Litchfield enquirer., 1843-07-13

tive noblencss and magnanimity of charac- ter. with warm and impulsive feelings, and a capability of every thing high or great, she had hitherto lived solely for her own d. musement, and looked on the whole brill iant circle by which she was surrounded, with all the various actors, as something got up for her special diversion. The idea or influencing any one for better or worse. 7 any thing she ever said or did, had ncvr" occurred to her. The crowd of admirers o the other sex, who, as matter of course, were always about her, she regarded as sc many sources of diversion but the idea of feeling any sympathy with them as human beings, or of making use of her power over them for their improvement, was one that had never entered her head.
 Edward Ashton was an old bachelor cous- in of Florence's, having earned the title ot oddi:y, in general society, availed himself of it to exercise turn for telling the truth to the various young ladies of his acqunntance' especially to his fair cousin Florence. We remark by the by, that these prIVlLegco truth-tellers are quite necessary Of lite 10 young ladies, in the full tide of society; anu we really think it would be worth while for every dozen of them to unite to keepa per son of this kind on a salary, for the benefit of the whole however, that is nothing to our present purpose we must return to our fair heroine, whom we left, at the close of the last conversation, standing in deep rev. erie, by the window.
 Il's more than half true,' she said to her. self more than half. Here I am, twenty years old, and never have thought of any thing, never have done any thing, except to amuse myself; no purpose-no obJect- nothing high; nothing Notwithstanding worth living for!-only parlor ornament ollT Y J, bolinvn oonlH Hn something with this Elliott: and yet how dread to try
 Now my good readers, if you are antlcl- pating a love story, we must hasten to put in disclaimer; you are quite mistaken in the case. Our fair brilliant heroine was, at the time of speaking, as heart-whole as the dI- amond on her bosom, which reflected the light into too many sparkling rays ever to ab- sorb it. She had too, half in earnest, half in jest, maintained abanterng platonic sort ot friendship with George Elliott; she had danced, ridden, sung, and sketched with him; but so had she with twenty other young men, and as to coming to any thing tender with such quick, brilliant, restless creature, Ell tot would as soon have undertaken to sen. t;mentalize over a glass of soda water. Mo- there was decidedly no love in the case.
 sWhat curious ring that is!' said Elliott to her day or two after, as they were read ing together.
 Its knights ring said she playfully, as she drew it off, and pointed to coral cross set in the gold-a ring of the red cross knights. Come now Eve a great mind tc bind you to knights service with it,
 Do, lady fair '! said Elliott, stretching ou his hand for the ring.
 Know then,' said she, if you take this pledge, that you must obey whatever com
 l. 1o,, 5fc
 T swear! said Elliott in mock heroic, an' placed the ring on his finger.
 An evening or two after, Elliott attended Florence to aparty of Mrs; B--s EV erything was gay and brilliant, and ther was no lack either of wit or aoire. Elliot was standing in little acove, spread wit Tsy w af 1Ag sna S4s snS Myery n% 0"e w' nobody saw the sudden start and flush ,ha these words produced, as Elliott looked earn estly in the lady's face. She smiled an pointed, playfully, to the ring; but after all there was in her face an expression of agi:a ton and interest which she could not repress and Elliott felt, however playful the manner that she was in earnest-and as she glide, away in the crowd, he stood with his arm folded, and his eyes fixed on the spot where she disappeared.
 50 u Poss'oie tIlat am SuSpected--tha things are said of me, as if were in danger were the first thoughts that flashed throngl his mind. How strange that a man may ap pear doomed. given up, and lost to the eyt ot every locker on. before he begins to srs pect himself! This was the first time tha any defined apprehension of loss of charac ter had occurred to Elliott, and he was star tied as if from dream.
 what the deuce is tho matter with you Fl liott you look as solemn as a hcarse 2 said young man near by.
 Has Miss Elmore cut you 2 said another
 HCome man have glass; said third.
 Let him alone-he's bewitched, said a fourth saw the spell laid upon him. None ot us know but our turn will come next.'
 An hour later that evening, Florence was talking with her usual spirit to group whc were collected around her, when suddenly looking up, she saw Elliott, standing in an abstracted manner, at one of tho windows that looked out into :he balcony.
 He is offended dare say, she thought : but why should care? For once in my life l have tried to do the fairthing, a good thing : I have risked giving offence for less than this' many time. Still Florence could not put feel tremulous when few moments after, Elliott approach her, offered his arm for a promenade. They walked up and down inc room,he talked volubly, and he answering yes and no, any thing else, at cross purposes, till at length, as if by accident. he drew her into the balcony which overhung the garden n- The moon was shining brightly, and every thing without, in its placid quietness, con- trasted strangely with the busy, hurrying scene within. Miss Elmore,' said Elliott. abruptly, smay ask if you had any design in a remark you