Litchfield enquirer., 1869-10-21

Ou lue eaSt UaHA Ol tuo ILllIhDoLu rlVef just out of Norfolk, and overlooking Hamp. ton Roads, stood beautiful cottage, the home of the wife and daughter of David Lester, the prisoner of the lone island in the far Pacific. ...
 Near the close of 9 lovely afternoon in May, Mrs. Lester and her daughter sat to. gether upon their front verandah.. aaa
 The mother was a lovely, sweet faced, sad. eyed woman of two.and-thirty years.
 :, The daughter, Amy Lester, not yet if. teen, was a strange compound of child and woman. F.., z s1
 ''You are thinking of father, dear moth er?" murmured the maiden, as she marked the lady's longing gaze. f~'l' 1,. s.'ll
 Yes, child. Your father, my .husb and; where is he? Somewhere under sea- waves, wrecked on desert island, or Ianguishing on hostile shore? It is five years since he left us on tEat fatal voyage to China. My reason assures me that he is dead; yet, Amy, 1 can only think of him as living.''
 " It is SC. with me, mother" !" said Amy, with tremulous quiver of her lips (. 1 dream often that he is iving--that he is coming homer' e-.. . ...hsl- , -csr Mrs. Lester. signing. "If anything were to happen to me, Amy, I shudder to think what would become of you. You have been brought up in luxury, and would feel keenly any change to poverty" +.. .. ! :" Are we not rich, then, mother?" asked Amy. in surprise. -. :,
 :" I supposed so, dear, until three years ago" replied the mother sadly. err, .
 "Your father was merchant and ship owner, partner of Col. Nichols. But two Nol ko1 f,, Alt 1 the outstanding debts of the firm more than balanced the assets; in short. Amy, that he was on the verge of: bankruptcy, his fortune and ours alike wreckedr' .a0
 II don't like Col Nichols," said Amy thoughtfully. :. If he lost all his money with ours, how does he live in such grand style. To whom do his ships and great house belong?"'l& .5f1.1s :. ,''
 "To his nephew, Ally Bell Col Nich- ois IS Aliy,s guardian. The Colonel has nothing. of his own, excepting farm or two up country, which were not risked ill the business" :" st aeA --,,:
 Amy contracted her little brows refiec. lively, and was about to reply, when the garden gate swung on it's hinges. and a boyish figure came lightly up the walk.
 . " It's Ally, mother-it's Ally Bell!'' ex- oAoALACu Amy, uli SIulieS anu DluSQeS.i ': J. Il bring him to you"
 The young girl ran lightly down the ve. randall steps and met the newcomer. link ing her arm in his and drawing him gen tly toward the house., 1H5.
 He was a lad of seventeen, an orphan, the nephew and ward of Col. Nichols. Bright and gay and handsome, Allen Bell was also impetuous, ardent and inteliigent one of those noble, manly boys who ma ture early into grand and noble men! Boy as he was, he loved Amy Lester with a pure and chivalrous love, which bade fair to deepen in time into the great love oi his life. 1tss Ie.s;st.,., t,ss,..
 He was the bearM of a letter from his uncle to Mrs. Lester, and having delivered it, he strolled with Amy down the wide garden walks into. the cool shadows of z grove at the bottom of the garden.
 five been expecting you this good while, AHy,' sad Amy with charming frankness. ssI thought you would bs down hereto try those scientific experi "We'n try them tonight, Amy" repli ed Ally. The blue lights show better al night. I'm getting along finely in m, chemistry, Amy. I like it the best all m, studies" .fs.. 45 1. - "I'm sure you do," said Amy, earnestly ]" You are the incest boy eyer saw. N I Ally Bell laughed aloud. .Any's child | like simplicity and outspokan truthfulnes