Litchfield enquirer., 1865-03-23

to leave here to morrow You go also, Ifhink?. les, must be ut homs for my sister's wed, ding. Itis fixed for the fourteenth, s@. The Colonel grew shade paler, as he lock. ed down upoa the face that vas never raised to If thought-,' he began slowly,a9 sas i. He never fnished. The voice of his restless friend broke in upon him. and he stopped. He never did anything in hurry. 4i a e.tf Valentines Day. said Frank, catching his cousins speech and p innocentlya unconscious that he could rave been spared A very prop. CT day. too. Nov, Mary, confess haven't you . weakness for valentines ? ,asR hss 0 No Frank t.+s..sl.t .a, r.. ,as Carton. said Frank solemnly, she is afraid Of you, and won't own it. Valentines Day has never passed yet without bringing her cargo of what she affects to dispise'- Ii .es. Mary laughed. -s-.,9 ..f5 asqs 5' And very amusing it is; especially when I get an original lyric from Francis Graham. You know Frank ........5.--c, Je 'Ch-utt Don't add libel to your other crimes. Carton, when we wore pinafores, Mary promised to be faithful to me for ever. Iwould have kept my pact aud waited for her-I mean allowed her to wait for me- said Frank, twink ling his eye; but you see how it is. A wiser man than am. condemns valentines, and my poor annual offering is rejected F.,.e =. Mary answered quickly, little displeased Frank, you carry your nonsense too far. Of course am very fond of valentines and you can send me as many as you like. Real ones, she added trying to speak lightly; all done up in beautiful lace envelope, with To my Valentine Illuminated on the outside Mary stopped. There was movement in the room which she understood, and she rose. not altogether sorry to get away. ,s5 ,es I shall remember snid the Colonel, turning to her. And then he added: I'm afraid I shall not see you tomorrow; I start early. Good night and goodbye.' es3 a5s a He might have held her hand little longer than was usual or necessary; perhaps he did. But Mary went through the other Good nights with perfect calmness, and no one was sufficiently interested in her to notice that her eyes were very bright and her cheeks had more pink in them than usual. And the Colonel cbanged his dress and went to the smoking room, after bis habit but he did not stay there long, and be was very silent. In the early morning, Frank Graham volunteered to accom- paDy his friend for mile or two I dare say the Colonel could have dispensed with the courtesy but he did not say so, acquiesing simply. E ms se s5a ,ee ea4
 As he rode away, Colonel Carton turned his head, and looked slowly up along the range of windows which still had their white blinds down. It is just possible that this wistful back ward look was seen, but that is Mary's business not ours.
 When Colonel Carton rode away from the Graham's place in the eonntry,' don't think he eyer contemplated the possibility that this thing which had happened to him would hap. pen. The Colonel had never sent valentine in his life before; he sent one then. .. It was not string of mild rhymes of his own putting together nor . purchased and printed piece of inane sweetness. It is true that he. who did nothing by halves bethought him of the lace envelope which Mary had spoken of. She was testing of course but she should have one. l don't know how many respectable dealers ir, such fancy goods hated the Colonel for his hardness to please and should be afraid to chronicle the price at which hs finally secured
 single envelope of the most delicate elabora ton of design and finish. And on the out side of this he wrote gra7ely . To my Valentine. There might have been comical sort of dis
 may in his face as he looked at the sentence but he was not ashamed of it :: he was too much in earnest. Whatever it looked like to others, it meant for him, To my rifs-if she will have me- &
 What a>fool he was! .S.. -..,.
 This he would have said now for this val entine, which had grown under his hands into an almost sacred thing. never was answered. Colonel Carton was not concealed man but he had certain proper amount of pride.
 What had this girl seen in him that she should not ouly mock him first with an aifectation of interest, but absolutely receive his proposal with an insulting silence.
 He might not be worthy of her. perhaps but he was her equal in society's eyes and at any rate an honest mans offer of his heart and home and faithIul devotion is at least worth a reply. The, Colonel's pale face used to flush a little at those times when he was turning this over in his mind, indeed it might be difficult to say when he was not turning it oyerin some in. direct fashion,; aal ; ,Gilsts1 .9a639aa :. He waved off Franks invitation to the place in the country for the autumn he didn't think he cared about shooting, much. In fact, his plans were undecided probably he would go to Switzerland, or to Rome; perhaps to Jeiu: salem. s.isss, lsao.s;fl p.H4{r I-
 eafs g1asss d III. issaaaL .S .gsg Let me come in, a~.bit,- Carton. What an awful time it is since you were here
 Just two years, replied the Colonel, thought fully. Il hadn't this room. then.' soi!aeS-9
 Frank Graham laughed, and made grimace at the super8uity of looking glass which sur. rounded him. a5s44l .lsssEs l55og ~Sa
 No: you may get view of yonrselfin any position you like. I don't know why you were put here :sone of the mysteries of domestic polity, I suppose. 7sasT sf 4safy;y s.fe4
 The Colonel shivered slightly, as g blast of wind sounded round the house and finished up with dismal moan at the window. ssad !
 The fire is comfortable, he Said. If 1 rec ollect rightly, its different weather from that we1had this time two years. Many people here, Frank 2 H gG .tsHi s18 .ygg6sfhbiT Il [ II Weil-yes; pretty fair. You know most ol them. Tue Temples are here the governor wanted Sir John to quarrel with about some bill or another. And Mary Arundel, is with them. Carton, don't be angry with fellow but, do you know1 I used to faney--' II
 E There's just fifteen minutes to dress il, :,
 said the Colonel. rising with his usual deliber- a.lon; sand l don't knoy that l can do It ]. , h polite language Tn to take and hook M, ehf We'll I'll not hinder such ;getrup as yours. .R7e-bye., 2
 ce Coionei Carton gave exactly five out of the
 n..een minutes remaining to meditation; which dld nim very little service. So he wonid have to meet her again How Ha ,r;sa to ..s.tls this question and fa;laas B fs S