Connecticut western news., 1893-01-05
ON THE SNAGS.

A firm, quick step sounded behind her on the hard country road. and though she well knew whose step it was. and her heart throbbed and her breath came quicker, she only turned her head non- chalantly and said f1ippantly:
 "Ohi It is you?'
 "Yes, it is me. You knew it was me. Are you going to throw me over?" and the big fellows voice shock and his fair face flushed with pain.
 ''Throw you overl Gentlemen never use slang-to ladies'"
 You know what l mean. Jean, are you aware that you refused to dance every dance with me today?''
 "I really forget: my memory. you know"- .#
 "One moment, if you please. and then have done. Is it yes or no?'
 Hunt, don't be stupid. You know hate to be remarked on'
 And so do 1, and will not again be subjected to the remarks heard today. Once more, is it yes or noP'
 Well, no. then. if you press the point"
 Be it so." And. with grave bow. Hunt Ashly turned and was gone.
 Pretty Jean Inslow was stunned for moment. then swallowed gulp in her throat as pride battled to the front.
 .'Let him go. If a man is such fool that he can't see-pshawi nobody cares"
 And then, to prove that nobody did care, she sat down and cried until he" pretty eyes looked like stewed ferre.'s and her pretty little nose had the ap- pearance of an apoplectic lobster.
 There's one thing morally certain, she continued-"of, all things in the wide world there's nothing hate like men,"
 This last remark was made ont loud. and intended for the benefit of the trees and the wide eyed purple violets: but. alasl it reached the ears of a tall fellow. with blond hair. who stood J,,st on the other side of the blossoming hedge.
 He gave a slight whistle and com pressed his lips a little tirlner as he strode off under the low, dropping trees.
 
 Well, have done it now. I'm glad he heard me say hated him. Nobody cares. I'll go to the dance tonight with Phil, and firt too"
 And Jean, with her head very high in the air, tried to persuade herself that she really didn't care.
 Hunt Ashly went on down the road through the shaded village street and stopped at the gate of vine wreathed cottage. A black eyed. pleasant faced girl was tying up some of the vines on trellises.
 "Bess," he said, helping her twine up golden tipped jasmine, twill you go to the dance with me tonightY'
 "What2 Where's Jean?" "Quarreled.
 "Ahi see. I'm invited for cats paw. ehY'
 No. Iasked you because did not wish to go alone"
 Well. all right, I'll go. The fact is, I've quarreled with Phil, and-and I'd rather go with you than not"
 Jean and Bess were the two prettiest girls in the village, and the two best
  Jean and Phil appeared Bess and Hunt had just finished the first set.
 Each took in the situation at glance. Bess and Jean called each other hard names under their breath and hated each other in small minded, womanly way intensely. The men stood and eyed each other fercely and pulled their mustaches. and looked as if it would give them the most exquisite pleasure to annihilate each other.
 Phil" said Jean. "come out on the piazza with me"
 "The piazza? Oh, certainly But where are they goingr
 Following us. it seenls." Close as their own shadows Hunt and Bess stuck to them. and. though there were great many tender things uttered on both sides. there was certainly not very much scope for so called Irritation "Bess." presently called Jean. 'are you going boating tomorrow "Yes. perhaps"
 Miss Bess is going in my boat. Whose boat do you grace. Miss Jean? Con found that gibbering idiotD' "Oh, Phils, of course" leaning ten- derly toward him. t'.I hate Bess Miller! His boat, indeedro And the next morning the gayly l painted boats rocked over the heart of \ the pulsing river as the stalwart arms l of the oarsmen rowed against the gur- gling nipples: then, throwing down their oars. they lazily drifted back with the current.
 But the two boats Jean and Bess were in still shot up the stream. | Hunt. let us go back. We'll be on the snags presentlyr' And Bess' face was ashen pale. | "Call Phil back: he must be madp And Jean. in the other boat. was say ing:
 Phil, drive on the snags. You don't rare. and don't. Hunt knows the dan- ter. He'll stop in time." | It was dangerous place, where the ifted logs from the mountain torrents 1 4 '-"'"aded in the mud and reared their heads like gaunt. devouring alli- gators waiting for their prey. At high water the boats would have cleared them easily. but now they lurked a hidden death beneath the throbbing | water.
 Suddenly Hunt Ashly's boat shot ahead. daring the warning snags
 "Mad,nan, what do you mean? If life is so cheap. you're welcome to the death you covetl Jean. come into my boat command you." and Hunts voice had 2 IA T T l-~A A~-