Litchfield enquirer., 1864-06-09

ly thrill went through him from head to foot. He had touched ladies' hands before, but never hadshaad thrilled him as that one. | Never before had Mr. Smythe such difficulty l in finding glove to 1t hand he did succeed in finding it, though, and with its mate wrap ped it in paper and gave it to the purchaser. Will you be 80 kind as to give me . card P said the young lady. Certainly, replied Mir. Smythe. and he took card from his pocket and handed it to her. Have you no business card, Mr. Smythe ? Bless ne r exclaimed Mir. Smythe, glancing at the card he had given her, I've given you one of my own.' Correcting the error, he saw the lady to the door and followed her with his eyes until she was out of sight.
 room and seated himself beside Miss Spink Abstractedly he placed his hand upon that of the fair Eliza and gazing on the ceiling, ab- stractedly he sighed:
 What soft little handr
 Sir! exclaimed Miss Spink, violently with. drawing her hand, what do you mean by this insulting conduct7
 Mir. Smythe's eyes fell from the ceiling; his expression was that of man suddenly aroused from sleep.
 Mean,' faintly echoed he, with some dim idea of his situation.
 'Yes, sir, what do you mean7 Oh, Mir. SmYthe, you should be ashamed of yourself, and the tender creature fairly went into tears.
 What have done:' grasped Mr. Smythe becoming alarmed at the serious aspect the matter had assumed. What have you done, sir: You-you pressed my hand and called it soft, aud-and I won't stand it. 'Good heavensv exclaimed the now thor eughly frightened Mir. Smythe, really. Miss Spink, 1 assure you, on my honor 1 do, never meant it, said it unwittingly, and take it all back
 'Wretch,' screamed Mis-, spink. si. it thus yon trfe with my affections, is it thus you sport with my heart, . human heart, too, that has beat throbbed, pulsated for you, and you only. Oh, Orestes, Orestes'
 In the excess of her grief she actually threw herself in Mir. Smythe's arms, to the indescrb- able horror of that gentleman. For moment he allowed her to remain thers but seeing that she was in no wise disposed to remove herself he concluded that she had tainted, and acting upon the idea, he put his arm around her waist that he might lay her on the sofa until she re- covered. While he was in the act of so doing, who should suddenly enter the room but Mir. Mugwater.
 At the time of entering Ar. Mugwaters face bore it's customary, easy expression but upon pereeiviBg the affection positions of his two employees, that expression deepened into gravity; almost immediately, however, it broke up into innummerable good-Datured wrinkles, and was accompanied by fit of laughter that threatened apoplexy.
 Ho, ho, bo. Thread my needles. Sew my buttons. Look. look, lock- and unable to speak further MT. Mugwater pointed and shook his fager at poor Smythe.
 Really - began to speak the unfortunate shopman.
 Not a word, not Q word,' interrupted Mir. Mugwater, see it all just az wished. Take her, my boy. God bless you and may you be happyl'
 | room.
 'Orestss,' sighed Miss spink. | 'Cenfoaad you, get up returned Mr. Smy- the, grufay.
 'orestes, don't leave me- sighed Miss Spink.
 There's the door bell, take care of yourself, and the inhuman MT. Smythe broke from the embrace of the imploring Eliza and passed into the store.
 That night Mir. Smythe did not sup with MT. Mugwater and Miss Spink, as was his wont; in fact, he eat nothing until store was closed, then he seized his hat, ran to a restau. rant. paid for meal that he had no more than tasted and wound up the night by dreaming over the afterpiece at theatre, and scalding his mouth with hot whiskey punch.
 The following morning MT. Smythe had q headache which excused him from breakfast He went down stairs. passed through the little back room without noticing Miss Spinks cough, and entered the store. Seating himself behind the counter, Mir. Smythe wondered why he was ever born, and if mankind gene. rally would not be benefited if he opened one of his juguars with penknife. Wondering thus, MT. Smythe was startled by the opening of the door and the entrance of lady. The lady wore black, and was DO other than the fair customer of the day before. MT. Smythe recognized her with a blush, and she acknowl. edged the recognition by the sweetest of smiles. A feeling of all-overishness seized MT. Smythe as he asked her what he should have the pleasure of doing for her. In reply the young lady stated that she was from the country. and had been entrusted with the commission of purchasing for number of friends articles that they needed for winter use.
 I MT. Smythe stammered that he would be most happy to sell her whatever he had. and obtain for her whatever she wanted and he Lad not The young lady thereupon produced q list of things she desired. Mir. Smythe took the list, ran over it with his eyes, and marked opposite to the name of each article its value , then adding up, he announced the sum total as being sixty-six dollars. The lady express ed her satisfaction and asked if the thingi would be sent that evening" Certainly, said Mir. Snyths : what is the addressr
 Miss Clsonia Merwood. Clarendon Hotel and, if you please, send the bill.' To which Mr. Smythe also said Cerxia .. ly.' The lady then left. The poor shopmap sighed as his clssms disappeared.