Connecticut western news., 1908-09-10
Vben f6e
 Deacon WiHed.

''The thing must stop at once. Elias" |" he said. She is not the girl for you to marry even if you were ready for the serious step of matrimony. I de- l sire you to So over to the Widow Jor- don's this evening and emphaticaliy announce that there can be nothing further between you and her daugh- ter"
 The son respectfully but stubbornly refused to do any such thing. There firm. and the result was that Elias left the paternal roof and took up his residence with an uncle. Of course he called at the Widow Jordon's with the news. Miss Nellie felt hurt and hu- initiated and shed tears, but her moth- CT had no tears to shed. She tossed her head like war horse, and there was an edge 10 her voice as she sail to the young man:
 "Elias, a Jordon is as good as Grafton any day in the year and may be little better. If you want it all off with Nellie, just say the word and don't beat about the bush. She isn't dying to marry you or any one else''
 But l am dying to marry her. and we will call on the minister tonight if you say so." was the answer.
 NO; we'll wait awhile. I've seen men like your father before. and have seen them come down off their high horse"
 Two nights later Elias "sat up" with Nellie until near midnight Nellie's mother ''sat up" in the darkness of her room and made notes. One of the notes was to the effect that a human figure closely resembling Deacon Graf tons was sneaking about the yard and trying to peer into a side window She was a woman who didn't have to be hit with potato masher to take a hint. Next day she drove over to Ely ria, and after buying a bear trap at a Hardwood store she took it to black smith and had him blunt the sharp teeth with a hammer. She also learned from him how to set it. When she reached home the trap was placed in the barn.
 Word was sent to Elias not to come to the house. for three nights. but light was left burning in the sitting room each night until midnight. From her aerie in the second story the wid- ow waited and watched. and that same human form appeared for half an hour each night Then she was ready for if Eban EIios caua oO fhn y-.i,-~.. ,f love the trap was set and secretly placed beside the rosebush. It wasn't rose without a thorn. On the contra ry, 1t had many thorns. and in crowd ing into 1t to get at the side window some one had left many bits of gray cloth. There was also a larger and sharper thorn waiting to mature.
 The hour was II o'clock, and Miss Nellie. had just answered that she guessed Thanksgiving day was as good day as any other to get married on when a long drawn yell was heard under the window outside. At the ! same moment the mother came down stairs with a lighted lantern in hand and said:l ..
 "Keep your seats. children. It's only cat, and I'm going outside to talk with him. He's yelling as if he was in pain, but he won't be hurt much.''
 Deacon Grafton had stepped into the widows bear trap as he sought to get his ear to window Had the teeth not been blunted they would have gone to the bone of his leg. As 1t was. he was held fast, and the pinching YVES anything but pleasant. The widow found him lying on the grass and try ing to loosen the trap. and she placed the lantern where the light fell full on his face and sat down beside him and said:
 Deacon Grafton. since when did you turn burglar?'
 "What does this mean. womanT' he demanded in reply as he held up leg. "It means. sir. that that bear trap was set to protect that window and that you have been caught. We'll see what the law will have to say about | It."
 But you know Pm no burglar. You know I was simply looking around to see if Elias was here" | 'I know nothing or the Kind. You can tell that story in court and see how many will believe 1t. It is my duty, deacon"-
 Look here. widder." interrupted the deacon, mo one will believe that I meant to get into your house. but l don't care to be made fun of. If you'll help me off with this peslzy trap and gay nothing I'll send you n barrel If | four"
 What. First try to break into my house and then try to bribe me? It won't do. deacon. Elias is in the house. rs you know. Do you want to speak | to himY'
 with this bear trap on my legs? Never.''
 Do you want to send him in word to come back home and that you've changed your mind about the Jordon family?"
 "No. don't!" was the sulky reply
 "Then I'll have to run over to Con stable Brown's house and tell him I have a robber for him. Some folks