Litchfield enquirer., 1860-01-26

worn out. I must have slept many hours. It was dusk when the opening of the hall door and my husbands step in the passage reused me. heard him enter every room in the house before he came into the study this, and my not detecting the sound of the turning of key, staggered me in my belief that had been locked in; but would not think that had been voluntary prisoner all this while.
 My husband could not see me when he entered. He peered about, then hastened to the open window. Good Godl She has jumped outp he cried.
 "I am here, Kenelm" I said rising.
 "You have been here all the time have been away?"
 "I believe fell asleep"
 "Tea is waiting in the parlor--will you make it?"
 followed him. noticed upon how hag- gard face the lamp shone but his manner was cold repressed tenderness. He broke a painful silence by saying:
 "Mary! have made arrangements for your going home tomorrow"
 An angry refusal to go rose to my lips. I repressed it. and said nothing.
 "Your eldest sister passes through Lon don on her way home from Kent tomorrow. I shall take you to the station to meet her. I have written to her and to your father. Your health requires change of air"
 "It is we'll you should let me know on what plea you send me away"
 "The scene of this afternoon taught me that we can not live together, feeling as we now do toward each other. will not risk again feeling toward my wife as did when you laughed but now. In your absence, l will earnestly strive to- discover where l have been wrong in my conduct as bus band"
 Ibardly needed his words /; my foot was beating the floor restlessly. l answered:
 You will be sorry my day will come you will repent this harshness."
 "Am I harsh, Minnie? then shall indeed repent strive to be calm and just, only to act for your good"
 "Oh, you are very calm you will be hap py without me, quite But you are most unjust ]"
 "I repeat again, Mary, that I suspect yon of no wrong. Your want O. confidence has irritated me. When I am alone hope to see clearly how lost your confidence, and how can regain 1t. I g9p were reasona- hle, you would own tta1 best for us to part for 8 little whi'
 "I am very reas6asa t is best v nsgered and ngt 2es shone glee alIy, for had .jumpl5 %e dismal weeks, nd was thinking of our Joy!n. meeting lie eft me abruptly. &e
 My heart was ready to break, when next lay was whirled away from my husbaa@Hd vho stood on the platform gazing after us. Regardless of all lookers-on, l gave way to great burst of weeping, hiding my face eh $ ny sisters shoulder
 My time at home was chiefly spent ill wan c lering about the garden, orchard, and fields, s ecalling past courting-days, and dreaming $ ,ver my coming triumph. (
 They were all very kind to me, betting ( ne as they had been used to do but liked o be much alone to think uninterruptedly of . Kenelm. Several times he came to spend { III hour or two with us; he rejoiced at my improved looks, but neither of us said any hing of my return.
 My friend had written to me in most fer 7eut praise of my book. She was working It it diligently--was to write preface for t, and had made favorable arrangements for ts publication.
 Time slipped away rapidly. My husbands visits were the ouly events of my life, which passed in dull dreamincss. suppose nature vas averaging herself for the excitement in which had lived for so long.
 At last my book was ready, and l receiv- d, through my friend, what considered very large sum, as part payment for the work.
 My family had reason to think me sud lenly demented. Home, home, home l ,ried I insisted on departing the very nor hing on which 1 received my friends letter. suly promising to give them an explanation of my strange conduct before long.
 Completely reused from my torpidity now, my longing for Kenelm and home was in- tense. I would travel alone, too had planned meeting of which could endure no witness.
 Leaving my luggage at the station, walked homeward across wellknown fields But the nearer approached, the more my failed me. It was bright early afternoon; but there seemed to me some thing eerie inthe wind that swept the sun- steeped fields. If Kenelm should be i'll {!
 paused at the garden gate ; the parlor blind was down saw no sign of life about the house. I paused longer yet before l could bring myself t0 open the house door.
 My heart stood still when knocked at the door of my husbands study /; then it beat again so violently that lost the sound of his listless come in." waited. A sloW' heavy step crossed the room-tbe door open ed-my husband stood before me.
 Minnie my darling Come back 10 me of Der own accord ]" He opened ms arms wide. I did not spring to him. had lost all buoyancy of spirit now-ali ex. pectation of rapture. Triumph, indeed In what In the sorrow-strlcken, weighed down aspect of my husband
 "Yes, Kenelm, am come back" an- swered soberly. I stood before him feeling very guilty and ashamed. You must hear all now,"I continued. "It was for this" I put bundle of bank-notes into his hand |
 "My child, I do not understand" He turned them over with perplexed air.
 Tearfully and hurriedly l told him all;
 When I paused, and in my dreaming had planned that I should be clasped in his arms, and hear his exclamations of delight and gratitude, he did not seem quite to under T x1 >k~@ and