Litchfield enquirer., 1871-11-16
v1.-rHE ao1pEN pow1 BROKEN.

In the evening there seemed to be some spur that urged strange kind of cheer from us. Arria sparkled with restless, unnatural gayety; Maurice was quiet, more sweet in his smile, his words, his gestures, with his face stiller and paler, his eyes larger and blacker and more glowing than ever before. He seemed to me to be like one completely aware of the extent of some course. and yet going forward resolv. ed. having weighed all in the balance. When he spoke felt that he exerted anew his utmost powers of fascination, his boundless tact, his voice with it's exquisite modulation. his motions with their manly grace. His light pleasantly was gone, per. haps forever, but there was that in his SC. riousness which the mask of his quip and mock in so many others always stimulates us to know. Never had I known him so powerfully charming, ruling our hearts with that light, strong hand which implies so much reserved strength; never so genial; never so thoroughly had I appre. ciated in him the fact of erect manhood: |: never so warmly before confessed him in his enthralling courtesy to be the pattern of true knighthood, the gracious, loyal, love compelling gentleman. I looked with a kind of pride, too, upon his beauty, that had only increased with his trials; aud thers must have welled up into my eyes the full affection with which regarded him, for as he caught their glance deeper light kindled behind his own till their lustre became diffused in my tears, and rising, he stepped to my side and kissed me very softly, as he might have kissed sleeping, babe. "Good night, now" he said-Ar- ria had slipped from the room-"4ood- night. Trefetheness;" and he wrung his hand. Good might, Little Mistress. once for all F' And light as were his words and voice, could only judge of his emo- tion by the white pressure that he left stamped upon my fingers. So we went to our rooms, and deep into the dark we heard Maurice's restless pain throhbing itself out in music. s {..t...,..g-
 So strongly apprehensive was of some unknown terror that I only partially un dressed. and then dismissing the maid, threw myself on the he'd and pulled the coverlet oyer me. Nevertheless, I fell in- to broken slnmber that lasted till the dead of night. When awoke, the house was still from that troubled music, still with an ominons stiffness; there was faint light in the room, and Arria, shield ing a taper with her fingers, stood beside the bed Twice she bent over me, and twice rose without havinG'touched me; at length she stretched her hand across as if benison would fall from it, snatched it away, and retreated, still pausing at every other step, looking back and shielding the light with her flame tinted fingers. So deadened were my perceptions with drow- siness and long fatigue that I fancied. af- kov fI,n .x& al | had just walked from dream. must have already fallen into another, when I rose thoroughly perturbed and flushed and my heart palpitating in wild disorder. listened: there was rustling in the hall the hall leading into the garden. I sprang to my feet and gently opened my door; there were whispers to be heard. and then u resonant vibration as if some heavy article of plate had been accident ally struck. remembered how the great drinking cup had stood uDguarded in the music room these last weeks. I listened again; all was still now for the moment. but on the pavement without the gate heard the measured tread of feet. For one breathless instant my alarm would not suffer me to stir, the next, dashed into the gallery, and cried: Maurice Trefeth- eness ! Wake P 4
 ; Amoment afterwards there was move ment in some opposite room and e door opened. At the same time the cry had disturbed the whole house, ,and Mrs. Quin- cerl, Lncius, Martha, Reve, the gardener. and it seemed Q hundred others, hocked down about me, uttering all manner of exclaims. crying, questioning. sobbing, and in the most confused commotion. We were in total darkness, some running one l way, some another,
 s.Where areyou. Mr. Trefethensss 2 cried one. to Maufice.S q s6i ss!
 ..Herei hereI called voice fromibelowi and at the word a light hared up from, [ chandelier in the hall: and '.Where | ] '.Thievesl thievesI' he shouted. sEht