The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-04

ding, a crowd which almost filled written vaguely about the romantic history of the pair, and most definite ly about the trousseau and the pres ents.
 There was a hush of intense ex- citement as the bride came up the aisle on Sir Reginald's arm, then there was a gasp of admiration, of amazement: the first evoked by the loveliness of the bride, the second by the Giant Ruby which gleamed fierce ly on her bosom amidst the pearls and diamonds. It was Ronald's wish that she should wear it. and, though she had a faint horror of the price, less gem with it's gruesome history, a horror which never quite disap- peared, she obeyed. She has never worn it since; but it lies in tfre safe in the Hall, and it is sometimes shown to the curious and to experts.
 Ronald and Cara were giving Smith. CTS and Nita holiday; but Smithers looked broken-hearted, and pleaded hard:
 For 'eving's sake, don't go with out me, sir!'' he had said with a piteous grin. 'I shan't know heasy our while you're away; for-beggin' your pardon. MT. Ronald!-I shall allus be a-thinkin' that you was get tin into one scrape or another, an That's like my imperance, sir, I'm aware; but-but-you are one for scrapes; now, ain't you, sir ?''
 "Fraid I am, Smithers," admitted over new leaf now, you know"
 '.Well--so you say, sir,'' said Smith CTS doubtfully. Well. sir, put ftI down to my account. Sure as the sky's blue, shall be gettin' into some trouble or other if I'm left to myself me. an Nita. Why, I shouldn't bel surprised if we was to be foolish enough to go an get married!"
 .'No, no,'' said Ronald. You wait till we come back. I'm going to dance at your wedding, Smithers!"
 Are you really, sir.'' said Smithers. with a twinkle in his eye. ''Wen, that settles it, as the hen said when l she broke all the eggs she'd besn1 a-sattin' on for three weeks. We SI,o n bax,a fo e,at ,,,o rr;od civ ,o;doS | Nita wouldn't leave the mistress; why, I'd throw her over if she did. l Speakin' seriously, MT. Ronald, we've both of us made up what we calls our trouble-I mean-don't mind me, sir! it's my way of talkin'. Why, bless your heart, Mir. Ronald, you'd miss me, as the haystack said to the gen. tion-miss me shockin'!''
 I'm afraid I should,' said Rom aid. with a smile. Anyway, you've | evidently made up your mand, and
 Smithers grinned and saiuted
 Thank you, sir," he said. .sNita | is a-tryin' it on with the mistress at | this present moment. An, sir. no | wonder you look so 'appy! You let | us come with you, sir; and-there | ain't anything I wouldn't do for you, sir!' His eyes twinkled, shining like stars on frosty night. "An' I'll change Nita's Hitalian name-which l nobody could pronounce without dam | agin' his jaw-into Mrs Smivvers | - Ronald smiled, for Smithers liked his glass of beer. 'tNo, sir, nor | from iquor-though enough's as good | as a feast, as the man said when he 1 fell into the wine vat-but from matermony. It's one of those things you want to put off till after your funeral; but there aint nothing I | wouldn't do to oblige you an the l young mistress
 We're both sensible of your good- | ness,' said Ronald.
 Thank you, sir. Tryin' hordea,, ain't it, MT. Ronald? Though ] l must say you come through it with fyin' colours. But you ain't afflict- ed wi shyness, like me. sir"
 Say that again, and slowly Smith 1 ers," requested Ronald with a grin. l '.I don't think I could have caught l your meaning"
 ''It runs right through my family, I Mir. Ronald" said Smithers, with the utmost gravity. I'm as shy and ner- vous as a young curate at a hevenin' party"
 Smithers and Nita were married a week after the return of Ronald and Cara; and both the latter danced at the wedding. Smithers is still in Ronald's service-as butler; and Mrs Smithers and their progeny-some ot whom are dark, and some fair, but all possess their fathers blue and twinkling eyes-live at the lodge.
 Vane, soon after his marriage with Evelyn, bought the Prynnes' estate; l so that the Vanes and the Desbor- oughs are close neighbors; and,