Connecticut western news., 1890-08-20
TOPSY.

A
 "He thinks more of Topsy than he does of mel" said Huldah.
 Joe Broadway laughed.
 ''But she is dandy little horse, you know,"h he said, letting his gaze wander to where Huldah's Uncle Robert stood stroking and batting Topsy. Look at her shape, just"
 'I know" said Huldah 'Pve heard Uncle Robert rave about her. enough. Little head, arched neck, slender legs"-
 Joe brought his hand down on his sweetheart's with another laugh. But Huldah's brown eyes were lifted seriously to his laughing blue ones. ''What,s the matter2" he said gayly ''Wen, I'm not adamant exactly, Joe," said Huldah slowly. ''I'm not a fossil, and it's hard to have an uncle who cares as much for horse as he does for you, and to hear nothing but horse talk from morning till night, and to get so lonesome sometimes you just don't know what to dol "Oh, Joe," Huldah murmured meek ly, q ought not to say it! I don't know what's the matter with me- T. D.
 And Joe Broadway heard a stifed sob, saw swishing skirt and found himself alone on the front steps,
 "Huldahl" he cried, and gave chase.
 Through the hall he ran, and into the sitting room and the kitchen, and then out into the back yard and around the house, sending two dozing cats wildly fleeing, and going through Hull dah's petunia bed
 Hang itl" he cried, coming to baf- fled stop, with reddened face and disheveled hair.
 His good looking countenance show ed a little wrath, considerable distress, and some indecision.
 'sI believe I'll tell her this minute" :" he muttered. ''What'n she say about Topsy then2 Little simpleton-dear little simpletonl"
 But after moments reflection he walked toward the barn, where Hull
 
 with Topsy.
 Huldah had fled up stairs to her bed room. There she sat, with her face hidden in a fold of her dress and her tears soaking the starch out of it. Oh, dear! oh, dear! What was she crying about9 Everything2
 It was her Uncle Robert, for one thing. He was kind of course. But if he were not quite so wrapped up in that new trotter, if he ever would talk to her about anything else-about her own poor little affairs, for instance and stay in the house sometimes in stead of the barn! What did he want of Topsy, anyhow2 Huldah wished he had never seen her.
 For since Joe had taken a partner ship in hardware store in Wakely it was doubly lonesome for her here in | Cheever.
 An! she had not been quite fair in letting Joe think her tears were all for her Uncle Robert.
 Since Joe had gone to Wakely Wakely was such lively place, with possessions of which Cheever had never dreamed-an opera house and park with a fine band pavilion And pretty girls-Wakely was noted for its pretty girls!
 | What was the matter with her2 Was he not her own true lover2 Had he not devoted many half day to com ing home to see her2 Wasn't he home for that purpose now7 And still Huldah sobbed on.
 She was tired and nervous, she re- flected, dismally. Doing all the house work and canning strawberries at the same time had been too much for her, she supposed; and she had not felt well lately besides.
 And she gathered up fresh corner of her gown and cried harder
 She did not know how long she stay ed there, but when she went down stairs at last there was nobody in sight or hearing.
 She had expected to find that Joe had gone, but where was her Uncle Robert2
 The table showed a masculine litter of cold greens and lemon pie. Oh and here was a note pinned to the table cloth:
 Am going to Wakely. Be back early. | Wakely-what for2 Oh, yes! Hull dah divined in an instant. There was man in Wakely giving an exhibition of horse training. Joe had told her and of course Joe had gone back witt him.
 Was he angry with her2 Huldah won dered. And was her Uncle Robert dis pleased because she had neglected hi supper2 If they were she deserved it She was poor, lachrymose, disagree able thing-she, Huldah Spencer, who had had a reputation for brightness and prettinessl
 She went and sat down on the bacl porch. She did not want any supper How could she eat with that lump il her throata She sat looking out int, the pleasant June evening desolately
 But spark of interest came into he eyes suddenly. The square hole in tn, side of the barn which marked the DO ation of Topsy's stall, and from whicl her trim little head was usually pokinl ftse6-it was empty.
 Waiting fer . time iu the expectation