Litchfield enquirer., 1869-11-11

z After this l paid many more profession al visits at the Gordons, and soon found myself on 6 very pleasant, familiar footing g at their house. xSo,i from professional, I began to make friendly visits, and often joined the girls, in leisure half hours, at 8 game of croquet or archery, or would take them for 8 quiet row or. the river, on warm summer days, Had been 8 cheeky fel low, very likely I might have become far more intimate than I was might have call ed them Allies and Hetty, as every body else in the house did. But I was far too nervous and too shy and so to me they were always the .sMissest Gordon" ;. When the autumn tints were beginning to appear in the woods of Dnnfeld, dis covered that loved Alice, the dark one, and that if she would like to live on three hundred a year, in snug little house of her own, T should like it too; but I dared not tell her:. could laugh and joke with Henry, but with Alice I was always shy
 Time went on. I perceived that with MT. and Mrs. GordonI was favorite I could see that; Hetty, too, liked me, and I hoped Alice did; but she was so quiet and matronly could not judge so well.
 When Christmas approached there was 3 good deal of sickness about, and T could not ,ge, home, as I intended; so Mrs, Cor don kindly begged me to come and dine
 d"iGo, go. my dear fellow" said friendly Dr.sT sThompson. when I demurred at leav- ing them. t' Go and enjoy yourself ard look out for the misletoe." So I gladly ac- cepted the invitation. szs- zls 1aO On sGhsistmaa eve I met the girls out walking, and they kindly said they were glad was coming. o'' .t' s'' h' h4ao
 " Cousin Willie is coming too.'' cried Hetty. and she glanced slyly at Alice.
 !. ."Who is cousin ,Willie?'' I asked, wish ing might mix a pill for him. T9h m3r ZIG" Oh, he is our only cousin and papa's ward. was the reply. " He always comes at Christmas"
 7a's T'll come early" I said, making a mighty effort, ]" as I want to speak to Mir.
 oh do@'esopna. ,;'s 2 early '' as you ean said oiisoid Thonpson wants me to look out for the mialetoe.n" said, foolishly, by way of saying something. osss.....o ,,o..
 "Oh, we've got plenty of that ready eh, Ahce?" said Hetty.a snf1 o--I-- Q 5 51tsHowl tiresome yon9 are. Hetty!" said Aice.a warmly; and blushing g painful
 Vt wsn;; it was silly of iHesty; and .nd before me, tool But I was so glad to see the blush that I didcnotrnotics the little show of temper. Between you and me, reader, she had once or twice shown that she had
 I went lhome;I pondering on the way what1 should do. II could not dine there with my heart bursting with my secret and feeling it might explode ct any mo- ment. Then there was Cousin Willie, too.
 If he should pay my beautiful AliceIany attention, knight not be able to. control my dee;ings. So I determined to write to fon ne., ,s asx my late. and go lp before dinner : merry Christmas; if rejected, go home. and andIa.ndT7-well.' . nearly die Of broken 4 9Ta1fF' bib onoi .,IoT .zottiT, .,,,. 7, n Il was delighted with the, idea, and al- most ran homo to, put it into execution. But how ,easy to get out pen,, ink and pa- perl how difficult to write! I tore up let ter after letter; again and again r tried, but the sshopelessness of expressing my feelings was great, :, Should T leave 1t and go and say my say in person?3 No, no, I could not do that. My tongue would eleaYe to my mouth; the very thought seemed to deprive me of all power of ar tichlation. Here goes. l said, at last I VII write it oil at once, 'f[l and won't read -' SFYY'A' oi s4 oGQ Yiaisae r, ..gs.i eaaa- t My dearP-rhere I was at full stop al- ready. How was | to begin? If were doing itpersonally, l. might try the effect of 'fsAlice. ";spoken in . low, deep tone, ,but 1t looks SO pool on paper. Therefore be- ganagain: ss.My dear Miss Gordon"-I can't remember. my words, though no doubt my wife does, but I know my letter was very tender, and, I hoped, very ear nest and dimpressiye.as n. s-.f..r.,r-. lio ssgl lo1 was once more puzzled how to end my epistle, but at last decided on, ri
 ii Believe me-. dear, dear Miss Gordon, waiting in trembling hope and fear, yours fn hfei and death, ydurs only and forever,
 III fedt bsbaioGoo tsg"PHu1p GwYNNR." 4' HdThis despatched to Miss Gordon, en- closingta note for the young lady's papa,
 to be delivered at her discretion. Ton may believe scarcely closed my eyes all that night AAd 3eAu aHi Caits!lJG TGo l.
 r Nextiday, lChristmas day. I was too busy to,attend church; but | got clear; about four o'clock, and hastily dressing mysslf, started for Mi. 'Gordon's. He met me warmly P dg7 ldaA aaY = 9bt na :..1Geme in here. my, dear fellow" said he; .fttI can't tell you how pleased she is7- my wife. I fmeafli.a Andf an quite satisfied 'asPto worldly af6Girss q Quite. Old Thomp- sou g is good practice. We must have q settlemeEx1 y0a Ykpoy3rb but thatn be all right Rather you have her than the earl. God blessyout I am Ypsoud to call you som. I've spoken to her. She loves you, my EloYes yon- dearly. she says, and hes done ao, loIe. - And now that you are are one of tho family. I may as well fsir you g secIsk ,Mya'youneest danghtsr is shEaged, too: ayss Ail0s and h my nsphex " aA illiam gre going to make q match of itq Don't look, so astonisbed, U She'n make him Q good wife; Tor though she is year youn-, ger than dear Hetty, she looks older, you knpy. and is more steady and sedate. But Hettys q dear, girl and nill, I'm sure, make yogH bapRI Don speak, don't speak, There. 1'Assad her inl And of the law. ysE boMlted M i1 his .t .ti insnsl ierky xay before I could speak .. HoFd. sstl l'hc s..sp
 Was I mliiS Wal, l ldreaanringa Alice ias $s asssTl I Hstss s$ins .o %sIaYs, aIs,. pQwSI1 what 0n edrth Kas it all about? How could have abeen such . ssfeol2 A httis ? kiftEsfk unnoticsd facts Eon my brain confirming the state Ms&k kjsaHo1 dou3d II haw lfrnsted appear Aieesso uttefly and talnn her for the eld- estsaithout being certaA ]? She engaged ;a ehds merry, sWeet Hett1 loving mel t st!ll would not renter nyshsain. What