The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-25

1 a-wOoing"
 %As you will, my lord" spreading 1 out her gown and courtesying. "But I
 will not be responsible for the conse-
 quences. So see to it that you play
 well your part, else I will send you to your king again"
 After that I addressed her only as
 most gracious lady, or flair Mistress
 El1en.' I wooed her in the strange and quaint language of a hundred l years ago. Sometimes she seemed startled at my earnestness, and when thinking my speech too fervent she would bid me go hence and add an other wallfower to my already large bouquet. I would straightway return and tell her of the court life and wove amid my imagery an odd mixture of my New England home. Once, taking her hand for a moment and looking l into her eyes, I said:
 'tAh, Ellen, I love you we'll, and I would take you to court in truth where you would find a royal welcome, and you would be a queen to every one who knew you, and I would so guard you that neither poverty nor sorrow should ever come near you or to those you love"
 'FI have naught to do with courts, my 1ord," she said with certain pathos, and knew she was thinking of her ] duty at the Pines. 'tSo go back to your king, and, whether he be ambition or gold, or both, forget the simple colo-' nial dame who more often plays the part of dairymaid. And now" she said, looking into my eyes and laugh ing, Ego and seek out every maid over twenty nine, and when you have led III come back to me-
 And I would do as bid and dance some old time waltz with some lonely maid and then return to Miss Ellen's side only to be sent away again to some one who she noticed was not dancing. Finally the supper hour was announced, and was made happy by Miss Ellen, who chose me as her part ner for the march. Just as we were forming into line some one cried, ''It is the hour for the wishing stone!'' and then one and all, save myself, for did not know what was meant by the wishing stone, joined in the clamor. Miss Ellen yielded at length, and, still holding my hand and bidding me give the other to the girl behind me, and so on down the line, we started out of the house through one of the deep, low cut windows. We circled the porch crossed the gardens and passed down the terrace. The moonlight Altering through the trees glimmezed brightly on the colored frocks as we sped down the cedar lane.
 At length we emerged on an open knoll in the center of which was an old stone sundial covered with ivy. We formed circle round it, and Miss Ell latino by its side and, calling one after an other by name. bade each lay his or her hand on the bare sureace of the stone where the ivy had been cut away and to make wish. One looking on might have thought we were a band of se- cret plotters taking the oath of allegi- ance on tomb. It was no testing mat ter, I could see, for each one in that gay party approached the stone in si- lence and reverence. The only sound that broke the stiffness was that of Miss Elen's voice as she called each name in turn. At last my name was called, a little more gently than the others, thought, and Miss Ellen, see ing me approach, held up her hand and motioned me to stop.
 And now, MT. Palmer" heard her saying, "as q stranger to the wishing stone it behooveS you to approach 1t reverently. There is no reason to tell the others this, for they know the legend and it's secret charms, but to you, who know it not and who come as q stranger to it, tempt not its anger by deridiug it, even in your thoughts, or its indifference by wishing for what is impossible. It was at this stone that my great-great atgrandfather wished for his bride, and in less than a fortnight they were wed. He enjoined his sons to seek this spot before wooing the wo- men of their choice, and it is strange fatality that all our family who have not done so have gone to their graves unloved old bachelors and the women who have derided it as old maids. Of later years it has become the custom for lovesick youths and maidens in the town and county to seek it out and test its charms, and many a happy home owes more than we may imagine to the legend which clings about this ivy col pred dial. The moment has arrived when you can test it's power too.'
 Already had become firm believer