Connecticut western news., 1899-02-23
BY A BRACELET.

HUH HIS hdBcis upoh lho sahii anu hia head was bowed despondently. The girl seated on the upturned boat clasped her hands behind her neck and swung back, watching him furtively.
 "I'm sorry spoke as did just now, Kitty" he said, with a plsintive ges- ture of conoiliation. "You re only jokin, ain't you? l guess I ain't half good enough for you, but you ain't goin to throw me overheard, are you? The pic tur' was grand, and no mistake, an you looked just like yourself. It ain't the pictur'; it's-it's"-
 He broke of short and glanced at the little circle of gold that spanned the girls white wrist. With quick move- ment she drew down the sleeve of her pink blouse, covering it from sight.
 You've good cause for it, Jem," she said. Perhaps you didn t mean all you said, an I hope you didn't, lad, for twas no way to speak O your betters Did I ever promise to marry you, or any one else? Can't 1 take present from any one without bein spoke to as if I'd committed murder or robbery or sum- mat worse? Well?"
 "I guess you can do what you like, Kitty" he said sadly, "an nobody least of all me-has no right to say a word. .E.a.. "That's good. Maybe for the futur' you'll know your place. Good night. !"
 He watched the little figure in pink hurrying over the sands till it dwindled and disappeared among the shadows of the gabled street, and then drew out a boat to row across the bay. By and by there was a shout, and he glanced over his shoulder and alphabetically backed the oars
 Cant you look where you're going, you dolt? Do you want to run me down?" -..
 "I guess I'll set you swimmin if you're not civil. he said, squaring his shoulders. "Mebbe you think we've no blood in our veins because we live rough, an don't dress fine an ain't able to earn much money. I guess if you an me quarrel you'll be the sorriest; so stand clear Good nightp' The young man in the tweed suit stood up, needless of the heavy pollock tugging at his line, and started after the retreating boat
 "The impudent houndp p' he blurted out. Then, as he cleverly played the fish and drew it in till 1t lay gasping under the thwart, he laughed softly. Another of the girls admirers, l sup pose, he said. -..... -.
 In the morning Jem and Ted Trew- lowe came down the village street to- gether. Jem carried coil of rope and a pointed iron bar-the stock in trade of his hazardous profession, that of egg hunter. ..H
 The boat was headed for the gray white column across the bay, the Witches pillar. They scrambled up the rift in the cliff and reached the breezy uplands. The iron bar was driven deep into the soil, and five minutes later the figure of a man swung high over the sea, terrifying the birds and looming black against the lighter background of the cliff.
 Little Trewlowe sat steadying the swaying rope, his heels firmly wedged in the holes he had cut to keep them from slipping and his black cutty grip ped tight between his clinched teeth. There was frightened look in his eyes, for Jem had seemed so queer and so lit tie like himself.
 Suddenly the rope slackened and then grew taut again with fierce jerk that started the bar full inch and scared his hands Then it swayed limp ly against the cliff edge, and faint cry from below sent his heart into his throat He peered over the brink with almost sightless eyes and called again. The rope streaked down, slackened and limp. He fancied he saw dim blur of bub- bles scarring the smooth surface of the distant water, and his head reeled.
 With trembling fingers he knotted the rope firmly to the bar and, throw. ing off his coat, swung himself over the brink.
 The sun climbed the sky and slid down lazily behind the Witches pillar, decking the sky with gold, and the big eye of the faroff lighthouse started dazzling through the gloom. The boats came in one by one.
 Long after the light in the west had melted into hazy gray Kitty sat and unused in the cottage porch. When the shadows drew in, the lighthouse unolos- ed it's ponderous eye and glared at her for a moment like some huge beast as it oircled round, cleaving the darkness.
 "I think I'll just run down an see Mrs. Trewlowe, dad, '" she said shakily, looking through the open door.
 Jem's little cottage, with its screen of tall fuohsias. stood silent and desert ed. The frenzied beat of her knuckles op the door echoed back to her mock ingly through the two tiny rooms. A panting woman, with dingy shawl thrown over her head, met her half way down. Some instinct, intangible and nndefined, seemed to tell each what she wished, yet dreaded to learn, for no words were spoken, no questions asked. Their hands met in unspoken sympathy, and hand in hand they descended the hill.
 They paused on the bluff, straining their eyes in the hopes of seeing dark speck crawl out under the shadow of the cliffs. A boat was moving outward to- ward the deeps where the oonger lay, and the girls heart grew bitter against its occupant, and the tiny band of gold upon her wrist seemed to sooroh her flesh.
 When they stood below the oreaking sign of the Merry Mariners, the woman hung back and looked at her piteously.
 "I'll go in," said Kitty, touching the woman on the arm.
 There was sudden hush as the white faced girl tottered in and gave hurried glance around
 "Is-is he here?" she gasped. "I-I mean"-
 An old hag, seated in the far corner of the room, barred her toothless gums and uttered @ cracked laugh.
 l. Lzs. r