Litchfield enquirer., 1860-03-08

breakfast, and where for many months life is but perpetual shiver. MT. Langford, anx- ious to experience all these joys came up to Winston in the middle of February to remain two days, bringing with him baggage suff- cient for three weeks, to which term, after much interchange of entreaty and expostula- tion, he was induced to extend his visit.
 The first time he met Miss Brandon, he tempted her with the suggestion of sleigh ride. Said he, A sleigh-ride in winter is seldom amiss," ahd was thereupon sharply criticised for admitting the possibility of such thing at any other season. However, Miss Brandon consented. She would ride with him the next afternoon.
 In the morning Mir. Henry Langford gravely inspected the family stable, but found nothing therein equal to his own idea of the magnitude of the occasion. At the public stable he was more successful. At first he contemplated the luxurious magnifcence of a span, but an irresistible impulse subsequent ly induced him to settle upon single courser. Zone horse may be driven with one hand ) It is difficult to imagine what impclled him to seek with such pertnacy as he did for the narrowest sleigh in the collection.
 At four o'clock P NJ. the light-Learted young pair dashed away, as full of good na- tured gIee as if the sleigh was full of them and they fitted very compactly. Miss Brandon, knowing the country more inti- mately than her companion, undertook to point their way, manner of proceeding quite agreeable, in view of the male creature's to- tai ignorance of localities They glided on, turning hither and thither, until ere long they left the clustering cottages of Win;ton quite distance behind. For while both chattered and laughed with vigor that put them into precious glow; but by-and-by MT. Henry stopped short, in all unaccourta- ble manner, and left Miss Lucy to the decla- nation, contenting himself with watching the sparkle of her eye, or the pretty curve of her lip, as she threw ont incessant little smurt sparkles of feminine wit Presently he observed with wonder faint suspicion of a flutter trembling through him, and attribu- ted it to their rapid motion, recollecting smi- lar sensations in earlier youth, caused by swinging.
 He must have expressed something odd in his countenance, for, of a sudden, Miss Lucy cut short her fun, and subsided into dim ob- Iivious tranquility. Just one minute after it flashed upon Mir. Harry Laugford that be had for the last six months been steadily and unuterruptcdly occupied in making nruff of himself; that the notion of excellent friendship" so far as he and Lucy Brandon were concerned, was utterly absurd and de- grading to think upon it: that the truth was that he loved her dearly and that he ought to have known it long ago and should if he had ever before been alone with her as he now found himself Having settled all this to his own satisfaction he took courage and a bold step.
 Miss Lucy," (rather shakily) Care you comfortable"
 Oh, perfectly"
 Not cold?"
 Now what he wanted was that she should say she was cold, aud he considered himself a little ill-used because she did not. But he would not be bereft of his idea; so gather ing reins in one hand, he carefully disembar- rassed the otLer, and, sweeping his arm around the back of the sleigh, caused the va grant member to encircle the big bundle of buffalo bapdages which confined the gentle form beside him. Not Q word of remon- strance, but a silence dangerously omnous, if he had known it. Incohcrently mumbling a repetition of the inquiry concerning com fort, etc, he permitted the arm to venture upon faint suggestion of squeeze. This time the little face, now sadly flushtd came round square upon him, and disconcerted him horribly. But with desperate impu- deDce, he remarked quite carelessy, and look ing earnestly at a point in the road at the distance of half q mile ahead.
 Please shut your eyes minute"
 Down went the lids
 The calm was over First came torrent of reproaches, very limited as to duration, but of crushing weight; then an intrusive little tear, which had better have stayed away; then dead silence. Mir. Henry Langford was sorcly afflicted. If she did not want me to kiss her," thought he, then why did she shut her eycs!" As he could make nothing of it, he endeavored to affect a quiet paci6cation, but all encouraging re- sponse was withheld. Hardly a word was vouchsated him, and the few he got were by no means of character to fill him with rap ture. In the midst of his anxious argument, there came cry from the side of the road.
 Harry pulled up, and saw melancholy looking woman, not we'll clad, not strongly framed, standing, with child in her arms, by the sleigh. She asked how far it was to Einville. t @ @ @ 1s@f
 How far to Linville, Miss Brandou?" in quired Harry, in blissful ignorance.
 Four miles, (rather pettishly
 The woman of melancholy mien further more desired to know the direction. Was it straight on? ........ ...-. ....-.. ......
 els it straight on, Miss Brandon?"
 "Yes"-(very spitefully.)
 The lugubrious female murmured thank, and the sleigh moved off. In about min ute MT. Langford clutched the reins savage ly, and uttered an exclamation which would have satisfied any listener of his innocence of theological tendency. re.
 Miss Lucy emitted a high D, head regis ter staccato.
 ! think am brute," quietly remarked Mir Henry Langford, S@ re sss'.a
 Miss Brandon now assumes an air of resig' nation, as if expecting an apologetic explana' tion of the recent rudeness. She was disap- pointed and when the sleigh began to turn about became perplexed. K !" The woman is going to Linville, wherey- CT that is," continued Harry "Of course she is. She mustn't walk four miles through the snow, this weather. And loaded down with a hip haby. too" t..,..... IF 5Esy5Ssa3