Litchfield enquirer., 1869-11-11

bafraSsment mOmentar1ly increased. "Oh, Hstty, Hetty-" began once more. 5
 Dear Philip" she whispered in reply to what she deemed affsction. :'I am so 'Vf What could doa Tell her it was all a mistake. and thus blight the bright young life and heart for ever? In that one sec ond made great decision. My chances of happiness had fled. I would sacrifice myself and marry her, and she should never know the truth. .o '4@e12 '7 A @nAz- d bent down and whispered, ss God bless you, Hetty; will try and make you hap py;;"" and I kissed the wild, teasing, merry girl, now so gentle, so winning, so sweet. I could not rudely break her heart. af ut l She looked up and then hid her face again on my shoulder, and clung to me to hide her emotion. Was it not possible to love her? Ought ILnot to be thankful? Had married Alice-no, mean propos- ed to her-I should only have been reject ed. and gone away miserable; now l had Q real, true heart to love me. Surely, sure- ly, in time might return her affection. !" Can you be happy with me, Hetty?" .'.s oh, Philip indeed I oan," she she re- piled. 22i > 'a-a y7@" < .4eao4s T L q always feared you laughed at me- said. a4jvB..q .F. |. zestss,t ...-..,,, -..t
 ' :. I only laughed to hide my feelings, !" said Hetty. F'- i4-.s e-' L1l.5J~ -I ii'" am not rich, Hetty." I continued.
 "I will be a careful little wife, Philip" she said.
 "I am not worthy of you," I said.
 "Yes, you are, ''she exclaimed. "I am not worthy of you.''
 There was no escape for me. She would not see mein my worst light. She would love me. ags. .l.s.f zes., 07.,; s,rr..9. s,,.r
 -' We sat down side by side. She prattled to me how Alice and Willie had long loved each other, but it had never been settled thing till now, for his position had not been such that he could marry.
 And Alice is so glad for me-" went on Hetty, little thinking what my feelings wore. "She says you're just the kind of man she would like for brother. You know it would not do for us both to want you for a husband-eh, Philip?" 's.h
 No, dearest" stammered, "it would not"iaos4g lt.G ts. ...r.
 I could not talk to her, but she seemed not to mind my silence. We sat hand in hand, dreaming, thinking Inwardly I was repeating my letter to Charlie Somers, telling him all about my love for Alice. Now.I must hasten to tell him that it was Hetty l meant. Oh dear! what 8 whirl my poor brain is inl 9af9 49r~aq f
 At last, to my, great relief, Mir. and Mrs. Gordon entered. Mrs. Gordon shook me warmly by the hand, and said. :" Dear MT. Gwynne, there is no one ' would rather give nay wild young birdie to than you, AL ice, though younger,is so quiet and steady, she is far more capable of acting for her. self; but you'll always be kind and tender to Hetty, won't you?"
 "Of course he will-of course he will, 1" cried Mir. Gordon. "Come, Gwynne, and wash your hands," ...,. '.
 Deeply grateful for the chance (not that my hands were dirty, but because I felt I should burst out crying or do something equally absurd if l stopped there) fol- lowed him. y, ..'4, ,'.s 6 -e
 What time do you dine, Mr. Gordon ?''
 "six," he replied. a"It is now aquar- ter past five." r. i "Ah, I shall just have time" I said. ssI find Ihave forgotten to leave order about a certain medicine. Ifyou'n allow me, I'll just run down to the surgery, for it will not do to be careless about physic. D aa i U" Certainly not, certainly not" said Mir. Gordon; < thoug h very excusable under tho circumstances; make haste six sharp. ?
 almost ran off I let myself into my surgery by my latch-key. Oh joy!it was empty. Locking the door, I sank into a chair and paused to think. What should I do? The only time for escape was now. Should I send for note to say was sud denly called out, and see what tomorrow xw<S,ld IoC r. Gh o,~11s II &L:~ throw my character and profession to the winds and bolt2 They were not tempting alternatives. I almost did the first. But ing to act unworthy a gentleman? After plighting my troth and receiving her shy kisses, could now explain? And yet loving the other?e Why had they not seen was hopeless? Why did not open my eyes and see that, contrary to appearances, she was the youngera No use to ask that
 My duty was clear, my course plain. I temples in cold water, and determined to part and trust to time to make it natural to me. --'a .ers Il So Iretraced my steps, and entered the sGordons' drawing just as it struck six. I was of course introduced to Cousin Willie. He was a tall, fair bearded fellow, looked and spoke like a gentleman, and seemed very fond of Alice, and she of him. Somehow l felt better when, I saw them together. After all, Hetty was just as pretty with her ;'wayy,u glossy hair, her bright eyes, with their new, softened ex- pression, and that shy smile round her TO sy mouth declare found myself com pairing them to my little one's advantage, and felt quite proud as I led her into the dining-room. 9A.-~-'' serir What need Ifsay more9 Day by day my lot grew sunnier. my little Hetty dearer and dearer to me. I never knew her oth- erwise than bright and good tempered; while Alice-but I must not tell tales-Al- ice is:a dear girl, and am very fond of her, and 0fmy anephews and nieces; but al my heart and my love is my own merry Hetty,s.g 53fy4es agiIaa adT reifss. 4o5 :. .a4We have now been married some years, and little ones batter about our home; and as Iwrite; my own sweet wife leans oyer my shoulder, and reads how out of my mistake grew my life's best and truest hap piness; and she says mischievously; .My dear old Phil, what happy man you are, although you had to get married in spite of yourself!" -,.r-i fc m fif5Iisfe 2 T-- MY DIT - fffo Curtis L. North, who figured SO conspic- nously in Meriden some years ago. and aby