Connecticut western news., 1895-09-19
PARALYZED.

Il h lDA u u LlIDs
 My emotions-meaning by that those feelings of the heart which tend to make man see all women as the only perfec- tion of creation, and some one woman as the aggregated perfection of all wom- en-my emotions, as was about to say when I interrupted myself, are utterly paralyzed and have been since the 14th day of last September at 15 minutes aft CT II o'clock a. m., eastern time.
 At that hour and for several hours previously was in the act of spending my summer vacation at 8 delightfully."- quiet and retired resort on the Atlantic coast, where also, among @ number of other fortunates, were Miss Ruth Allen, Miss Myrtle Morton-such sweet name that, used to think land Jack Foster, the bane of my existence and the para lyzer of my emotions.
 Foster was dashing fellow, while l was merely dashed fellow, and because of that possibly was less fortunate in my heart affairs than he was. In any ! the poet has it, I believe, but some day, sooner or later, the nervy Foster came that way and chose her for his mate, the result of which invariably was that lost her.
 Several times during the summer I had, for these depredations of his, been tempted to drown him, for was fine sailor and he wasn't, though he often went out with me, because, as he said, he felt safe in my hands, and he had a large life insurance policy in addition. Then he would laugh at his time tried and fire tested insurance joke, and all the girls would laugh also.
 Bahl The idiots, to laugh at an old chestnut like that A cocoanut was equally as funny and much larger. However, as time moved on Jack gave me chance, and, left to my own de- vices, it was not a great while before l was paying undivided attention to Miss Allen and Miss Morton These two were my choice, and one, felt sure, would be chosen, but as yet I had not deter | mined which one. The time for decision came at last, though, for my month was nearly up, and on that sweet September morn had an engagement to go walking with Miss Allen. I felt that morning that she was l the one woman of all women for me, and I asked her to go with me, so that I might have an opportunity to ask her a fer more important question. I am sure that she knew my purpose, for l | had more than once almost told her what ! was in my heart.
 "Miss Ruth, said as we strolled ! along the shore returning to the hotel, "may ask you a question?''
 Certainly, MT. Bryting,' she re- piled as sweetly as girl could reply or bird could sing.
 "It is not an every day question, !" said as slight preparation to her, "but one of great importance to me. "It ism t a conundrum, is it?" she ask ed nervously: "For hate conundrums. D l "Yes, it is," I answered. "At least it is about something don't want tc give up" .-.5s | There wasn't anything funny in that, but laughed at it and she joined in it, l giving me to that extent an addition to my courage. .....
 "Well, you don't have to give it up, ' she said. "You surely can answer youl own conundrum.
 "Not this one, fear.''
 Goodness; it must be a hard one Don't ask me. I'm sure can't answer it"
 "Yes, you can, insisted "Yor mow," and I became serious, "yor know, Miss Ruth that for some time past have been thinking of you grea deal, more indeed than I should have done, for there was so much uncertainty in it all have been thinking of thi very moment, and of you, and of wha should say to you and how should say it, to win the answer l, desired abov, all things earthly" .. 1 "Well, but what is your conundrum?' p Miss Allen asked.
 "Simply this, Will you be my wife?' said, dropping on one knee in the sand
 "Goodness can answer that easil,, enough. No. I cannot marry you.
 The unhesitating way in which sh spoke made me almost hopeless, yet persisted .
 But you could learn, i" I pleaded ther in the sand--fool that was to thinl that woman could learn to marry mani Whoever heard of such thing?
 "No," she said, "I could not lear for-for-for"-
 Don't finish the sentence," sai bitterly as rose from my devotional at titude. Don't finish it, pray. noy you will say that you love another, an that utterly precludes your taking les sons under my instructions. Of course, I went on, ,brutally enough, I'm sure "it would have been utterly impossibl for you to have prevented me from mas ing the fool of myself have, and I al sclve you from any connivance in tn matter. May ask as an epilogue to th1 :. comedy that you will tell me who th happy man is that I may congratulat him?''
 Her eyes blazed, and her cheeks ret , dened, and how pretty she was as sh looked at me as an angry queen migf look upon an offending subject
 'Mr. Bryting," she said scornfull, 'sI had hoped to spare you pain and ha thought to say goodby to you after tn pleasant holiday by the sea as frient