Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-04
A M otkae r's
 Story
By rTrA ELLEN FELLNER

hills, then the bright glows faded away: the sun disappeared behind the mountain, and it was a soft, beautiful twilight.
 Two women come out of the farm house and sit down upon the porch in the twilight-mcther and daughter. The mother has an earnest. thoughtful look in her face, which is fair still al- though her hair is snowy white. The girl is beautiful truly, and her mother Is very fond and proud of her. The mother sits in large armchair and her daughter on the steps at her feet. As the mother tender1y strokes the abundant tresses upon her fair young daughters head she questions her very earnestly.
 ''So my little Iassie has had an offer of marriage, ahd cannot decide what her answer shall be? An! Do not blush, my dear, for have known all along how John loved you, though I have been worried for fear you did not ap- preciate his good heart and honest na-l ture. was afraid you would hesitate dear, before you gave him your answer, because he is only farmer lad; but John would be loyal and true to his wife; besides, he is thrifty, indus trious young man. 'ai
 1T will admit Johns not stylish, or what some would call refined, but it is Character, dear, one must look at, and all the neighborhood knows Johns good principles. We know all abUut that young man from the city, and am not denying but what he has been kind and polite to you; but John loves you, and g true, honest heart has John
 You don't like the idea of farming? Why, your fathers a farmer, child! Was 1t not only this morning that you were telling me how dearly you loved your father, and what good man he Was2 You think that fathers occupa- ton is different from husband's? My dear little girl, one must be wise in making choice for life. Fine feath- CTS do not make fine birds and though John is rather plain in his looks, he would always be proud of his wife. You say you are not sure that you love him, and that you may love that city young man?
 Well, dear, will have to tell you the story of my own love affair, story you l have never known I should not ten it l to yoiI now, but it may help you to de- l eide about Jah1t.
 1 ''As you know, was born down in the village, and was considered the vil- l lage belle. My father was a graduate from Williams college, although he was poor and a farmer, so had better ad- l vantages in way of education than most country girls, and was deemed quite accomplished. When was about your age. I. too, had a lover-he was something like your John. He was rough l in his ways Q farmer, and often his 1 hands were soi1et with honest work, which did not please my girlish fancy l then; but lived to learn that 1t waa 1 better to have soiled hands than a soile6 1 soul.
 ] But at IS felt as you do now, and knew that my lover was rather plaiE and old-fashioned in his ways One winter, just before we were to have been married, some city young men wis., 1 tied our village and gave concerts and shows in the schoolhouse. Much to our astonishment, they remained in the village all winter, and one of them | boarded at our house. My mother was dead then and father and lived to- gether The city young man seemed to admire me very much, and soon |
 was listening to his fiattering speeches Il and forgetting my betrothed lover My i new admirer was making love to me, I and vowing that he adored me he
 asked me to be his wife He told mo l was too beautiful to pass my days 1 in dreary farmhouse, and that the
 man that had promised to marry was 1 only an ignorant country farmer-and I I, foolish girl that was, listened to him and believed him
 I 'I began to bs ashamed of my lover l and of my engagement and to look with l great pride and admiration upon my new lovers soft, white hands and his l stylish and expensive clothes He was
 very handsome and apparently refined,
 and believing him wise and good, I loved him and promised to be his wife.
 He paid me marked attention before everyone. When my old lover heard of
 1t he came at once to my fathers house. \ Taking me by the hand, he said: My I girl, they are saying in the village that l you have grown tired of me, and that
 a man has come between us. I have
 come to give you your freedom. am glad you have a chance to marry fine
 gentleman, for I was fool to think I
 was worthy of you. hope you will be
 happy, but I shall not forget you. las
 sic; and wherever you may go to live,
 remember I shall always be your friend,
 for I love you with all my heart
 Il blushed before his honest eyes, but
 I could not deny the truth. was in T love with the city young man and want
 ed to marry him, so I thanked my old
 lover for his kindness and bade him
 good-by l shall never forget his look
 of pain and sorrow as he took my hand
 and said: 'Good-by,' and the real tears
 in his honest eyes troubled me for many
 8 day.
 Well, married my New York lover 5I and went to the city to live. At first