Litchfield enquirer., 1864-12-01
t Not just yet, of course-your foot

Yes; but mind you this is secret between us. You go in as Raeburn's bona tide clerk, not as knight of romancs, fulfilling some rash vow' All right; will be as silent as the grave You'll never screw up courage to face your fashionable acquaintance behind old Raeburn' s counter. It's a capital joke now. but it will lose it's point when the time comes am quite safe.'
 Amy laughed and touched up his horses as they dashed in Bloomingdale Road
 Mind calculated Payne, as he ,1ismounted from the carriage. z it is ts be whole day. 1.-Two, if you like No, one will be sufficient merely wished to test the point And he walked away men tally chuckling to think how he had cornered the naughty young officer, whose moustache and horses were the best gotten up in Central Park.
 Maurice, what on earth have you been do- ing to yourself? Where's your uniform r. Why do you wear that absurd old gray suit ? Mary Almy held up both hands in dismay, Maurice himself was scarcely less disconcerted he had not reckoned on this recounter. My dear Polly, I thought you were safely packed off for three weeks in Albanyp
 But I had to come back for my reticule.- There's no hurry I shap't miss the train. Sc. rieusly, Maurice, what is the meaning of this masquerader
 Only one of my idiosgncrasies, as Carrie Dewey used to say. Poor little Carrie won. der what has become of her! think she was the prettiest little creature I ever saw
 Mary Almys face grew grave she had hoped her brother had forgotten the boy and girl at fon of oEf Iy by the worldly wise guardians, who thoug,,t that Carrie Dewey's blue eyes weIe scarcely an equivalent for the wealth of the Almys Nonsense, Maurice! Why, Parker will be ashamed to you drive out!' T should be sorry to hurt Parkers delicate feelings; but fortunately 1 am not going to order the carriage I shall take an omnibus With your foot ! Maurice put his hand caressng on his sister $ Polly, how many of the wounded men in our regiment do you suppose keep carriage And yet they contrve to exist comfortably Mary made little grimace but she remem bered the railroad time table, and hurried down stairs. greatly to her brothers relief. Major Amy, clerk in Raeburn's store don't believe a word of it 7 |. Miss Edith Aubrey gave the plume on he, velvet hat a little contemptuons toss. But tell you, my dear, Saw him there, said Mrs. Melville, delighted at having come into possession of such an invaluable morsel o gossip, selling tox of eorn.plaster to ole Dr. JeffTeys. You may depend upon it. thei fine fortune has blown up-how trae it is tha riches have wings! After all Mary Almy' airs and graces, to think of her brother in : shoe store!'
 My dear. the Almy's are just the kind o people to refuse any snch triang help from the Government. and rey entirely on their owr l "Xcrtions. As proud as Lucifer you know
 .ih me! the changes in this world Wouldn you like to go round there, Edith? left my glove on purpose.
 Maurice Amy was secretly consulting h'' watch, and Travelling at the sl, W motion 0 it's hour hand, when Mr. R ehurn's sEril ] cracked voice summoned him with a conf ica air of authority.
 Young man, young man, I say! You'l never learn the shoe trade correct if you stand dawain' there. Just look On the shelf unae ! the counter, and give mc pair of them No 1 8 calf skins?
 1 Maurice stopped with some difficulty laugh ing mentally at his own vexation as he did so l The next moment he started nervously. as Mis-
 
 counter reached his ear. l Of course there never was anything more | than Irritation between us. Fancy me heine tied for life to poor soldier with one foot , | Well, responded Mrs. Melville. you know
 people aOiU talk, and She stopped abruptly
 and touched her companions elbow. Th-r
 he isV Do you suppose he heard us, Edith 2? | Miss Aubrey's cheeks were like scarlet, a
 she acknowledged Almy's bow with the leas possible nod.
 . l left glove here. I believe.' began Mrs
 Melville. 'Oh, thank you that's all.' And the two ladies beat rather an ignomini ous retreat, while Maurice lookei after then with curious smile. Please, sir, nanny wants pair of leathe shoe strings; how much be they? asked { ! ragged elf whose eyes were just on level with l the counter.
 Maurice turned the box of leather strings l dubiously this way and that. Five cents believe they are markell 'Oh dear r lamented the little one, and ain't got but fourr'
 Never mind-it's all right returned tn, clerk, absently tossing the little paper parce across the counter.
 All right! It's all wrong, I say ? croales Raeburn. turning, liyid with rage, as he scram uieu ouI oi HIS HiSH u1sA, Just Hi tiue Io ss' the ragged calico skirts disappearing down the street. Why didn't you send her home fo
 t'other penny? What dye mean by sellin our first class articles under price?' Really, sir, said Almy, coloring, lidn' 1 suppose it was of so much importance
 Dear me, dear me y gFoaned the old man you'll never answer my purpose in the world took you in just to oblige Mr. Payne, an, out of charity-'tisn't every man who would employ clerk who has to go on a crutch-ant ! this is the way you scatter my money. Now jest give you fair warnin' you've got to toe the mark little straighter if 1 He broke off and shuffled smilingly down tht store to attend customer. while Maurice Alm, checked strong impulse to resign his post b still stronger recollection ot the recruit he
 was purchasing.
 Not twelve yet! Will the day meocr conn
 to an end ? he pondered, slowly obeying tn,
 imperious gestures oe his employer, and ad
 vanced to meet a pale-looking girl in shabb,
 black dress, who crept meekly up to tht
 counter.
 l Are my slse,s mended yeti? she aske,
 without looking up. The name was Dewey l Carrie
 She started with wild, frightened glance. l .Mr. Aimyr
 1 The ubiquitous Raeburn pushed forward pair of worn little gaiters embellished witt | a black 1aathe, hatch on the side