Connecticut western news., 1896-01-30
CANAAN. CONN. THURSDAY.

my relatives, started down the roau to meet Melvina. I had arranged with her to walk to town, figuring on the walk back in the moonlight, when we could hold hands as we strolled along My uncle wanted us to go in the wagon with him and his family, but was too wise.
 "It was two miles to the Drake cabin and four miles to town. I was to meet Melvina at the turn in the road just be- low her fathers house. The sun was about two hours high and cast long shadows on the ground as trudged along to the trysting place.
 II remember I took out my barlow and cut stout stick from hedge along the roadside in anticipation of possi- ble brush with the lion. The air was heavy with the sweet smell of orchards, ripening grain and new mown hay, and was the happiest youth in Missouri. l made up my mind I was going to spend every cent I possessed on Melvina.
 "Directly I came to where she was. She had on a dress that couldn't have cost more than Q quarter, but she looked like queen in it, although, must con- fess, it fit her like it was cut out with a pair of skates. A wide brimmed hat sat jauntily on her brown curls and her face looked like a ripe peach to hungry man. noticed she had no shoes on, but that cut no ice with me, for she had as petty foot and ankle as anybody would want to look at.
 II had calculated on making hit with Melvina with my store clothes, and did. paralyzed her. She just stood and looked at me while wave aft CT wave of hot blushes chased up her white neck and congregated in her face. stood simpering like prize idiot. She began to cry and wouldn't tell me what was the matter with her, and I. wise in the ignorance of youth, didn't know that, like all women, she was proud and ashamed to be seen with me because of the splendor of my raiment. I jollied her along, told her how nice and sweet she looked, swore she would be the belle of,the circus and was generally so lavish in my praise of her that she consented finally to go with me if I'd let her go home and fix up bit. Still didn't know what was the matter, but let her go.
 "I lay down in the shade of a tree on the grass to wait for her. The sun climbed higher, and wagons loaded with country people rattled by on the way to the circus. I had just figured out that we would miss the parade and grand free exhibition outside the big tent if Melvina didn't hurry, when she hove in view. looked at her second and then jumped in the air so suddenly I jared myself If my raiment had par alyzed Melvina. she got even all right.
 "She had placed cheap ribbon around her neck and spoiled the beauty of 1t and had covered her pretty feet with a pair of shapeless, hard, heavy, cowhide shoes. Between the tops of her shoes and the bottom of her dress appeared occa- sional glimpses of pair of stockings of the variety known as barber pole They were striped red and yellow, and the stripes were wide. But she had some- thing else on that knocked me speech less.
 "Years and years had this crowning feature of Melvina's attire been in the Drake family. It was an heirloom, guess. and the only piece of finery the family possessed. Melvina, blushing and simpering, hardly knowing whether I would sufficiently admire it or not, was wearing it regulation fashion. It was an old fashioned huff, of some heavy black fur and as big as bass drum.
 "Perspiration broke C1t of every pore in my body. The idea of me, logged out in store clothes and looking like dude, going to a circus on the Fourth of July with girl carrying huff that must have warmed an icehouse was madden ing. But Melvina looked so thoroughly self satisfied that hadn't the heart to dress she wore when she first met me was more becoming by far than the big cowhide boots and tho huff. So made the best of 1t and let it go.
 "I am an old man now, but the nem- ory of the attention I created in that lit- tie country town that day is as vivid in my mind as is the fact that just paid for the last drink. The circus wasn't in 1t. A number of times I was tempted to run away, miles and miles, but Mel vina was having such good time that looked pleasant and stood it. She never | took her hands out of that huff all day, only to eat and drink, and several times she asked me to hold it for her while she fixed up her hair or tied her shoe oi 1 something.
 | "One time, while was holding the | huff, lost her for few minutes in the crowd, and I endured more agony until found her again than did when got shot through the leg ill the war. We walked home in the moonlight al right, but we didn't hold hands, partly because Melvina had her hands i'll the huff and partly because was so dod blamed mad at her that could have slapped her. They made it so hot fol
 me when I got home to my uncle's witf their remarks about Melvina s huff that 1 I started home the next day. don't
 know whatever became of Melvins
 Drake, but do know that l suffered
 one day, for heI sake, the keenest mar
 tyrdom. '--St. Louis Republic.