Litchfield enquirer., 1862-03-27

,sefs8sssa asag sssHgs sds 3a ' f35itia es9ss ~ s z LITCHFII lplanted such Howen as would grow in the arit sol of the garden, and were as. sentimental il tneir correspondence with other young ladies q though their home had been an earthly paradise
 At any rare intervals they had guests, wht paid long visits, and almost every day call iron one or the other of the neighboring spinsters.- But individuals of the opposite sex were rare ir that locality, and for weeks together the only hat and boots seen on the premises were those of Master George Marvel, promising youth o sixteen summers. And SO it came to pass ir the course of time, that Miss Amelia Marvel, the eldest daughter of the family, attained an age which, if she had notbeen SO exceedingly pretty would have bestowed upon her, the title of ar old maid, and might have crossed the boundary line of spinsterhood, had not Cupid, in compas s0n led to their very threshold an artist, bent on lsketchiDg the beauties of the surrounding seen lery, who, like the hero of an old-fashioned novel sprained his ankle within sight of their windows was invited in and hospitably entertained, and or recovery fell desperately in love with the black | eyes and profuse ringlets of Miss Amelia How
 
 ted billet from Miss Rosamoud, the youngest oi the band, informed me of the fact of their en gagement, and ended with these words r" Come dearest, and make us happy by being present on the eventful day which is destined to see Amelia l united to her hearts idol" 1accepted the invitation and started at once for Daisy Dingfe. When arrived found Miss Amelia in proper state of bashful confusion and heard from the lips of the sisters and their mother unqualified praises of their future brother and son-in-law. He was talented, handsome, good, and, above all, modest This later qualifi- cation was particularly dwelt upon by Mrs. Mar vel. It was, she said, such rare quality in the young man of the present generation. ,
 The subject of their eulogiums was not in the house. He was expected on the following day. and on the day after that nuptials were to be celebrated at the church, and the young couple were to start at once upon bridal tour.
 After receiving this information I was taken on journey of inspection, and admired the we'd ding dress, and the various other articles of at tire which had been prepared for the momentous occasion. As stood beside table on which delicate veil and wreath were displayed, Mrs. Marvel, rubbing her fat hands together gave vent to the following solloquy: .s .f.. ,..
 "I think I shall put Orlando in the haunted room tonight" "
 Orlando was the gentleman who was soon to make Miss Marvel Mrs. Jenkins, and on utte- rance of the foregoing resolution, Miss Amelia gave a little scream.
 } Mot in the haunted room, ma v' she ejacula- ted. "On such night of all others you surely will not let him sleep there." ..
 Stuff and nonsense P replied the old laly.- I'm sorry to see you under the influence of such g silly superstition. Do you know, Miss Alice, no one has ever slept in that room since we liv- ed here, although it is the pleasantest in the house. just because some gossipping neighbor told us that no one ever came from that door unharmed after passing night within it's walls. I'll prove the contrary. Orlando shall sleep there, you silly creature" ,ss.
 ." But they do say such strange things. ma.' pleaded the bride elect. "l am sure l shall die with fright if anything should happen to Orlall- do'
 But Mrs Marvel was resolute. and did not even yield to Miss Amelia's whispered advice tu "let Alice sleep there instead" Orlando Jen- kins was to prove the popular superstition fal- lacy by sleeping in the haunted room
 About dusk the next evening the gentleman in question arrived with aportmanteau. He wal very good-looking. and not very young, and the most bashfu individual of mature years that had ever met with He colored to the roots of hair when he was introduced to me, and imlned- ately retreated 60 .corner where he conversed with his lady love in whispers for the remainder of the evening. .. I, Miss Rosamond, as we walked together on the balcony. "So extremely modest, so very deli cate. One evening last week the old doctor call ed while he was here, and accidentally mention ed that Mrs. Gibbs had sprained her ankle ( A bad thing at her age,' said the doctor If it had been little worse, she might have lost the use of her leg As he uttered the last word Mr. Jenkins placed his handkerchief before his eyes and left the room. And in pictures, for ne is an artist, you know, he never introduces any of those disgaceful little Cupids, with nothing on but wings. All his figures are respectfully dressed. He is such avery modest man: Miss Alice" .,......
 murmured some approving comment, and looked towards Mir. Jenkins, just discernable in the shadows of the back parler. As turned my head something touched me on the arm and, to our consternation, Rosamond and myself be- came aware of a dark figure close behind us. whereat we uttered simultaneous scream. which brought Mrs. Marvel out upon the piazza with candle in her hand. A woman was standing beside us A short, lightly framed person, shab- billy dressed, bearing small bundle on her arm
 Don't be afraid, ladies'" she began, as the light shone upon her. I'm only a poor lady, travelling with some bits of things to sell, and I've lost my way, and am ready to drop. I'm so tired and hungry. May be one of you ladies would like to buy something" @ hvs
 Mrs. Marvel, who was always ready to make bargain, and was, besides, an obliging little body, beckoned the poor creature into the par Tor, and was soon bused in the inspection of the collars, ribbons and laces which her bundle con- tained.
 Before the purchases were completed she had warmed toward the wanderer to such degree that she accorded ready permission to her re- quest for nights lodging, and after giving her something to eat, bestowed her in little attic room, and came down in state of bland appro- val. s bge .a5s-:4a-s .aH 5$aI g9 >5.. :" The poor soul is comfortable for this night at least" she said. And now, as to-morrow is 3 busy day, thlnk we had better all retire. Or lando, you will take the green room at the head of the stairs.' And with stately bow and good night, the old lady passed up stairs. fol- lowed by her blooming daughters.
 Amelia and myself slept together, and the last words the poor giri uttered to me that night were these: ss.5- sas} aie.F
 ",I would give worlds if Orlando had not been sent into that haunted room I am very foolish, know, but I cannot banish the dread which came over me when ma first spoke of putting him there. should die if anything came be- tween us-I'm sure should, Alice" ss.4 ssu I soothed her, and laughed her fears to ridi. cule, and before long she slept. Soon slumbsr- f ed, too. We were awakened, however, by g sound loud and piercing, but what we could not at first imagine. As we sprang to the floor in terror 1t came again-a human voice, crying 4 L.1 r.