Litchfield enquirer., 1868-01-16

king HI iLe clear Epernlllght, gave forth its myriads ot gtittcling coluscations Bat for the cold ;siI aroHnd lne, might have fancied myself among tie fire flies Of 2 tropical forest.
 The carriage stopped. i word or i've was exchanged with some o2e in front: ] massive gate swung round on it's hinges, and the horses moved on between two trs.l lised lodges seen right and left through ti1e windows.
 Five minutes on a soft grave1ied drive, with huge chcstlGitS rising ou each side. now and then 2 winding sweep through evergreen copseWood, anI the wheels of the chariot stood stiii before the hall en- trance of {: noble mansion.
 A lamp outside threw, light on tie steps and the turning space in front; and could sec several other eluipages just taking their departure, having delivered their fair freights nn0n tho steps of the poltico
 l entered tie spacious hail, where by a sign and some cabaiistic speech the foot
 man, who had met nle at the station. c0u- signed me into tile hands of g portly ser want III plain clothes, so handsomely ap- parcled that might easily have mistaken ilm for the master of the mansion dressed ready for dinner
 By this individual was conducted up stairs into |. large chain5er containing a bed, with dressing room, cheTal glass, and all the appurtenanoes Of a luxurious s!cep- ing apartment
 Ny conductor carried my bag inside, and deposited it by the dressing t;,- ble.
 Your room. Nr. Flootwynd," said he oil entering. Dinner, sir, 1t seven. you will have bare time to dress, sir.
 And as he uttered this alllnonition, ha drew forth a gold watch and consulted the dial.
 ''Just twenty minutes, sir. When you are ready, please ring this bell, and I slalI show you to the draWing-ro0m.
 With Q salute, he left me to my refoc- tions
 They had nothing to do with the styio of my introduction. 1t was no surprise to see the butler of an English squire dressed i'll shining black, and wearing ;s gold watch with massive chain and seal. None either that l was not met upon tle threshold by the master O. the house, or any member Of the family. IL seemed little strange to myself, conling direct from a country where the fashions are 50 different. i thought 1t rather odd, too, that my friend Harry did not show himself little more forward in welcoming me, after such long separation; nor could l help again remark ing the remiBsness shown as to my title. The butler, at least, should have been told that 1 was Ctzptain, not Mir. Fteetvynl. Bat what nlattered? It was but the cold ceremony of English aristocrttic Iite that would soon melt into Warlner GcmOns.ra- tons under the genial atmosphere of the dining room.
 dressed with due care and, as I had been lnstracted, rang the bell The gen tlelnan ln black once moro made lus f,p- pearance, and after conducting me down stairs, and along spacious corridor, open ed Q wide door, and announced '' Mr. Fleet wynd."
 4 drawing-room was before mo, we'll peo- pied with guests, male and fen1ale-the gentlemen, like so many mutes at funeral in black coats, tEowsers, and waistcoats. With neck-ties of sp0tlass white; the ladies gorgeousiy apparelled in all the colors of the rainbow, with @ score Of tints besides. grand in circumference Of skirts. decoNetee ln neck, shoulders, and arms, bewroathed and bejewclled.
 There was the usual pause of embarrass- ment-longer, l presumed, from the fact of my name being strange to most of the party-which expected would be ternina- ted by old friend Harry rushing forth and taking me by the hand. Instead of this. I was approached by 8 portIy, white-haired old gentleman, who did this much; and who, afterwards conducting me into the presence of a lady of equally venerable as- pect, introduced me to his wife"
 My daughter, Mir. FIeetwynd," were the next words that fell upon my ear, and l found myself face to face with a tall, blue-eyed, golden-haired girl of great beau such as l expected the sister of Henry Blount would prove to be.
 was about asking after my oll friend, still speculating a5 to the cause of his non when this was explained by the old gentleman himself.
 II am sorry, Mir. F7Ieetwynd, that my son'is not here. He viii not be with Us at dinner, but we may expect him over the wine. An awkward accident has happened to friend of his in the hunting field, and he has ridden over to see what can be done. He left thousand apologies for his absence, and has charged Emily hero to take care of you till his return
 The smile with which "Emily" received the avowal, removed any regret I might have felt at the absence Of her brother; and did not feel much sorrow for the ac- cident that had befallen his fox-hunting friend-a displaced shoulder-blade, as they me-
 I was introduced to several of the guests some bearing titles-still as plain AIr. Fleetwynd. Others arriving, @ similar process was gone through with them, till the stentorian voice of the butler announ- ced 'dinner served" and we filed off two and two into the dining-room-th fair Emily $ taking me in charge" as her faith CT jocularIy phrased it.
 Long before we had come to the cham pagne, I was as much captive to her charms as the oldest of her admirers-of whom I could recognize more than one around the table.
 She was in effect splendid specimen of English beauty-of it's most aristocratic type-where to fine personal appearance are added those intellectual graces derived from the most careful cultivation. Like many of her countrywomen-especia1ly those who reside in the count,y-she was an enthusiast about horsemanship and hunting. This gave me good opportuni- ty of carrying on the conversation, as she seemed to take great interest in our sports as carried on in the jungles of India. On such matters 1 could claim to speak as an authority.