Connecticut western news., 1891-05-27

IuOSC peOplc tilc SAUIdOIuludIlly pO- hte," thought the young man after their departure, as he sat in his room smoking 8 cigar. II really think they have taken quite fancy to me. My good looks, think it must be, for haven't a single recommendation besides on earth. We'll, if I find the girl has money I may i'm prove my advantage and offer myself in natrimony. Money would be very ac- ceptable just at present"
 Had Mrs. Jenkins heard this soliloquy she would probably have come to the conclusion that there was something wrong about her calculations, but fort unately for our hero this was not the case.
 It will be readily imagined that Mrs. Jenkins exerted her culinary skill to the utmost in preparing for her llustrious guest. AS he saw the numerous dainties spread out before him he felt glow of joy pervade his frame, and determined on the spot to lay siege to the heart of Matilda.
 The reader will easily imagine that his advances were readily met by the young lady, who was quite enraptured by the conquest which she had achieved over the heart of an earl. Nor was her mo- ther less grati6ed. The good lady held her head higher than ever, and speedily anticipated the time when, as mother in-law of an earl, she would take pre- cedence of all who had hitherto ventured to look down upon her.
 ''You know, Matilda" she said, ''that when you are countess I shall of course be dowager countess or countess dowa- ger, really don't know which. wish I could find somewhere a book of the British peerage; then I could find out without any trouble" She thought of going to the bookseller and asking him to send for the book, but on second thought decided that it would be most prudent not to run any such risk of re- veahng her aspirations, even if she were obliged to remain in ignorance little while longer.
 One point, however, puzzled her little. Notwithstanding the very in- innate terms of the earl with her family he never ventured any allusion to his rank or his English estates or the amount of his income, which Mrs. Jenkins would have been very glad to learn.
 "But l suppose, Matilda," she re- marked to her daughter, "that he is de- termined to remain incog. so as to make sure that you marry him for himself alone. I have read of such cases in sto- ries, but l never expected to have any thing like it in my own family. Really I think it is quite romantic. On the whole I guess it would be best to say nothing about it until you are fairly married"
 Matilda acted upon her mothers pru- dent advice, and although her curiosity was as strong as her parents she care fully guarded against betraying it to the earl.
 At last one memorable day she burst into her mothers room with triumph ant glow on her face.
 "Has he proposed?" exclaimed Mrs. Jenkins in great agitation.
 ''Yes, mother" was the reply of the overjoyed Matilda. ''He told me that he loved me to distraction"
 "I congratulate you, countess that is to be-" said her mother. By the way, did he say anything about his rank?'
 "Not a word, mother"
 
 then that you don't give him hint that you know anything about it. How much we shall enjoy going to Englandr'
 "Wep repeated Matilda. "Surely you don't propose going across the Atlantic at your time of life?' "At my time of ife!" said Mrs. Jen- kins sharply. "Indeed I do. I don't mean that you shall have all the enjoy ment. But did the earl fix the day for the marriage?"
 "He left that to me-" 'Then fix 1t as soon as possible. You must not let him slip through your fin gers"
 That day three weeks the important ceremony took place in Mrs. Jenkins | cottage. Scarcely was it over than that worthy lady, no longer able to restrain herself, addressed her son-in-law: "I trust, my lord, that you will never regret this day."
 | My lord" repeated her son-in-law, exhibiting unequivocal surprise. Certainly you cannot expect to re- main incog any longer?' | "But I have no claim to the title, maam."
 | "No claimv' exclaimed the mother and daughter, turning pale. "Are you not an | earl?'
 | "That is only my Christian name"
 "And what is your employment?' asked Mrs. Jenkins on the point of faint ing.
 '1 am house painter, madam, but being little unwen was ordered by the doctor to spend couple of months in the country"
 We draw veil over the scene that en sued. The lofty fabric of pride whicl Mrs. Jenkins had built up fell to the ground, and her chance of being allied to the British nobility seems more re mote than ever.-Caroline F. Preston il Boston Globe.