Litchfield enquirer., 1860-01-19

enough to go-I hated to go without him
but be sent me because he thought that
was beginning to pine in too quiet life.
felt very ungrateful toward the friend who
carried me off.
1t was a classical" concerto instrumen
tai music; loved such music. Yet by-and
by l found that was not listening to it.
was writing--nay, rather contemplating
book! 1t did not suggest itself to me bill
by bit, but l seemed to grasp it all-plot
purpose, incidental once. [ literally hug
gcd myself under cover of my little white
cloak, and said, "This will do"
Exquisite! is it not?" my companion ex.
claimed, thinking I had spoken to her in
praise of the music. Her glance dwelt won
deringly on my excited face.
Now l was only anxious to get home |
dreaded that l might forget. Fortunately,
my friend was sleepy during the drive-the
rapid motion continued the excitement the
music had produced When we stopped at
the gate, and the lady woke up to say :" food
Night" [ astonished her by the fervor of nv
Thank yon! you do not know what you
have done for me-"
Are you such on enthusiastic" she asked.
" Had known it, I would have sent you
tickets before. will remember you in fu-
goodnight"
let myself into the house. I had made
Kenem promise not to sit up, and had Or
dered Ann to 60 to bed. How glad l was
Of this.
The lamp and the fire burned in the parlor,
and the little supper-tray stood ready.
l had made no noise; l stole up to my
room, found Kenelm asleep, looking very wan
and worn; l bent down and kissed him
lightly, and then ran away.
In the parlor I sat down to write, and l
wrote-hour after hour When the lamp
went out, l looked up in consternation--t
was growing light
Very carefully I gathered together my
precious sheets; put them within book
"a cookery book l remember), and hid that
at the bottom of my workable I crept to
bed cold, tired aid happy, but did not fall
asleep till daylight.
When | awoke Ke1elm stood by my bed
side with my breakfast upon tray "Is it
late p asked starting up
Nearly eleven, love. Did you enjoy the
concert, Minnie?"
4" The concert-oh yes.'' Then as I re-
called everything, I felt as if he must find
out my secret by looking at ME, and l turn
ed away yawning.
"Not quite awake yet, sleepy one," he
commented.
How was to manage to write in the day
time was the problem that occupied me while
dressed
When l was ready, I went to Kenelm in
bis study. Must you write to-day? l asked
Yes, | must. Let US dine at four-I
will write till then. After dinner we will
have walk. Do not feel anxious, Iove-I
am stronger"
"Can do anything for you this morning?"
Nothing, DEAR"
He had resumed his pen, and I went
away. We had an unfinished room in our
house. l was soon locked into that l
spread my paper Oh box, a box that had
gone with us on our wedding journey, and
crouched upon the floor to write | left off
just in time to prepare for dinner-to smooth
my hair, dip my hot brow in water, and
wash the ink stains off my fingers.
wanted you to stitch up my manu-
script, Minnie" Kenelm said "but as
didn't find you in the house, contrived to
do it myself. l suppose you have been work
ing in the garden-too hard, I think; you
look flushed"
My face is rather hot Now, where
shall We walk this EVENING"" l asked, and
began to talk hurriedly of primroses, violets
blebells, and the probability of our finding
them in the fields around.
That was an exquisite evening. As we
wandered about the lanes and meadows
keuelm sometimes leaned on HE, I some
times on him; and l said to myself, $50 it
should be in life; why should my husband
work always, and l sit idle all my days?"
That was very well; but, alas! as l work
ed lost sight Of my good motive in the alb
sorbing interest Of my work-forgot all my
little cares for kenelm while struggled to
achieve grand good for him.
My husband came hcme healthily tired
That night he slept souudIy, and l could not
sleep; so | rose-I could not resist the i'm
pulse to continue my work; again it was the
daylight that warned me to bed
kenelm told me at breakfast that he must
go into town, and should not get home till
evening. He had not incurred this fatigue
since his illness, and was not fit for it. l
did not think Of this then; did not offer to
go for him, or beg to go with him; thought
joyfuy of the long day before me. He left
home at ten, to return at seven. =
l told Ann to say that l was engaged if
any ope should call, and l locked myself into
the empty chamber. / uttered cry of ioy
as began to work. had such deli ght in it.
l lett OFT to pretend to dine, but had no
appetite, and soon recommended.
Toward the end of the afternoon I found
1 could go on no longer. My temples burn
ed, and yet felt as if numbed by excessive
cold, and my head began to ache intensely.
kenelm wus late; it was getting dusky
when he came, and I Stunned what little
light there was He was tired, and after
tea lay upon the couch; sat beside him on
low seat, and rested my aching head on
his breast.
By-and-by Ann came in with the lamp,
and then Kenelm asked me to read to him.
I rose with some difficulty, l felt so weary
and weak. Unwittingiy I turned my face
full to the light as opened the new book
he had brought home, and his eyes were
upon me as they generally were, as / had
| formerly. loved to have them
Minnie!" he northumberland then start
ed up and came to me. He took my hands