Litchfield enquirer., 1858-09-16

attended the village church, and beneath my | black veil saw Leander Holme and the woman that occupied the place that should have been mine. She was looking pale and i'll. It was sad she was unhappy, and that her husband | treated her, though always courteously, with great coldness. l felt a miserable, choking feeling, half delight half bitterness, at the | thought that he did not love her, but baf1ed l even my step-mothers curiosity by my impene- l Inability. l am sure she did not learn wheth- CT took any interest," in the dwellers at Holme Place.
 More years passed still had offers, tho TO longer young At last determined to ac. cept one.
 Arthur Meriden was a man worthy of my esteem-worthy of my love, only that I had no love to give. He was satisfied when told him all, and promised to become his wife, But as soon as I had promised, the old wretched, waiting feeling came back. It seen,- ed as vaguely expected something to inter- pose and prevent the consummation of that unholy engagement. And as the day ap- preached, l grew more and more wretched, till finally on a sudden impulse, I determined to go down to ny fathers to look once more upon the old familiar scenes, the village church and the Holme Place, before should have prom ised away my freedom, miserable as it made me, thinking of my past love. l went, and the first sound that greeted ne as entered the village, was the tolling of the bell, and the carriage drew up beside the road as long funeral procession passed. In the first carriage sat Leander Home, very pale, but calm It was his wife-she whom I had always thought as occupying my place-that they were conveying to the tomb.
 l remained at my fathers for many days, not that l hoped or wished to see Leander Holme, but because I literally lacked the strength and energy for my homeward journey. My sole thought was that now Leander is free. If he still loved me he might at some future time seek me, but was about to place barrier between us, and to become the wife of one whom l knew more than ever, could not love. At last, as the day came that I was to start on my return, felt that had gone too far too retract, and must fulfil the promise l had voluntarily made to an honorable man. l little knew the freedom that I would almost have given life itself to secure, was already mine.
 had scarcely reached my home when messenger arrived to beg me- in the name of Arthur Meriden, to go at once to his house. He had been thrown from his horse that after noon and fatally injured. He was still living | and sensible, and most anxious to see me once more. God only knows how I reproached my self for the first intense feeling of gladness that flooded my soul as I heard these terrible things.
 l stood beside him to the last, determined as penance for my unfeeling joy to spare myself not one of his painful though short suferings. In few hours, on the very morn ing that was to have dawned on our wedding, he breathed his last. His death set me free. Yes, l was free, but my freedom did not bring me any hope. Leander had gone to Europe immediately on the death of his wife, Holme Place was closed, and it was said the farm was getting in Q ruinous condition as years passed on and it's master did not return. He held no correspondence with any one at home, except in the briefest business letters So, more years passed away. l busted my self in the education of my sister and intro- duced her into society as she grew up beau- tiful and brilliant giry while l ceased to feel sensible to the title of old maid,' and took my place placidly among the elders, and brush ed my still luxuriant hair, now thickly streak | cd with gray, beneath tasteful cap had become almost satisfied with my lot, and had ceased to think very frequently of Leander Holme, when was startled out of my usual placidity by hearing that he had re- turned to his home. The letter that brought these tidings stated further that he was ma king many alterations and improvements in the old place, and that it was conjectured that he was again about to bring bride hther
 That old man ? exclaimed my pretty sis ter. as she read this item Sister Katha- rIne, can you conceive of man marrying at his agep
 smiled, and reminded the blooming little beauty that the man she called old could not be more than forty-fve, although it seemed great age to her. I sighed little as l glan- ced at the mirror, and saw my faded features as reflected from it's surface.
 Soon after, my sister married. I gave her to the man she had chosen, we'll pleased, for I felt that he was worthy of my treasure But it was with lonely saddened heart, that after the wedding breakfast was over and the new
 y welded pair and all the guests departed, went to shut myself into my own room.
 l wept little, for I was growing old and was all alone, and the future seemed very dark and dreary to me as I thought what might have been, had been loyal to my hearts al- legiance.
 My maid knocked at my door A gentle man was in the parlor and wished to see me.
 Did he send his card or name p
 No, madam; he said he was an old friend, and would detain you but few minutes
 Go back and say that l can see no one to- day, except on business-tell him that my sis ter has just left me-that am not well.' \ The girl went back, and I listened as lay, for the clang of the street door. But, instead, it was, with feeling of vexation that I heard footsteps returning. She came in, and, per haps seeing my impatience of ofinterruption, laid a card in my hand and retired without speaking.
 LEANDER HoLME.
 The letters swan before my eyes, and 1 fror, lnl [