Connecticut western news., 1896-09-10

The widow and her daughter ex> changed bitter smile on these occa- sions as they continued their walk. They went into the park to enjoy the sunshine of a fine autumn which gilded the marble statues and the turning leaves of the great horse chestnuts. They sat down and, listening to the mil itary band, seemed to see a gleam of their lost happiness. It seemed to them as if nothing had changed and as if they might hear behind them at any moment the colonel's voice saying: Good after noon, ladies. Today the One Hundred and Twenty fourth is giving the con- cert. Its music does not equal ours !"
 But the shouts of children playing on the grass near by were the only sound they heard. The mother, with a sigh, tried to read the paper through glasses dimmed by tears, while the daughter cast longing glance toward her former admirers, who scarcely knew her now. She was nearly 90, but her face, refined by sorrow, was more beautiful than ever. She was like flower refreshed and purified by a storm. She had lost all that had made her SO capricious and disquieting. Grave and sweet, she seemed to be doing penance for her past.
 One day she saw new face among the officers who promenaded past, smok ing, chatting and laughing. In a mo- ment she was transported to the gen. erals ballroom and she saw again her timid lover motionless in corner, de- vouring her with his eyes
 ,c tha He saw her, too, for he grew pale and with kepi in hand came up to her. The widow hastily folded her paper and, pointing to vacant chair, said with a kindly smile:
 "Ah, is that you, lieutenant? What a long time since we have met We are truly glad to see you. But pardon me; called you lieutenant, but l see you have third stripe on your sleeve.
 Then, blushing, he related how at the end of six months campaign he had been promoted to a captaincy after the affair of Nam-Dimh. After that he had been shut up in Tuyen- Quan with his commander. This terrible siege lasted five weeks and they had to constantly beat back the furious Chinese, whose living waves dashed against the walls of the ruined fortress. He had been wounded the last day in supreme ef fort; then from afar above the clamor of the yellow hordes he had heard the bugler of the French sounding deliv- erance. Oh, the joy of that momentl He saw the enemy flee, the tricolor ap- pear; then he sank down without regret
 His condition appeared so serious that he was sent back decorated with the cross. During the voyage he had rapidly recovered, and on his arrival he found that he had been recommended for pro- motion to the rank of major. The ladies listened in silence. The mother, with her knowledge of the profession, knew that he was ten years in advance of his former comrades The daughter looked closely at the young officer and found him scarcely recognizable; his pallor gave him decidedly distinguished air. Was it possible they had ever disdained this brave soldier who, paying for his honors with his blood, had returned to an assured future? .r...
 He, too, looked critically at the girl Gould the serious, reflective woman be- fore him be the frivolous, capricious girl he had once known? She was thousand times more attractive to him in her new guise. She was all he had ever dreamed of and he was filled with a wild delight. Their eyes met, and his were filled with such adoration that the girls lids dropped in embarrassment When evening came, the women arose, and the officer accompanied them to their home. They met regularly in the park on the days that followed. The mother read the papers and the young people talked. AS autumn advanced and the yellow leaves covered the walks it was too chilly to sit, so they promenaded up and down the deserted park, happy in each others company.
 December passed in an intimacy daily growing more tender. Still at times the captain seemed to be nervous and wor- ried. One day, losing his usual self con- trol, he pressed the girls arm which was passed through his, and the expres- sion of his eyes made her believe that he was about to declare his love. He was silent, however, and fell into a gloomy meditation.
 His agitation increased as the new year approached. He made freGu snt trips to Paris and neglected the ladies. l They feared they had been deceived as | to his intentions, and could not account | for his behavior.
 At o'clock on the evening of Dec. | 31 the widow sat reading the papers | which contained list of the promotions I in the army. Suddenly she exclaimed: ''Here is his name. He has been pro- motedr'
 At the same moment hurried foot steps were heard in the hall The door | vas thrown open and the one so long expected entered the room. He smiled, | flushed with pleasure. He paused before | the two women. The widow said, ex- tending her hand:
 My dear boyl So this was what wor- ried you so.
 | He replied with loving pride:
 "Mademoiselle, have future now to offer you I love you. Will you be my wife?" --..-
 She grew pale at the remembrance of her first refusal; then, thinking of all this brave boy had done to deserve hap | piness, she went close to him, laid her head on his shoulder, and with her lips pressed against the reugh galloon so
 valiantly earned she wept for joy
 From the French For Short Stories | Half a Loaf.
 Overseer of Chain Gang (to Pious Pete,
 who has been resting)-Come, no loaflng
 there. You haven't done any work for ten
 minutes