Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-15

laughing. An then she shall have the best harness in the market
 Hope did not seem to comprehend all the rustic metaphors that had been ap- piled to her. A look of puzzled amuse- ment came over her face, and then she ran away into the garden, her hair streaming from under her white sun bonnet.
 "Never see sech a beauty! Beats the world," said Uncle Eb in whisper, whereat both David and Elizabeth shook their heads.
 Lord O mercy! Don't let her know it," Elizabeth answered in low tone. She's beginning to have ..-. Just then Hope came by us leading her pet lilly that had been born within the month. Immediately Mrs. Brewer changed the subject.
 ITO have what?' David inquired as soon as the girl was out of hearing. Suspicious" said Elizabeth mourn fully. Spends a good deal of her time at the looking glass. I think the other girls tell her, and then that young Liv- ingstone has been turning her head"
 Turning her headv' he exclaimed.
 Turning her head" she answered. "He sat here the other day and deliber- ately told her that he had never seen such a complexion and such lovely hair.''
 Elizabeth Brewer mocked his accent with a show of cont empt that feebly echoed my own emotions.
 That's the way O city folks, moth er,' said David
 Its bad way" she answered. q do not think he ought to come here Hopes child yet, and we mustn't let her get notions" = 4...~>
 .'1,IT tell him not t come any more." said David as he and Uncle Eb rose to go to their work
 'I'm 'fraid she ought not to go away to school for year yet" said Eliza beth. a troubled look in her face.
 "Pshaw. mother! Ye can't keep her under yer wing allwus," said he.
 Well. David you know she is very young and uncommonly'- She hesitat- ed. -~. -" ' .-'....-> -ot''-.. :. a'- ;--, !
 "Han'some," said he We might as well own up if she is our child"
 "If she goes away" continued Eliza beth, "some of us ought t go with her"
 Then Uncle Eb and David went to their work in the fields and I to my own task. That very evening they be gan to talk of renting the farm and go. ing to town with the children.
 I had stent of cording wood that day and finished it before ? o'clock. Then 1 got my pole of mountain ash, made hook and line ready, dug some worms and went fishing. cared not so much for the fishing as for the soli- tude of the woods. l had bit of thinking to do. In the thick timber there was a place where Tinkle brook began to hurry and break into mur- murs on pebble bar as if its feet were tickled. A few more steps and 1t burst into peal of laughter that lasted half the year as 1t tumbled over narrow shelves of rock into fOamy pool. Many a day had sat fishing four hours at the little fall under birch tree among the brakes and moss. No ray of sunlight ever got to the dark water below me-the lair of many big fish that had yielded to the tempta- ton of my bait. Here lay in the cool shade while singular sort of heart sickness came over me. A wild par fridge was beating his gong in the near woods all the afternoon. The sound of the water seemed to break in the tree tops and fall back upon me. had lain there thinking an hour or more when l caught the jar of approaching foot steps. Looking up. I saw Jed Feary coming through the bushes, pole in hand.
 "Fishin'?" 2" he asked.
 'Only thinking" I answered.
 Couldn't be in better business" said he as he sat down beside me.
 More than once he had been my ia finer confessor. and I was glad he had come.
 Tn love?'' he asked. "No boy ever thinks unless he's in love-"
 Tn trouble" said I.
 Same thing" he answered. lighting his pipe. Love is trouble with bit of sugar in it-the sweetest trouble man :an have. Whats the matter?'
 Its a great secret" said: "I have never told 1t. am in love"
 'Knew it." he said. putting at his pipe and smiling in kindly way. ..'Now let's put in the trouble -+5 -.
 ''She does not love me" answered.
 Glad of it," he remarked. I've got a secret f tell you
 Whats that?" inquired.
 Wouldn't tell anybody else for the world. my boy" he said: tits between you an me-
 Between you an me-" repeated.
 Well" he said. you're fool.-
 That's no secret.' answered. much embarrassed
 "Yes. it is.'' he insisted: you're smart enough an ye can have most