Connecticut western news., 1889-04-17
WON BY A DUCKING.
BY s. A. WEISS.

blood-red rim had just disappeared be- low the horizon-and chilly gray shadows were gathering in the nearly leafless grove in the rear of Beech Villa.
 On the messy root of an old tree, close to the bank of tho river which mur- mured past, sat young girl, watching, with curious expression of alternate hope and disappointment, footpath which wound away in the direction of the suburban road on which the villa was situated. Clearly she was expecting some one.
 He came at last--a tall, slim young man, unexceptionably attired, and who, as he wended his way among the tall grasses, absently struck off their heads with his gold-headed cane.
 The girl sprang to meet him.
 ''Oh, Augustus, I'm so glad you've come at lastl I've waited an age; but" with sudden anxiety, as she noted his grave xpression-''what success have you hada Did papa consent to see you, after having so cruelty forbidden me 10 receive your visitsa"
 ''Yes, he saw me" the young man answered, gloomily. ''He could not have avoided it, as 1 met h1m at the door just as he was leaving the house."
 'And what did he say9" she asked, eagerly.
 Augustus placed his arm around the slender waist of the girl-the grounds were part of her fathers domain and quite secluded-and looked down into her pretty face.
 ''He said" speaking slowly and with a far-away, absent look-''hc said that you and I were couple of fools."
 "Whatl Howl Why7" she fal- tered.
 "For proposing to marry on six hun dred dollars year."
 "But papa has enough for us all, and am his only child. Surely you re- minded him of that9''
 '.No, indeed. How could I stoop to such mercenary considerations2 On the contrary, told him that did not want his money; that could make my for tune, as he had done, and that all I asked of him was his consent to our marriage"
 "And what did he say then9' she in quired, eagerly.
 "Nothing; except to request me to leave the house and never again see you."
 "What shame!"
 Tears sprang to her eyes and she laid her cheek caressingly and soothingly against her lovers manly shoulders.
 "Of course l went, resumed Angus tus, with sad dignity; ''but before do- ing so, informed Mir. Hogan respectfully but firmly, that though l might never again enter his house, I would on nc account relinquish my claim to his daughters hand. I told him that we loved each other, and dcfed any human power to keep up apart"
 The girls cheeks flushed and her ey yes glowed.
 ''That must have touched him!" she said, gazing with proud tenderness into her lovers face. ssThat must have stirred his feelings, if anything could. ,
 ''It didP responded Augustus, grim ly. 'In fact-I don't wish to harrow your feelings Maude, dearest, but you father was stirred to that degree that h' not only slammed the library door in my face as left the room, but followed m' to the hall door and-flung the doc mat after me. Indeed, l suspect tha the mark is still upon my back" s'So it is" said Maude, indignantly , ''Stand still, dear, and let me brush of the dust. What dreadful behavior il papa! Aunt Eliza always calls him to- ! nasty, but I never dreamed of hi carrying on like this. Perhaps" "-witl a little sob in her voice-''perhaps he'l come round by-and-by. He does some D times. Aunt Eliza has most infuenc 6 with him, and she-she's our friend , you know"
 They were standing near the river , bank, and Maude was still engaged i l vigorously dusting, with her embroidere pocket handkerchief, the back of her in | suited lover, when whiff of wind too 6 the light straw hat from her head, an i drifted it to the edge of the bank. Augustus instantly hastened to tt :. rescue, but he had not taken into COT ( sidcration the steepness and slipperine' of the incline; wherefore he unexpected z ly found himself plunging, with g splash, into the muddy water, six fe'
 below.
 :. Maude shrieked as she beheld hi } disappear beneath a pad of water-lilie ). and the sound reached her aunt, Mi j. Eliza Pilkins, as she walked in the ga }, den between the grove and the villa. E Augustus head, adorned with alg. } and dropping weeds, soon reappeare
 above tho surface of tho water, and vii