Litchfield enquirer., 1871-06-15

Donnell's mother bought me custard and some apples the next day.
 "Donnells gone to the Glens. my dear, said she, "or he would ha' been over this mornin' to sec you. He went before he heard of your foot, and he won't be home for week."
 What's he doing there?" asked my stepmother.
 He has land there. you know" said Donnell's mother. (" and he goes whiles to settle his affairs with them that has charge of it. don't know rightly was he's gone about now. Something has gone against him, lately, for he's not like himself these few days back. He said somethin' about goin' to be married when he came home, but if he is. it's not after his heart; for I never saw bridegroom so glum on the head of it. But. dear, I thought it was you he liked?"
 'So he does, Mrs. Mcdonnell, said I, "but not that way-not for his wife,"
 "Well, we'll, my dear!' said Donnell's mother, wiping her eyes.
 Everybody was coming to see me now on account of my foot. Oracle came the next day or so, and surely was amazed at the glory of her dress. My stepmother. who did not like her, left us alone together, and Gracie's news'came out. She was going to be married on next Tuesday.
 II know that" says I.
 "How do you know it?" said she.
 "Donnell's mother told me-"
 "Donnell's motherl Nothing but Don nell and DonnelI's mother from you for eyer. How should she know?''
 "Oh, Oracle, his own"
 "Why," she burst in, "you don't i'm agine he's the man? Why it's Squire Hannah! Only think, Bet of your Oracle being the Squire's lady!''
 I was quite confonnded. "Oh, oh, Gra- cie!" I stammered.
 "Well," she said. sulking. "are you not glad?"
 "Oh, yes" said, "very on your ac- count; but what will become of Donnell?''
 Donnell again. Now listen to me, Bet. l know when man likes me, and when he doesn't like me, just as we'll as any other girl; and I've seen this many day that Donnell didn't care pin about me. Not he. He only wanted me to marry him that the people might not say tilted him. told him that the other day when he asked you for,' said he; I want you 'Thank you, said I. And then he had the impu. dence to say: If changed my mind be. fore Sunday, was to send him word. that he might come to the consecration with me- Then be set off for the Glens on Monday. to settle some business there, and be home for our wedding in week!"
 l screamed out, seeing what had done.
 "The poor footl' cried Oracle, thinking I was in pain. "Is it bad?"
 "Never mind it," said I, ''And what did you say?"
 said," Gracie went on, that what. ever mnrniIS ho got ap and cav black Snow on the ground, that day he might look for 8 message from me. And yet he had the meanness to walk with me on Sunday, after all And the best fun of it is, that they say, he has gone to the Glens."
 "Oh, oh!' said I, beginning to groan again. and pretending it was all my foot. After that Gracie talked about herself and Squire Han nan until she went away. And somehow never had felt so little sorry to part with her before She seemed not to be my own Oracle and longer.
 And now was nearly out of my senses, thinking what mischief might come of my meddling. I was sure that Donnell and Squire Hannah would fight and kill one another, and all through me. I thought I would give all had in the world to see Donnell before any one else had told him the news, and confess to him what had done. On Tuesday, about mid day, a countryman from the Glens came in to light his pipe, and he said he had passed McDonnell, of Buckley Farm, on the way.
 "An'I think things must be going badly with him." said he, flor he has look on his face as black as potato blight"
 Somebody has told him, maybe!" said I to myself, and put on my shawl, and and borrowing a stick from an old nelgh- bor, hobbled off secretly up the road to. wards the Glens. I soon got tired and dreadfully cold, as I could not walk fast and l sat down on bit of an old grey bridge to watch for Donnell coming past. At last he came laundering along, and al. though 1t was getting dark, could see that fully dark and unhappy.
 "Donnellp' said I calling out to him.
 "Who is that?" he said; why it's never little Bet"
 "But indeed it is." said I. ooh, Don- Oracle was married this morning to Squire Hannah"
 "Whew! He gave long whistle. '' The jiltp' said he, and he snapped his fingers. But his whole face frightened up.
 "She's not so much jilt as you think, Donnell, said I. ''for-oh, how can ever tell you-it was who wrote you the note you got last week. and she had nothing to do with. l did indeed, for thought that Gracie liked you; did. indeed! And oh Donnell, you won't go and kill Squire Hannan?"
 Wont IF" said he, looking awfully savage. 1T cut a great blackthorn this morning in the Glens for no other purpose than to beat out his brains"
 l gave great scream, and. dropping my stick fell along with it; but Donnell picked me up, and set me safe on his horse behind him.
 "Now," said he, " I'll tell you what it is little Bet. I'll make bargain. You'll marry me. and won't touch Squire Han- non."
 "I marry you?" cried I. 'after-after Oracle. Indeed will not. Donnen Mo- Donnel"
 .'I have behaved badly" said he, s'but I am very sorry. It is long time since I liked you better than Oracle, but the devil of pride was in me. and the people were saying she would jilt me. When got your bit of note felt as if I was going to be hung. God bless Squire Hannanl Now will you marry me, little Bet?"
 "No," said I; and with that he whipped up his horse, and dashed of with me at the