Connecticut western news., 1889-11-20
A LONDON LOVER.

l am Hatty Hyde, an old maid-or at least not a young one-and I intend to remain so. But came very near getting married last Spring, and Tn tell you how it happened.
 am thirty-five, and not absolutely ugly, at least, when look in the glass l see reflected there good fresh com plexion, sparkling hazel eyes and an abundance of brown hair. l might have married two or three times, only Iwasn't really in love. I dare say you don't believe this, but I can show the letters of declaration up in my writing desk now-old Squire Pease, the Rev. Mir. Poppelthorne and Dr. Richford. So therel
 But when Clarence Raymond, bar rister, came down to spend the vaca- ton with his aunt, Mrs. Richford- you see, the doctor married, after all, wife much more suitable in point of mature years than could have been, and didn't care, not I-I must con- fess to little womanly flutter around the heart, for he was tall and hand some, and in short, just the hero of romance that had always dreamed about.
 "Hatty," said Mrs. Richford-w were quite confidential friends, you see and called one another Hatty and Pamela, and borrowed each others books, and all that sort of thing "Hatty, I think Clarence rather fancies you."
 'Do you?" said I, feeling the tell tale blushes come into my face, and my heart begin to thump beneath the pretty lace tucker of Valenciennes and pink ribbon that I had taken to wear ing every day.
 ''I am certain of it," said Mrs. Rich ford, s.and how nice it will be to have you for cousin!"
 That evening Clarence asked me if would marry him, and of course said ''Yes!"
 Itwas very nice to be engaged. He gave me lovely cameo ring, choicer and more antique than any diamond could have been-it had been his mothers ring, he said; and he re- peated the most delicious poetry, and vowed that it expressed the very senti- ments of his heart. And we had wan derings in the cool, fern-scented woods, and moonlight talks in the - verandah, and I began to wonder whether should be married in white satin or dove-colored dress.
 One evening, just after Clarence had returned to his unavoidable en- agreements in town, Uncle Nathan came to visit me.
 Uncle Nathan was one of those peo- pie, of whom we are apt to ask, in common with mosquitoes and flies, "why were they ever created?"
 He was venerable old gentleman, with long, silver hair that fell over the collar of his bottle-green coat, and cloth gaiters that irresistibly reminded one of black pussy cat, and he took snuff and talked through his nose.
 'sHarriet," said Uncle Nathan, ssis this true?"
 '.Is what true, Uncle Nathan?"
 ''All this folde-rol about your be- ing engaged to man ten years young CT than yourself. Harriet! Harriet l! thought you had better sense!"
 ''It's only five years, Uncle Nathan, |" said l, pouting. "And I suppose I can get engaged without sending to my relations for permit"
 .'Harriet, this is not subject to be flippant about" said Uncle Nathan. "You may depend upon it, that this young man is a mere fortune-hunter. You have property, Harriet, and he has found it out.o
 ''Uncle!" 1 cried, starting up, sI will not listen tamely to such asper- sions upon the character of one who''-
 ''My dear, my dear, don't get ex- cited," said the intolerable old gentle man, tapping upon the lid of his silver snuff-box. "You are not 8 child, Har- riet, nor yet sentimental schoolgirl. Let's talk the matter calmly overw
 s'l decline to discuss it, sir," was my dignified reply. "My mind is made up, and no amount of meddling interference will ever induce me to alter it."
 So my Uncle Nathan went away, silver hair, snufEbox, pussy -gaiters and all, and l sat down to make out a memorandum of the things should require for my wedding outfit.