Litchfield enquirer., 1870-04-28

CT in the distance; and soft purple haze gathering about that made it like an en- chanted scene.
 was. imagining wonderful picture which I meant to paint some day, and beautiful poem that I intended to write, and a.symphony that ! would compose, and all sorts of exalted fancies. when there was a noise as if the world had come to an end, and tho orchard wall fallen in the crash; and worse than all, the bark of & great dog, which was not to be borne with equanimity, if instant death in the gene ral dissolution of the universe was.
 Clatter-hang; dog barking again. I was just ready to run. when heard g mans voice exclaim,
 'The deuce! .
 Then I stood still; was so angry at the idea of having my privacy thus invaded, that forgot my fears. Ijust took time to remember that it was like bit of @ sensa- tional novel. then called boldly.
 'Who's there?' aud stood ready to run if the dog parked again.
 'Bs quiet, Nero, heard the male voice command-and it was very deep, music al voice; so l thought I would make an- other point in the novel by stepping out from my covert and confronting the youth. l remember distinctly that he had blue eyes and golden bair-for my last hero was swartby as 8 corsair, and the female mind requires variety.
 More muttered words; strangled growls from the dog; then, in tragic voice. cried,
 Who comes? Speak, I say
 I thought that sounded more like me- To- drama than it did like Cometh up as a Flower, or one of Anna Thomas novels, and I was annoyed. at myself. I tried to think of something witty and annihilating to say, but couldn't; so out I stepped, and tripped over black. berry vine, aud nearly fell on my nose; and the big bark boomed out again; and instead of saying any thing, squealed like guinea pig and the nasty vine tore hole in one of my stockings.
 When recovered my. equilibrium, I found myself face to face with great New foundland dog, with his mouth open in stupid wonder, and tall man, who had his mouth open in astonishment. But away went my romance, The hero was. at least, forty, his face did not look old. but his hair was little gray, though it did curl.
 l beg ten thousand pardons,' said he. l had no idea there was anybody here! l live in the next house, and am in the hab- it of going through the orchard on my way down the hill.
 The blackberry-vine was scratching my legs: I was conscious my dress was show ing my torn hose; so all I could do was to grin idiotically, and say,
 Yes
 I fell in getting over the wall, pursued the stranger, 'and Nero fell over me. I hope didn't frighten you
 I only grianed idiotically once more, and this time said,
 No
 Then the nasty. old, gray-haired wretch bowed, and whistled to his dog. and said,
 IT you VIII permit, l will trespass this time, but I promise to prove more civil neighbor in future
 Through the orchard he went, leaped over the wall, and disappeared down the hill. l looked at my stockings. As ex- pected, they were dreadfully torn. I bounced into the house, and was as cross as bear all the evening, and alarmed aunt Marjorie by informing her that we had horrid, old white-haired man for a who was either a mad man or a burglar, and l rather thought both. But Haunah happened to hear me, and with her usual impertinence spoke up,
 No, indeed, Miss Emily; the new girl was telling me about him. He's a MT. Cromlin, and comes here everS summer; she says he's proper nice man.
 looked in very dignifed way at Han nah, but Hannah was not in the least sub dued.
 You've torn your dress said she; what Q careless chlld you be! I declare, Miss Emily, you ought to leave off jumping about so-you'r re almost grown up now
 should have glad to wave Hannah out of the room with gesture of command; but as knew it would only result in her telling me mot to be silly walked away with'great dignity, and heard her oonfide to Aunt Mario,ie,
 Emily Fl always be a baby-it's the way with short girls.
 Now my height was tender point with me, and was more angry than ever, and consoled myself by g.tting up respectable hatred for the man, who had been the means of bringing such varied and unen- durable humiiations upon me.
 Would anybody believe creature 'conld have such ill luck, and be so tormented? The very next day, old Judge Boker. who was staying in the village, came out to call on us, and brought the detestable Cromlin man in with him; and when I went down into the parlor, there he was: and when aunt Marjory introduced us. he said. un- 
 T hope you have forgiveo the fright I gave you last week.
 I looked daggers at him, and answered with drawl,
 II don't remember. Oh, yes, now I do. You were with my dog
 Then l didn't talk to him any more. on. ly to speak when he addressed me: and, in spite of my dignity, he would do that as often as he pleased. The old judge seem ed nightly amused at my answers; but aunt Marjorie once or twice looked little grave, though, of course, did not mean to be taught how to treat man by an old maid who never had love affair, when I had been engaged thres times. It wasn't and for while I was inclined to think that aunty was getting like the old cats in books, who hate their yonng relatives; but I got over that, and was somewhat ashamed of having indulgsd the tancy.
 That was the first visit Mir. Cromlin paid IS, but it was by no means the last In. Iced. may say that he rushed along to- ward an intimate acquaintance as rapidly IS he could, by all the devices that would suggest themselves to the natural clumsi-
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