Connecticut western news., 1890-12-10

tween them. I'm going to do so If l possibly can, MT. Fields" with an arch glance into his face.
 MT. Fields happened to be admiring her brown curls as she looked up, and the fact that she detected him in the act so disconcerted him that he knocked over the chessmen she had arranged, and then he had to help her set them again, and their hands came in contact on the board. Somehow the touch of the widows plump, white hand made him thrill all over with delightful sen- sation, and he wondered, if the accidental lightfully, what it must be to hold that hand in his. Poor MT. Fields! He was very deeply in love, but he didn't dare to say so.
 At length the board was arranged, and they were ready to open the game. : ''Oh" cried the widow suddenly, wouldn't it be nice to have a wager? It would make the game so much more interesting! Don't you think so, MT. FieldsY
 MT. Fields didn't know but it would.
 "rll tell you what!' said the widow, blushing like a gillyiower pink and looking every bit as sweet, MT. Fields thought. ''I read story not long ago about two persons playing a wager, and the stake was a kiss! Now, I'll agree to kiss you if you beat, and if beat you shall kiss me. Isn't that fair?'
 "Yes," stammered MT. Fields, "but- but Pm afraid you'll beat!"
 "Why, then you'll have to kiss me, that's all, laughed the widow. eff you beat I'd just as soon kiss you as not. As likely as not you'll beat me-"
 "Well, I-Tn take the wager" an- swered Mir. Fields in desperation.
 And so the. game commenced. If ever he played to win it was then. There was something very fascinating about the idea of kissing the widow, but he didn't believe he could muster up cour- age enough to do it if he won the game He much preferred that she should kiss him. He could stand it with considera- ble fortitude to be kissed, but to kiss was rather more than he could think of with composure. He never had kissed wo- man that he could remember, and he was sure he should make some awful mistake if he tried to.
 But from the first the game went against him. His pawns were captured right and left, and then his bishops were taken from him. Then his king got in check, and he had to sacrifice his queen to get him out, and then, by one master ly move, the widow planted a knight di- rectly in front of the kings place, and left him in check with her castle, and cried out, "Chechmate~ her eyes spark ling with mischief
 Something that was almost a groan broke from MT. Fields lips. How was he ever going to pay his wager? It made him shiver to think of it.
 'I am waiting for you to pay your debts" said the widow, smiling bewitch- ingly into the bachelors face.
 "I-I wish I'd won the game," stana- mered MT. Fields, bursting into cold sweat
 "Why, then I'd have to kiss your' said the widow, coquettishly.
 CT know that" cried MT. Fields. ''That's why wish I'd got the gamep'
 "What selfish man!' laughed the widow. "I didn't suppose you were so selfish, MT. Fields; upon my word, l didn'tr'
 "I-I ain't selfish," cried the poor man, driven to desperation; "but - but I daren't!'
 ''What an excuse" cried the widow. 'I won't accept it! You don't want to kiss me. That's the reason! But I'm going to insist on your paying your debts, MT. Fields. should like to know why you're afraid of me! I know bet ter! You'll have to get up some other excuse before let you of. I wouldn't have been afraid to kiss you if you'd won the game, I'm sure."
 CT wish you'd kiss me, and call it quits!" said MT. Fields, feeling that he was being driven into corner.
 'I would if it wasn't for encouraging you in your selfshness," answered the widow, with an arch smile into his face which set the blood tingling clear to his toes and made him feel almost bold enough to pay his wager.
 '1-Tn dare you!' cried the bachelor. 'If you'll kiss me, I'll kiss youv'
 "Done!' cried the widow, and kissed MT. Fields plump on the mouth before he co<ld say Jack Robinson. "Now, you can't back outr' cried she, as rosy as the pinks in the garden again.
 "I-I won't" cried MT. Fields and caught her and kissed her on her cherry lips.
 And then, suddenly growing bold and courageous, he kissed her three or four times-for interest, suppose, on the debt he had contracted and, somehow, every kiss seemed to give him additional courage, for before he managed to let her go he contrived to squeeze her hand in decidedly lover like way, and the widow didn't seem to object, but rather returned the gentle pressure.
 After that there was little silence but for some reason MT. Fields wasn't SC bashful as he had been. He began tc think it best to follow up the advantage he had gained over his timidity; and SC he by and by, after good deal of en. couragement to do the deed, managed to scare up bravery enough to kiss the widow again, and she didn't seem to be put out about it, he thought.
 And then-Mr. Fields couldn't tel how, for the life of him-he actually asked the widow to be Mrs. Fields. He felt great wonder, after the deed was done, how he ever got bold enough te ask woman to marry him; but he did and she did not answer ''no."-New York World