Litchfield enquirer., 1862-09-25

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 erect, will draw wrong conclusions; no one knows better than I. A pretty girl of eighteen can't be Socrates-we don't expect it. In fact, why should we expect it. As said to the ladies yesterday, berthas not battles, pleasure not politics is running in your little head"
 No answer to 90 much condesceusion no ap- preciatiou of such elaborate kindness, either ex- pressed or implied; only ominous silence, stormy eyes aud mutinous thoughts, yet quiet lips, and Aunt Firmly looking on aghast and helpless. Clearly there was no resourse left Mrs. Rawlin- son but to bring out her heavy guns and open fre>
 Miss Loder, in ccommittsefef our ladies, it was yesterday decided" continued Mrs. Rawlin- son, |" that while our husbands fathers and bro- thers are away fighting our enemies, we cannot in justice tolerate them in our midst We have a list of ladies protesting Union sentiments, and painful as it will be, we ere resolved to cease all association wirh them"
 "The question is then, who are the sufferers ?" retortsd Luts.
 q am sorry to say that your name is on the list"
 "It ia honored then"
 "I pleaded your youth and beauty in vain.- You are more than suspected of Union feeling"
 "Why not say more than suspected of Chris tianity. love of country, or some such heinous offence !" burst out Lute. "1t am only sus- pected, let suspicion be changed to certainty. l acknowledge no allegiance to any flag but the Stars and Stripes. desire DO friendship with traitors and ingrates."
 "she is mad P gasped Aunt Primly.
 'Worse! echoed Mrs. Rawlinsou, solennly.
 Mrs. Rawlinson, tell your friends that the poorest man that fights for his country against treason and secession, is more honored than your proudest leaders. If l were man, my best blood should seal my words; as 8 woman I am only sorry that cannot prove my sincerity by more costly sacrifice
 Mrs. Rawlinson rose, reckoning and swelling
 You will repent this'
 Perhaps. All things are possible
 You have ruined yourself quoth Aunt Prim- ly, in despair. And if to be sedulously exclu- ded from all recognition is to be ruined, then Aunt Rachel was right. The girls, her old friends, passed her with 8 giggle and whispers about strong -rnindedness and abolitionism; the men with looks of cold reproof, the elderly la d;ss with real or affected horror
 Aunt Firmly read her daily homily; secess- ion was blatant all about her; noe one word, not even a token of any kind, had she ever received from Jack. Yet he was not dead; for she read with thrill that who can describe, in one of the local papers, that the arch-traitor Jack Centyre had escaped, and was serving in Buelrs army j; but she stood frm-words easily written, lightly read. but hard and bitter in practice.
 At length Miss Firmly fell i'll, and while her fever was at its heighth, came the news ot Fort Donelson, and the wild panic and terror that overlook Nashville. In the midst of it all' Lute sat calm and even joyous, for to her the Federal army meant simply Jack Centyre.
 Jack, we'll, faithful, and coming back to her, was the picture of Hope held up before her i; and one afternoon, while the city was breathless- ly expecting the coming of Buells army, as she sat by lower window weaving golden dreams, she heard the jar of the gate, and looking up, caught the glitter of swords and epaulettes. He had come, and breathless with delight, she ran to the door, opened it. and started back aghast The uniform of the Texan Ranger met her eye, and face eminently handsome, spite of the evident traces of debauch-a face only too fa- ID iliar to her, that of Raymond Mainwaring, outcast for his vices from a circle by no means saintly, and her bitterest enemy because she had once rejected him. What could have brought him there? She stood holding the door, look ing at him with undisguised dsmay.
 May come in he asked with an evil smile. It is so long since we have met
 Even as he spoke, he stepped past her into the hall, turned the key in the lock, and took it out.
 sThese are unsettled times,' he sneercd.' and have no fancy for being impaled on Federal bayonet, and sent North as a curiosity. Will you come into the library, Miss Lodor? have something to say to you.'
 There was no one within eall but female ser wants, for all the neighbors had Hed; no help but to follow. Lute did so with silent prayer. He gave her seat, and placed himself beside her, and leaning forward, fixed his eyes intently on her face. -.
 You, remember, are fond of poetry was his most unexpected beginning. I came here to quote stanza that has been running in my head all day.
 sKind of you. but is it worth the risk Pray what is your quotation r
 | He took her hand. Direful menace and fierce triumph famed in the midnight depths of hl eye. He spoke as if he would burn in ever, word on her memory. .... ... | "For time at last sets all things even; And if VIC do but watch the hour, There never yet was human power Which could eTsde, If unforgiven, ~. l The patient search and vigil long i Of him who treasures up wrong" !! He had marvellous voice, full, deep, capabl, of any infection, and it rung out now like tn toll of doom. Lute's heart gave sudden bound and then stood still in mortal terror the bloc, surged over cheek and brow, and as suddenly re I csded her voice shook in spite of her braves
 effort, though her words were calm enough. n..feT r.~ ,,<,v,. .t> k.r t-s