Litchfield enquirer., 1867-05-16

and magazines about the tables. Not many eleeances or bits of rirtu could be seen ] nothing was too delicate or costly to be used it was room where people lived aad enjoyed life every day, not one to which 1 they wore summoned when the door bell rang. What friendly morning calls were made there, on what cheerful evenings the plain chandeliers looked down !! No spe cial effort was made to entertain the guests, the natural good spirits and kind feeling oi the household simply formed an atmosphere in which every one was at ease.
 Tonight Miss Thieriot and her brother came in the card tables were drawn ont and whist proposed:
 "Will you play, Josephine ?'' asked Kath arine. aside.
 "Not unless I am needed had rathe, work on my stool,
 "There will be enough without you.,- Victor and Miss Thieriot, her brother and Mary. John and I can play chess or watch the others. Don't try your eyes too much with that close work.
 The players took their seats and Jose. phine began her pious labors. There was a good deal of testing over the cards, pre-. tended eAultation on the one hand, little groans of despair from the unsuccessful - Victor was in high spirits and great fortune and how bright Miss Thieriot seemed No wonder thought Josephine It was always pleasant to be Victor's partner he played so well that you were sure to win ; or if you lost it was still pleasant. John and Katha, rine had postponed tAeil chess and were watching the game. Katharine sat near Victor, who showed her his hand at every fresh deal she looked the cards over, and mods and glances passed between them.
 Do you call this quite fair ?" said AL two against three"
 ] "Never mind," she responded laughing Ily, "Victor plays great deal better than Katharine, her advice will probably be to our advantage"
 Of course Josephine was sure of that But how handsome Katharine looked to- night. She was magnificent girl, her style ample, luxuriant, with great dark eyes, mel ancholy in repose but lighting up to splen' dor when she smiled. And she smiled often on Victor. Josephine saw, or fancied that saw, new meaning in their manner to ment, more or less defined, when the care of deeper things. The moment came to
 
 and gold thread it seemed as if she were set set aside and forgotten. She longed to lay down her work and go forward to the table to have her share in the testing and con- panionship. A week ago she would have done 1t without hesitation, or had she tar risd would have felt virtuous superiority to such trifing. Now reserve, hitherto unknown, held her back and left her with out compensation. She turned resolutely from the group, and gave herself with re- newed zeal to her embroidery.
 The game was finished. Will you take my place. John ?' asked Victor of his cous- in, "I shall retire on my laurels,"
 He sauntered to Josephine's table. She felt his coming in every nerve, but she looked steadily at her needle.
 "What little recluse you are, off here in your corner !' he said. "A saint in her niche. Su,cta Jossphina, ora pro nobis!"
 She shook her head reprovingly at the words. "Now you are shocked However, I think I see smile breaking through the holy sternness. Pray what is the meaning of these hermit airs Why do you forsake us with such scorn ?''
 II wanted to get on with my work" she answered, concisely, "and did not SUD- pose should be missed among so many"
 "As if should not always miss you, no matter how many there were. What are you making? A pair of braces for me-"
 "Indeed no !" she replied, with assumed indignation. "It is stole for Father Yer heyden."
 "That is the stout old gentleman, think who sometimes officiatss at St. Vincent de Paul. Josie, am terribly jealous of Fath- CT Verheyden. suppose might beg & week for pair of slippers, and here you lavish yard after yard of velvet on those broad shoulders of his"
 "Oh, Victor will you never learn lit- tie reverence ?''
 "My education has been SO neglected in that line: But I'll try-if you will be my teacher"
 Josephine felt the color rising to her cheeks at the glance that accompanied these words.
 "Shall read to you 8 while ?" he con- tinued. "Or are you tired ? Would you like to join them at cards 9''
 "No, I am not tired. You may read if it is not too much trouble" He took up a volume of Byron that lay near and began, "' The lamp must be replenished, but even then
 It will not burn so long as must watch" He read well, and was not averse to dis play of the accomplishment, nor is seven teen severe critic when it is dear voice that speaks As, turning the pages, he gave here and there scene, the thrilling tones more than the verse perhaps absorbed the young girls attention, her work slid from her hands, she listened with fixed attitude and earnest gaze.
 "One word, for mercy Say thou lowest me P pronounced Victor with despairing intensity; and his eyes met Josephine's.- He had been carried away by the passion of the poem and his own dramatic fervor 1; his cousin had for the moment represented Astarte to his mind If she had understood this, he thought, if he could have explain ed it to her, sue would have not colored so deeply. As it was, perhaps he had gone g little too far.
 CT am wsarying you" he said, laying down the book and pretending to repress yawn. "It is stupid business this reading poetry; I ought to have chosen something ivelier." He walked slowly away while Josephine remained overcome by ehagrin. She had been SO happy, she had forgotton even the presence of the others and while she felt thus Victor had found the reading stupid. She did not know his heart throb- bed as he moved so carelessly about the room. how he saw everywhere before him the listening face, the gaze of innocent de
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