Litchfield enquirer., 1866-11-22

His blood might have flowed a little more quickly in his veins, perhaps, as he looked down upon the audience below him but that was all He could not see, though perhaps he guessed intuitively, that Bertie Wynne had her head bent down, and her hands pressed tightly together in an agony of sus- pense for him; for Bertie had retracted her decision not to be present. She had found it impossible to stay away; and she will never forget the moment when tho first few notes of Hugh's recitative broke on her ear and the little rustic in the hall sunk sud- denly into breathless stiffness, Bertie's head was raised, and tho flush of nervous dread left her face. She had never heard like this before; it was very pos sible that Dykehambury never had either.
 The silence remained unbroken for some after the song was finished, and then the applause broke out in Q deafning clamor, that would not cease until MT. Car panyist, and substitute 'Angels ever bright and fair.' .s
 The rest of the concert was hopeless confu- sion to Bertie Wynne. In the interval she heard dimly the exclamation of astonish- ment and delight that passed from lip to lip around her; she even recognized the harsh chuckle of MT. Crane as he asked old Mrs. Grafton what she thought of the choir after that; and she was vaguely watchful of that one figure sitting silently and grave in the orchestra, never moving, never seeming to notice anything that went on and to all appearance profoundly uncon- scious of the commotion which his wonder full voice had stirred up in the hall. She knew little more until she found herself in Mrs. Grafton's carriage, and saw Hugh at the window petitioning for seat. Ho did not say much when he got in. The stars were bright. and the air of the summer night was very sweet after the close music hall Perhaps altogether there had been no passage in Bertie's quiet life so wonder full as this drive home from Dykehambury. At the little gate in the wall they both got out, and Bertie's chape,on drove away, with a caution to MT. Carton to sec her safe into the house, Hugh took off his hat to the retreating carriage significantly, and stood in the gateway, looking down at the little figure all in white beside him.
 "Well?" he said smiling.
 "Mr: Carton, l never heard anything so beautiful in my ife," said Bertie. "Why didn't you tell usp"
 'Tel you what?" he asked; 'sthat once made a living by singing in public? Inev- erisaid that know nothing of music. It was taken for granted; and excuse me, your Dykewood people are rather supercilious; they amused me ittle One only out of all, did not sheer, but took part that would have been doubly kind if had been the presumptuous fool they thought me. Do you think did not know the sort of lead him on, it will be fun, that possessed all Dykewood-y excepted? Yet one eve- ming was sorely tempted to tell. Do you remember?" 7a .f~
 q think so'' said Bertie, so she made a step towards the house; but he stopped her. !. "One moment," said Hugh. ''Some- thing else dates from that same evening. My pulses are riotously quick; can't go home till they are quieter. began to hope then, Bertie, that evening, that I might give my little friend and councillor dear CT title. It's very sweet to hope. You won't forbid it? Don't care for me after all?"
 "I am not fit" said Bertie.
 ''You are my pearl of price that I meant to win for myself, if I could," said Hugh. Listen: no; thus, with your hand ill mine that I may feel if you shrink from me. My father married an Italian opera singer, and was cut off with shilling for doing so. Do you think the worse of me for my moth CTS sakeY'
 ''No," replied Bertie.
 q have been next door to pauper." he continued, I have done the hardest man. ual labor. Finally, have been Q public singer myself. Do you think the worse of me for, all this?"
 Involuntarily Bertie crept little closer to him, which was answer sufficient.
 eff those silent woods and lawns could speak, they wonld tell how you have haunt ed them with your ghostly presence Come and make it real for me. shall come to- morrow, and the next day, and every day until you will let me take you home. These things creep out don't they Bertie? To- morrow all Dykewood will know what came of the Dykehambury concert"
 'sThey will say that I am not good enough for you" returned Bertie. 4d (
 MT. Cartons answer was unimportant. He waited until the hall door had closed af- ter Bertie, stayed little while longer, look ing up at the light in her window, and then went off to walk up and down in the star hght, and wonder that Fortune wasso good to him, just as he used to wonder in the old 4aays at the strange grudge she seemed to N