Connecticut western news., 1890-02-26

| '"
 There is no accounting for tastes" observed he.
 | sung merrily over my work as 1 | got. tea that evening-the simple tea, at which Adam was my first guest, John Smith my last For it was Adams night at the charcoal pits. The fragrance of the tea, the appitiz- ing odor of the wild-strawberry short cake, the waff1es that myself had bak- ed-how plainly } remember it all! l was clearing of the table; John sat on the doorstep, reading the weekly pa | per:
 What are you reading?" I asked, as stopped to give the cat her saucer of milk.
 He laughed.
 '.It seems the Baldville villagers have had 8 dreadful panic," said he. There's a rumor that Mad Mortimer is somewhere in hiding in their midst Think of thatr' Fs.i sFzz.i5l5; s-7.-.-s
 "Who is Mad Mortimer?" I asked. Haven't you heard of himP A fam ous safe cracker and forger of those genteel highwaymen you read | ebout--n
 Il don't read about them"
 "Well that other folks read about who make polite speeches to tho lad | ies while they pocket their silver spoons and cameo ear drops. Bah! The humbug there is in this world! say, Dip
 | "Well?"
 | '.If the fellow really wanted to hide himself, where could he do it better than in just such place as this?" said Smith. ssWho ever comes here?"
 Well, hope he won't" said ]. You're plucky girl. Di. I don't believe you'd be afraid even of Mad | Mortimer!''
 "Yes, should!' persisted.
 Remember. the devil isn't always as black as he's painted!" | "Johp, don't talk that way!''
 "Di, put down that dish-towe! Come here!"
 | "WhyP'
 'rve got something to say to you. I've been a lying scoundrel all these weeks. am the runaway scamp that men would scotch as they would B snake! l am Mad Mortimer. 1 tell you this because the chase is getting too hot in my vicinity. I must go away!"
 Hooked at him in surprise. Was I dreaming?
 ''Im not such a william as folks would believe" he went on. '1f ! could explain alL you would under ] stand that I've been more slnned against than shining, Di. But there's no use in talking about that. Good-by, my girl! Tell Adam how it was. Tell him to keep my secret" "John, you are got going to leave | usp''
 "Woud you have me stay to be | hunted down as the ferrets hunt 8 rat?'
 burst into tears. .A
 In moment he had me clasped in his arms,
 | ..Dii you don't mean to say that you care whether live or die? Di. was it because of this that you said No to Ralph Maddox"
 My brimming eyes must have be- trayed the secret that my lips refused to frame, for he drew one short, quick breath. his face glowed. | s.My girl" said he. ''this is like a new life to me. I'll make myself worthy to claim you yet-see if do not! One kiss-do. my brave girl! And now, good-by"
 So he left me.
 This happened years ago. The next spring new mill proprietor bought the Allaire property and settled down at Baldville.
 He was dark, with & heavy black beard. softer than any silk, covering his face. am not sure I should have known him myself had it not been for certain bright look-a smile-a trick of utterance. His father calne with him to inspect the purchases fine, gray-haired gentleman one Dr. Burgoyne, from New York.
 We are going to put up some con- servatories for you, my dear," said he. "John tells me you like flowers. John is great amateur gardener in his way also. 1 feel deal safer to leave him here, now that he has had the good fortune to win you for his wife, He has been wild in his day-a little wild l-bu, he always loved his old father, and he has had the sense to choose { wife like you. He'll do we'll now, don't doubt"
 And John came up and placed a blue orchid in my hand.
 ''Your favorite color. Dii" said he.
 So we were married, and, like the people in the children's story books, lived happy ever after"
 The only reference to my husbands past history that ever heard, outsid e of our home, was on a summer evening when l chanced to see two of the mil hands gathering blackberries on the rocky side of Bald mountain. as our pony carriage wound along the steer road-the pony carriage that Johr always allowed me to drive for myself
 There's queer story" said one to the other, 'that the famous cracks man, Mad Mortimer. once hid a montl in this very cave. behind these wil6 clematis trails, that time the New York detectives were hunting for tn, Bigley bank case. I wasn't Twin. here then, but Pve'often h card of it.
 'So have l." said the other "Bu l didn't know that was the place. Plucky fellow, wasn't he? By tn,