The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1903-12-18
THE HOME CIRCLE.
IN THE SUGAR BUSH.
FROM THE NEW HAVEN SATURDAY
CHRONICLE.

It had been understood by the Dix
on and the Taylor families, and by
most of the people for miles around,
for that matter, that Tom Dixon and
Bessie Taylor had become engaged as
they were riding home together from
the country fair in October. The ex-
act date and exact circumstances OF
such things are always OF vital inter
est in an agricultural community.
1t was match that pleased both
families, as Tom was a fine young
farmer and Bessie smart girl of -,
who could have had the pick Of half a
dozen.
The marriage was not to take place
| for year, and the course OF true love
ran smoothly until December. Then
Bessie suddenly exercised the preroga-
tive Of her Sex.
Tom was too sure Of her, and he
must be made to understand that his
bird was not yet Gagged. He had never
been told that no girl surrendered her
liberty without last Irritation, and
he was totally unprepared for the
| blow that fell.
There was to be spelling bee at
the red schoolhouse. He and Bessie
would 60, of course. AS both of them
were accounted among the best spell
ers in the community, it was proba BILE
that they might be asked to choose
sides.
1t was unfortunate for Tom that he
forgot to say that he would drive up
to TaylOrS at a certain hour for Bes-
sic. He meant to, and had no doubt
that she would be ready, but the mat
ter slipped his mind, and when the
his cutter at the door, only to be told
that Bessie had been gone half an
| hour.
| More than that, she had gone with
a windmill man who was canvassing
the neighborhood, and stopping at
her fathers house.
Tom Dixon was stunned. Here was
coquetry, deceit, treachery. 1t didn't
occur to him that Bessie felt piqued
over his neglect and wanted to
''get even' in the only way open to
her: Neither could he know that she
| had told the windmill man that her
old beau would probably escort her
| home.
| He gaSped-he muttered-he SWOre.
Then he got into his cutter and put
the whip to his horse and sent the an
imal over the two miles of smooth
DAD on a dead run.
r His first idea was to kill that wind
mill ma n on sight, his second was to
kill the pair of deceivers, his third
was to blow his own brains out and die
the death of martyr. Then he hap
| pened to get fourth idea, and he
adopted it and stuck to it.
He entered the school house with
his jaw set and the firm resolve to
make certain person repent in sack
cloth and ashes. Bessie Taylor was
there, but he saw her not. The wind
mill man was there, but he was too in
significant for a second glance.
The homelieSt girl for six miles
around was there, having hired her
mother to bring her, and Tom walked
straight up to her, and began to laugh
and giggle and flatter.
Worse was soon to come. 1t hap
pened that he was chosen to lead one
side, while Bessie was not. Everyone
looked to see him call her name as first
on his side, but he overlooked her en-
tirely. 1t was the homeliest girl who
was called although it was known she
would go down and out on the first
three-syllabled word.
When only heand Bessie remained
on their feet the climax of his mean
ness came. When they got among the
hard words, he stood and glared across
at her as if he had never seen her be-
fore, and, in her confusion, she blum
dered and left him victor
Next day it was known far and wide
that Tom Dixon and Bessie Taylor
were 'Out," and, though several par
ties volunteered their services as