at that very instant, he heard Joanna's shrill voice up raised in the kitchen beyond.
 'She was going to be Family JewelL l too!''
 But he married her. What else could he doa He married her, and a very busy, bust 1 ling wife she made him. But when, one day, he ventured to ask George Fetherbee about the reGl treasures, he burst out laugh ing.
 ''That old trunk of Uncle Theodorus'i" sad he. ''There wasn't thing in it but pawn tickets and old clothes. If ever he