Connecticut western news., 1895-06-20

the other side of it. The gossips said that Miss Banks was caught at last.
 Hendrick looked on for some time in silence. Then he gave his one sign. With his eyes calmly fixed on sada's he said:
 "You are only playing with Fred, but he is in earnest" And Sada's heart grew heavy and hopeless. West was no longer encouraged. Stung by the change i'll her manner, he loved her more wildly than ever.
 One evening Sada slipped quietly into the music hall. It was apart from the hotel and oottages-a place Hendrick frequented of late when the rest of the company were busy with their own amusements elsewhere. He loved to seat himself at the piano and let his fingers wander over the keys as they would in the gathering darkness. II must hear him play when he fancies he is all alone. Perhaps I may find out some- thing he is hiding from me, she whis- pered as she stole into the room and con- cealed herself in dark corner.
 Soon Hendrick came in. .Ah, how he playedl And as Sada listened and lis tened her soul thrilled in response to the music. The small cares of life fell from her shoulders. Every lofty ambition she had ever cherished came back and pos sessed her. She was filled with 8 beau tiful new joy. She longed to go to Hen- drick, to put her arms around his neck, to say 1T know! know"
 Some one came into the hall, and Sada shrank farther back into her dark corner. The intruder was Frederic Vest s"Old fellow, want to ask you some- thing" West said to his friend. "You know how I love Sada Banks. Why has she changed so suddenly? What makes her hold me at such distance now?"
 At the sound of his voice Sada was stirred with deep shame for what she had done. It had been so cruelty un- necessary, so unworthy of her better self Then she listened, with every nerve on edge. What would Hendrick say? Was this to be the hour of her tri- umph? Would Hendrick frankly explain that he was hers, and she was his? Fred" Hendrick answered gently, forgive me for what I am about to tell you. I cannot say the same things to any. other man, but you will understand me- Sada Banks has led you on. think ing to avenge herself upon me. She would do anything to make me suffer. She loves me. She will wreck her whole life one day because she loves mep
 A fierce anger took the place of shame in Sada's heart Oh, what, would she not give if she could strike down this man who had laid bare the weakness of her soul to another. As West left the hall she went quickly to Hendriok.
 1T heard all that you told that man about me, she said in voice so frigid that she shivere1 as she spoke. "It may be just as we'll for your self love to tell you now that you are in error; that do not care for you in the least. never did. have only amused myself playing at friends with you, just as have amused myself making your friend love mel Why" and she forced a laugh, with only mookery of merriment in it, "1 have been for years the promised wife of my cousin, good man. a man of honor. The day for our wedding is already fixed"
 Perhaps it was her laugh that be- | trayed her, or perhaps it was the better | view of her face which the first beams | of the rising moon gave him at that mo- ment, but Hendrick knew that she had l lied.
 The next day she stood before him to say farewell. He looked intently into her face as though reading it. She car ried his look with her until she died.
 "What did he mean to say to me?" she sobbed as the train hurried her away from him. What did he mean?" she asked herself again when, two days later, she stood beside Tom and called heaven to witness that she would love, honor and obey him till death should part them one from another.
 Foolish, happy Tom! She said to him the moment they met, If you will marry me tomorrow, you may" and he I had taken her at her word.
 "What did he mean?' she asked her self again and again as the years went by. She is asking it yet. One day, when she is born into that other life, where souls know as they are known, she may cease to ask it, but not till then.
 Meanwhile she is not unhappy. Good, faithful Tom walks beside her and smooths her way. Tiny arms twine themselves about her neck. Prosperity attends her. It is only the ever present question that keeps her just little short of satisfaction. Kate Fields Washing.