Connecticut western news., 1922-05-18

for me to tell you what is on my heart," said Abe. T love you, Ann. have loved you for years. I would have told you long ago but I could not make myself believe that I was good enough for you. love you so much that If you can only be happy with John McNamar I will pray to God that he may turn out to be a good and faithful man and come back and keep his promise"
 She looked up at him with a kind of awe in her face.
 "Oh, Abep she whispered. 'I had made up my mind that men were all bad but my father. was wrong. ! did not think of you"
 Men are mostly good" said Abe. But it's very easy to misunderstood them. Tn my view It's quite likely that John McNamar Is better than you | think him. want you to be fair to John. If you conclude that you can not be happy with him give me a chance. I would do my best to bring back the joy of the old days. Some times think that I am going to do something worth while. Sometimes I think that can see my way far ahead and 1t looks very pleasant, and you, | Ann, are always walking beside me 1 in 1t. Before we take another step I wish you could give me some hope to live on-just little straw Of hope" ..- | "You are a wonderful man, Abe" said Ann, touched by his appeal. My father says that you are going to be a great man." .t... {
 "I can not hold out any such hope to you" Abe answered. "Tm rather ignorant and badly in debt, but reckon that cal make a good living and give you a comfortable home. Don't you think, taking ne just as I am, you could care for me littleT "Yes; sometimes think that I could love you, Abe," she answered. "I do not love you yet, but I may some time, I really want to love you"
 "That is all I can ask now," said Abe as they went on! Do you hear 1 from Bim KelsoT
 'T have not heard from her since June" t . . ....
 'T wish you would write to her and tell her that I am thinking Of going down to St. Louis and that would like to go and see her" ..
 'Tn write to her tomorrow" said ] Ann.
 :. They had a pleasant visit and while Ann was playing with the baby she | seemed to have forgotten her troubles. i They stayed to supper, after which ! the whole family walked to the tavern with them. When Ann began to show weariness, Abe gently lifted her in : his arms and carried her.
 That evening Mrs. Peter Lukins ! called upon Abe at Sam Hll's store where he sat alone, before the fre. reading with two candles burning on the end of a dry goods box at his E elbow. 'T wanted to see you private bout LukinsI" she began. There's them that caH him Bony Lukins, but l reckon he ain't no bonier than the everidGe run O men-not a bit-an' If he was, don't reckon his bones orto be throwed at him every time he's spoke to that away" N.'
 What can I do about itT' Abe l asked.
 r "Pve been hopin' an wishin' some kind. of a decent handle could be put on to his name" said Mrs. Lukins, with her eye upon knot hole in the counter. Something with a good sound to it. You said that anything you could do for the New Salem folks you was goin' to do an I thought may be you could fix it."
 Abe smiled and asked: Do you want a titlef' >,.
 If it ain't plum owdacious wisht he could be made a colonel"
 t"Tn see what can be done, but if he gets that title he'll have to live up to It." '-.'
 "Il make him walk a chalk line you see," the good woman promised aE she left the store.
 That evening Abe wrote a playful commission as colonel for Peter Lu kins, which was signed in due time by all his friends and neighbors ant presented to Lukins by a committed of which Abe was chairman.
 Coleman Smoot-a man of some means who had a farm on the roaC to Springfeld-was in the village that evening. Abe showed him the com mission and asked him to sign 1t. / 'T'n sign on one condition," sait Shoot.
 "What Is that?" Abe asked. ''That you'll give me commission I want to be your friend" You are that now, aren't your Abe asked.
 "Yes, but haven't earned my com
 mission. You haven't given me :