Litchfield enquirer., 1872-06-20

The following conversation did not come to my knowledge until month or two af- ter this time: but, as it occurred the morn- ing after the Montagues' arrival at Ches- lyn, l insert 1t here in it's properplace.
 I was shooting; Geraldine had gone in- to the woods; and Mir. Bottletop and Mrs. Montague were talking over the dinner party. ...-.. s ....
 At last she mentioned my name.
 ''Is this MT. Ogg relation of yours, MT. Bottletop?"
 ''No, not any but he is related to the Oggs of Yorkshirs, who, as you know, have always been great friends of mine. !"
 ''It is one of that family who is your godson, believer" .F
 'FYes; and he is called after me"
 ''WeI, you know I told you when I wrote what terrible mistake I had made. If had not persuaded Geraldine to show me his letter to her, I should never have guessed that he was your godson: you know Ogg Is such an uncommon name, but you always told me your godson was called after you. '
 '.It was great escape for Geraldine" observed my godfather. '"This Cecil is, I dare say very good young fellow in his way, but poor as rat; and Geraldine is hardly the girl for farmers wife"
 ''No, indeedr' said Mrs. Montague warmly. ''Dear Mir. Bottletop, I am so glad, ,-so satisfied you think I have done right. assure you," and she sighed plalntlvely, Git has been 8 great trouble to me, and girls nowadays are very differ ent to what they were when was young. Do you think 1t likely that MT. Neremiah Ogg will visit you soon?"
 ''Very probable" returned Mir. Bottle top, without 8 muscle twinkling; s'and. as told you last night, really think it will be worth your while to stay and meet him. Meanwhile, it is, as you say, rather awkward about Cecil being here just at present, but I think with your tact and good sense you can easily manage him {; and l can't send the man away"
 Mrs. Montague smiled sweetly; and Mir. Bottletop laughed in his sleeve till he nearly blew himself up.
 l trampsd away in the September sum- shine, shooting wildly, and needless alike of the keepers sarcasms and the reproach- full glances of the setters. But, on my re- turn to the house, resumed my off-hand manner, went through dinner in triumph. and, not content with flirting tonight, | made vigorous love to lady with a re- markedly long nose. The next day it was the same thing over again; and I began to feel, that ill spite of MT. Bottletop's en- treaties, and my own clear conscience. I could not stay the week out. A severe bow and stately ''good night" and ''good- morning" were the extent of my inter- course with Mrs: and Miss Montague: there were some other ladies in the house. my long nosed fair one among them, or i couldn't have stood it for an.hour.
 On my return from my third days shooting, Tom Marks, the keeper, hap pened to be carrying both my gun and his own. We came home by what was called the High Covert, a pretty planta- tion which we had been through in the morning.
 'I'm late-In get through the hedge Tom, ," I remarked. ''You had better go round by the gate, as you've got those guns;" and scrambled through the thick fence. Tom, suppose, thought more of his own opinion than mine: for, as turned to speak to him again 1 saw him struggling among the branches, and the next moment the report of gun rang out. followed by faint cry-not from me, though got Q small peppering in my shoulder.
 "What the devil are you doing?" I be- gan, naturally very angry; but Toms white, scared face stopped me. He was still on the top of the fence, from which eminenc he commanded a wider pros- pect than could obtain from the ground: |: and he gasped in awe-stricken aceents,-
 "Oh, good God! sir-look-Ive shot the-the lady!''
 ran forward to where he pointed and sure enough, behind the low thicket, down on the ground, pale and frightened-look- ing, was Geraldine Montague.
 ''Are you much hurt 9 I exclaimed. ''It's that fool, the keeper-an accident, you know-where are you hurt ?''
 "My ankle," she said; and, as I had some brandy in my flask, proceeded to give her strong dose, which kept her from fainting
 ''You go,' said to the abject Tom, who now came up, Ego and bring up the little pony-phaeton here, and send of for doctor. Mind! you can get the trap here, I'm certain, in less than twenty minutes" Whereupon he dashed off like a madman.
 '1 think must have strayed into a part of the grounds where ought not to be, |" said Geraldine confusedly. ''Mr Bottle top told me where was not to go but I was stupid, I think, and didn't under stand"
 ''Im afraid you are in great pain," I said; and tried very hard even then to appear quite cool. knelt down by her and put the flask into her hand, telling her to drink some more; as did SO she sud- denly became paler than she was, and held my hand
 "LoOk-look here p she exclaimed, "Oh, there is blood running down your arm-your wristband Is covered with it.! Oh! and you are wounded all the time and never thinking of yourself. What can do? How selfish, how horrible have beenp
 would gladly have had the whole con- tents of Toms gun in my shoulders for the exquisite pleasure these words gave me; but what price could have scared to for the additional luxuries of her heart rent tone, her sweet looks, the white and red that came by turns to her face on my account-I really cannot imagine.
 It's-it's-nothing at all, I stammer- ed: s.I really don't mind it a bit, you know only shot or two in my shoulder" Recovering myself, I added neatly, 'I'd be shot gladly-altogether-if 1 could save you minutes pain by it."
 Upon this thought the brandy flask would have to come into play again, she went so pale; but it is rather difficult to keep up sentiment, however real, with 8 pull at flask every five minutes. Rut after little pause she went on bravely, though not without quiver in her voice, s'I don't think you carry out your words as rule. But I suppose you would say the same thing to any woman"
 s'Geraldine I don't think Pm to blame'.
 'sBut Miss Werter is very handsome" (she was the long-nosed beauty),-this was said in manner verging on sobs,- ''and very well off and and man. ma
 "What are you talking about?" I ex- claimed; .1et us have it out now-if you can stand talking-can you ?''
 "Yes,'' hesitating. "Cecil-you know it was all mammals doing" et
 "Wds it" et.-. F..