Litchfield enquirer., 1865-03-23

sation either. Beyond the barest civilities he said Eothing and seemed quite content that MafY;s attention should be wholly engrosaed by her other neighbor. lsIas ss
 That night the Colonel played chess with Lady Temple at one of the convenient little tables before mentioned. f.S
 d My sister is going to sing said Lady Tenn pie, enc evening, as the pieces were placed. s Pm afraid this will be poor game, for al- ways listen to Mary. You have heard her?'. 2 | No : the Colonel was not aware that Miss Arundel sang at all. 's a7t tss' l.'sit4 4ftx .AI s :Yet you must have mot here once before. I think ?J 51s s8 asa 1a eess
 r .Yes.' at ssi37sl sssksga ia'5
 That is strange. Perhaps it was-ah, yes. Iremember; singing was forbidden to her just then; she is never very strong. Do you play first ]! . g.s., s4 sa s M E.
 Colonel Carton propelled the kings pawn into it's accustomed square, and appeared to watch his adversary 'smove with interest
 Miss Arundel is much quieter than she was two years ago I remember she was the life of all pleasure arrangements. If she is in del icate health that explains it. @S
 Ask her, said Lady Temple, laughing. .she will tell you it's old age. Mary is odd
 The Colonel locked at her ladyship's blonde face and fair hair speculatively. She must be at least five years younger than Mary, he thought. And then with 2 finger on the piece be was about to move he stopped. As rule he did not care for amateur singing; people in the constant habit of hearing first rate pro- thing. altogether different from the amateur singing of his experience. He kept his eyes on the board steadily, but Lady Temple saw that he was not thinking about the game.
 : Suppose we give it up for time r said her ladyship. -E .5 sea e I He looked up quickly, with slight smile.
 T beg your pardon, Lady Temple: not un- less you wish it; move the bishop,
 Foolish play, as Lady Temple knew, and ut- terly foreign to his usual tactics; but she said nothing and the Colonel lost the game in few moves., ~ -.'- 4}ts s 4 For the first timev said her ladyship tri- umphantly; i've will not begin another again tonight @ s za ae1 gil
 Colonel Carton acquiesced. Mary was still at the piano. and likely to remain there When such assemblies. as these get hold of fine voice there is very little mercy shown to it's owner By-and-by the Colonel got restless and went np again to Lady Temple, 1 tai
 You said your sister was not strong. Won't she be tired? 9
 Yes said her lady ship; shall Iput stop to it. 3a.3 4sz.A ..a.T-.sa 5H Ia1EHA
 Perhaps she expected him to accompany her to the piano but he did not; neither did he join the group of enthusiasts who loaded the singer with thanks and fattery. Mary and he were seldom near each other; when they were it was as though they had both touched an ice berg, and never again could thaw into any de- gree of kindliness or warmth. Yet still the Colonel stayed on. He had only come down for day or two, but week was gone already. He did not know how closely those keen eyes of young Graham's watched him, nor how per plexed the young man was with his behavior.
 They make love like crowued heads,y said Frank i; that is if it isn't all 6 sell; I never saw such stately politeness between lovers.'
 But there was no love-making in the case !;
 And one evening Colonel Carton determined with himself that he had stayed too long al. ready, and would positively take his departure the next morning He was standing indolent- ly in the doorway of the back drawing room when he made this decision and round the fire in that cosiest of retreats, he saw Lady Temple and her sister, two or three other young ladies. and Frank Graham, all in ami mated discussion-all, that is. except Mary. Her face was turned towards the fire, and the profile, which was all he saw, struck him with it's expression of weary listlessness. Sudden. ly Mary turned and looked at>him-s strange look, averted hastily in moment, for she had not known that he was there. But the Colon el saw the quick rush of color over her face saw her put up one hand to hide it, and felt desperately that he must go away, or once again he should be fool. s 'Carton!' cried Frank, darting up, and drawing him towards the group. The very man wanted He never sent one in his life. heard him boast about it in that very room. Isn't it true bill, Carton? I've adopted your opinions. Bear witness with me that valen- tines are silly, childish, nonsensieal, every thing that's bad k n The Colonel, with bitterness that the oc- casion did not seem to demand, replied :.
 'As mediums for inficting pain and unwar- rantable insult, think them admirable, Frank !. Every one looked up at the Colonef as he said this. Even Frank began rashly, .>Hallo, old fellow, I didn't think --' and then stop ped not knowing what to say. Lady Temple was the first to break the uneasy silence, which she did with an assumed indifference.
 Colonel Carton judges them harshly. I have had many laugh over mine before was married. don't get any now. l remember that the last had was on my wedding morn ing and never opened it. a,s '-. "5i5. $ ''1. Never opened itt' repeated Frsnk. eWhat Q shame r saie sa iI.3s4 . A .a5 5sNo. It wasn't likely could attend to such Hmatters then. When I took of the outside cover and saw what it was threw it with . lot of old letters into my travelling desk, and there it is now for anything know to the con- trary. It's odd never had the curiosity to look for it suppose we have 2 search now Frank you may fetch the desk, if it isn't too heavy for you ,..s. t@ se..I.s. ..,,t sz.e5 ii
 No one spoke while Lady Temple unlocked the travelling desk, which looked too ponderous for lady's use, and had papers in it suggest tive of Sir J6hn's big caligraphy. No one no- ticed the tall figure behind her chair no one saw the lips compressed and white, the head bending lower and lower and the long fingers pressing into each other asLady Temple dived into the secret recesses of the desk. He saw it all now all his blind stupidity and what 1t had caused, flashed across him as Lady Temple held up the long-hidden envelope. Hall dos- small hands were stretched out eagerly for 1t ]; one larger than these, suddenly pressed some what heavily on her iadyship's shoulder ssI 5a6 Lady Temple, may I entseat of your good ness to restore to me that letter sg3l disa;e
 Colonel Carton-to you!
 To me. Isent that valentine the only one lever did or ever shall send. Lady Temple. on my honor it contains nothing that could offend you in any way. Another time T will explain fully; now to my regret ana remorse concerning it, grant my request. a;T .g
 Lady Temple did not hesitate moment. Something in this mans agitated manner ap- pealed to her strongly, and once again the Col one ghaId ;r, h;a hanH the IuckIeSS 6uyet0Dei 0f