Litchfield enquirer., 1841-12-02

| the worst at once. Oh,, that we had been half aR hour SooneF.'
 A few minutes now brought us to the hamlet, beautifully and pastorally situated by the side of rapid stream, whose mur- muring harmonized sweesly with the still ness and serenity Of the hour. A few min Utes more, and we were at the door of the auberge.
 1 Excuse me, Monsieur said Henri, pressing my arm with hand that trembled with em~liun-'w whe knows what may have happened have strange fancy [" look in at the window. Ha !-there sits Justine herself, her dark hair braided with flowers, she cannO,,' he paused for breath, she cannot be bride yet that wreath looks like bridal coronel! No, no, it is not so, she weeps, oh that might kiss away those tears and besides, there is no man in the cottage; after all "nly the good old woman hangs over her. Monsieur had better pro- ccea.'
 We entered the cottage, where our arri- val seemed ,0 work an immediate change. If Justine had been weeping, her tea,s were fled. Henri was welcomed with cn- ,husiasm as an old and valued friend and both mother and daughter were instantly active and solicitous in the service of a stranger and traveller. Justine in particu- lar, in spite of her holiday array, bestHred herself .o spread forth a supper, from which however; she fled with precipitation on the hinted fears of Henri as to her. smarriage ; and even thought l perceived a convul- sve shudder run thro' her frame.
 Do not say that again. cried the old woman, pressing his hand, it cuts my poor Justine to the heart.'
 Plague on my tongue !'s exclaimed Ileuri, would not wound her feelings for the world.'
 'Iknow it, my dear boy, and therefore will tell you all and why should mind | Monsieul-we who are innocent of wrong have nothing to conccal-the truth then is, ,ha, Arnaud-you remember Arnaud Henri!'
 'Ay, ay,' returned the soldier, inpatient ly, for no good though! /!
 1 'Well, it was about last fall that he be- gan to notice Justine, and from that he grew more particular .ill at last-'
 Mother, say not that Justine loves him, l"r he, he never loved any but himself and although he be wealthy--'
 'Alack wealthy he is not. for his vine. yards were all blig hted,' said the old wo- man but Justine looked not for wealth.
 And if she looked for worth she found it not, said Henri, indignantly.
 '. is but too true,' replied the dame, Justine read not in his beaming eyes q mean and selfish heart! She listened and believed, and-,his should have been her wedding. day hush, hush, Henri, let hc' not hear you! Justinei my love. you will find the freshest grapes at the bottom of the garden. But mems vows, continued the old woman, 'are like wind; Arnaud was welded this morning to richer girl yet oh for worth, there is none like my poor child!
 The villain 2 exclaimed Henri, invol- untarily, assuming a menacing gesture. | Alas! :! cried the mother, on whom the action was not lost, the One who sees al punishes and rewards and oh that he had looked on my darling this day, never com plaining even by look, but with her own sweet hands decking the hair of the bride, av, and this very evening dancing on the green when her heart was like 10 break But oh, when it was all ended and they were gone to their home that cottage Monsieur, by the stream; you may see il now by the light of the moon, with the aIders trembling round it, then, then he' heart sunk But the sight of an old friend, turning to Henri, and even the pleasure of preparing our humble supper for stranger may do much. .and heaven will give the rest.
 The old woman's tears fell fast as she spoke, but Henri, overpowered by the sud- denness and variety of his emotions, was scarcely sad, though silent. At length Justine returned, SO pale and yet serene that but for what had heard, I should have imputed her sweet gravity to nat. ural sedateness alone. But for Henri, the board was spread in vain. He started up
 You will not leave tonight said the widow.
 'Ihave not yet seen my parents Fare well, mother, farewell, dear Justine.'
 She turned not away from his offered salute; she even pressed his hand but il was d sislerly pressure only, in which nc warmer feeling had place. l saw by his countehahce that he was aware of this, and that it added wings to the speed with which he left the cottage.
 My repas, ended. 1 retired 10 small but exduisiieiv neat chamber on the ground floor of the cottage, the window of which looked towards the river. But sleep, like false friend. fled at my greatest need! My mind, excited by the unncrited misfor- tune of one whom had seen but to admire, held me as though spell-bOund to the lattice.