Connecticut western news., 1892-09-22
A GENUINE HERO.


 slung at the most comfortable of angles. With these conditions it was scarcely strange that Halcyon Hartford swayed delightfully."- between dreamland and the real world that June afternoon, with the fleecy gold of her hair, all guiltless of pin or comb, and the bell sleeves, fall ing enchantingly away from her round white arms, while one trim slippered foot hung from the edge of the ham, mock. ~ .E.....
 "Halcyonl Halcyon! Where are your It was one of those exasperating voices which, once having been sweet, had now vibrant jar to its tones, painfully akin to shrillness.
 Halcyon drowned a little and raised herself on one elbow.
 "Oh, Aunt Hal, don't scream sol l was just in dream of delight"
 "Well, you should have answered then''
 Aunt Hal came out of the wide NRdy hall with an effusive swing of her map cries and seated herself in bamboo chair close to the hammock
 She was comically like her niece-at least as much as woman of thirty eight could be like maid of eighteen. There was the same yellow luxuriance of hair, but harsher, drier and suggest i've of dye; the same pink and white complexion, artifcially heightened; sim- liar features, cruelty sharpened by the memorable hand of time, and teeth just one degree too white and regular to be real.
 The white dress she wore was painful ly trying, and she was compelled to use gold trimmed eye glasses as she held up letter to the view of her niece.
 What has happenedY' drowsily de manded the latter, lifting a pair of blue eyes, fringed with dark lashes.
 "The strangest thingr'
 Another offer of marriageY' hazarded Halcyon, settling on the unlikeliest thing which could, in her opinion, hap pen.
 "How did you guess?" with little ex- ultant cackle. Exactly. The dear, foolish lad-and he so much younger than Il Why, he couldn't have been twenty-one when he went to Bombay. and was at least thirty them
 "Thirty-6ve, Aunt Hal ,ssaid Hal cyon, the merciless.
 "Was it as much as that? We'll, he seemed desperately in love then, though of course 1 never took any notice of the child. But l suppose in that country of blackamoors one can't help thinking about all the women one has ever known at home, and he has written me two or three letters'-
 "Has hep
 Halcyon sat straight up in the ham. mock now. Her blue eyes glowed The heat had brought flush to her cheek which all Aunt Halls carmine saucers could not rival.
 ''But Inever told you," said the elder beauty, "because I remembered thai there was a sort of boy and girl affair between you and Charlie Blessen wher you were at boarding school, and thought you would be nettled. And here's the proposal at last, dear--witf his photograph inclosed.
 ''Let me see it.
 What a brave, good face it was slightly older and sterner than she hae looked upon when the Avancanian sailed away three years ago, but yet so strong and manly!
 She laughed hysterically.
 Shall you accept him?'
 Aunt Hal nibbled coquettishly at tn, edge of the envelope; the new false teetl gleamed in a smile.
 I-think-I-shallr'
 And you fourteen years older thar he is!''
 People don't think about such thing as they used todo," reasoned Miss Hart ford, the elder. "Eros is immortal, yol know" .e .....
 Halcyon sank back into the hammocl and reopened her book.
 "You must do as you please, O course," said she. "After that quota tion about Eros, have not suggestion to offer" --.
 Jealous, poor darlingr' thought Aun Hal, with a thrill of pity. And sh said:
 "Well, of course one can't help thos things happening to one, and your tim will come soon, dear, never fear"
 'It's good thing" she added to her self, "she does not know anything abou dear old Judge Flostroy. There's diff ference in age, if you please, and tn old pet is so infatuated about me! Al old mans darling or a young man slave-which?" While Halcyon thought on her side: "The silly goose! He has done it now He has been making love to Aunt Hal thinking he was counting me. Oh, thought he knew her name was tn same as mine. Didn't she stand god mother to me at St. Chrysoline's an give me coral and bells and an en broidered christening robe? And no, | he has actually proposed to her! Vel | if he is the man 1 take him to be, hel stand by his colors, cost him what it may | A man who could walk up to the car non's mouth at Bey-Idonna surely won shrink, even from Aunt Hal. And r rather know that he was a true hero tf than have poltroon for my husbandP'
 And Halcyon turned her face towar the pillow and cried great sparklin tears like dewdrops.
 | "So you're back again. heutepan Beg pardon; I'd orter said colonel, d suppose" said the old cab driver at Ii: station, whom Charlie Blesson had re membered ever since he was child "Well, declare shouldn't hardly hay knowed vel And come home to be maj ried, eh?'
 Blesson bit his lips, but he laughe | legged individual, like the court jester l of old.
 "How did you know, Hopper
 "Oh, I dunno. Miss Hartford, she been gettin ready to be married tn ionx tlznA." said JouaA. hoistias th