Connecticut western news., 1889-04-10
BETSEY'S LITTLE GIRL.

Upon the whole, I liked my little house very much. .......
 do not deny that it had been a sort of experiment, my buying that solitary cottage among the sand dunes of the Long Island coast, where the breakers of the Atlantic washed the shore, and one tall lighthouse kept its fiery watch on the long tongue of land which people called ''The Devils Point. !" But the doctor had told me that sea- air and quiet were what I needed, and here surely, I should find them both.
 It was very old-fashioned house, with low ceilings, small, lozenge- paned windows and wainscoted rooms.
 The little parlor was in front, looking out upon the ocean. Beyond this was a small room in which decided to put my sewing machine and writing desk i; then came long, dark hall, also vain scoted on either side, and lighted only by odd, little, round windows, placed high up; and the kitchen-a sort of wing-fnished the lower part of the house.
 The second story was mere attic, but it served very we'll for bedrooms for me and Betsey Balmford, my ser want. ...-
 "S'pose it's altogether safe for you two women to live all alone out here?' said Old Peter Smith, whose itinerant wagon served US with butchers meat, groceries, kerosene, and all sorts of things, every other day.
 ''Of course it's safe," said I. "Why not2"
 "Sort O lonesome, ain't its' squeaked Old Peter.
 "We came here for quiet and rest"
 "And s'pose, added Old Peter, 'syou should be sick. There ain't nIo family lives nearer than The Devils Point, an that's three good miles away" "But we don't propose to be sick, J said I.
 The longer I stayed in the cottage, the more was pleased.
 The sunsets across the plain of waters were things of constantly changing beauty: the air was full of saline fresh ness; my walks along the beach were delightful.
 l I read and rested, and felt myself growing stronger with every day, while Betsey in the kitchen was reducing things to the apple-pie order that wal dear to her soul.
 One evening, just at dusk, rang m, bell little impatiently. Betsey's round red face presently appeared in the door way.
 "Betsey," said I, "what child hav' you got out there2"
 'sThere ain't no child, ma am," sait Betsey.
 ''I am sure heard child's voice."
 Betsey stared fixedly at me.
 II guess likely, Miss Emma, it wa me, a-blowin' out at the cat" said she 'I left pan O milk on the window sill, and that blamed creetur broke pane O glass, humpin' through to get a it, and putty's one of the things I didn' think to put into the till of the tool-bo when we packed up."
 ."Wcll," said I, II wish you'd be little quicter with your cat"
 "I will, ma am" said Betsey Balm ford.
 A few minutes later, as I sat dreamil at the window, light-running figS seemed to pass between me and th purpling glow of the sky-the figure ( a child, with its fair hair blowing bac like an aurcole and both its hand stretched out toward the sunset.
 "There!" said l. sI knew it!" Jumped up, and ran out toward il beach. l was almost certain I saw tf track of tiny footsteps on the damp sand but as I gazed the incoming tide cast fringe of shells and scawccd at my fee and at the same time swept away a traces of aught else. "It's very strange l thought. must have been doing what poor Aul Eunice used to accuse me of--dreamir with my eyes open!'' The next morning but one, Old Pet was not perched on his load, as usua Abigail, his wife, occupied the hare buffalo-robed seat, and welded wh and reins.
 ssMy ole mans down with rhcum : tiz, :" said she. tsIt docs seem as if l allays selected the most onconvenie : times and seasons. I've got some nj : soft shell clans this morning, Miss Ora and some of my own home baked brea And thought likely your crackc iweeld bs oet by thb tlmc." ss s 1l11 SfS1 in. 1nanam. T unad aafsnx Hal,