Litchfield enquirer., 1872-08-15

BY ELIZABETH LAWRENCE,
 The brOlling sun poured down over the town and even the shady street with the elm avenue was breathlessly hot. Inside the Westones old fashioned frame house, however, there was a sense of freshness, and the broad matted hall, with cane seats and the huge bowl of pond illies on the marble table, was place where, if there was any coolness to be had, you were sure to find it. Mrs. Weston and the girls were up stairs in white frilled dressing jackets and petticoats, fitting in and out of the large, shaded bedrooms, and back ward and forward across the upper hall, putting the finishing touches to their preparations for a journey which the girls had caused their father to substitute for their usual quiet stay at some place among the hills not more than two hours from home. ...--.t A
 Mir. Weston was a successful lawyer, devoted to his profession, and never SO happy as when he was going on in the beaten track, home to o'clock dinner, home again to o'clock tea, out again to his office after tea, and back again by nine at the latest When he was young man, he had been half over the world, and he knew his own country pretty thorough ly east of the Mississippi, butto his think ing no spot on earth was quite so delight ful as the elm-shaded city where he had lived nearly all his life
 It was not large family. There were only the two girls at home and one son, James Weston, who was married and iy- ing in New York. Jenny and Lily were iHo oc bIa 1,, To,, ny, whom her father called Jenny Wren, rather short and quite plump, with brown hair and eyes, rosy cheeks and cherry tipped mouth which seemed to laugh much more than most peoples, and for tunately could show lovely white teeth, and sweet. bright, good-tempered ex- pression which quite made you forget Vesy pug nose. Lily was the beauty of the family, and Jenny took immense pride and delight in her tall, graceful figure, abundant golden hair, pure satin-like skin with the Aaintest tinge of pink in the cheeks, and large, clear, violet-blue eyes.
 My tall white Lily" she used to call her sister who had sometimes look of fragile delicacy to alarm one, and, though not i'll, was never very strong, and was taken care of at home as if she had been a piece of fine old china.
 Both the girls were like their mother, from whom Jenny had got her plump, rounded figure, and Lily her golden hair and violet eyes, and delicate, straight features. .-... .-..+
 ''Come, girls" said Mrs. Weston, as the black laundress with her face shining like ebony brought up a great pile of snowy whiteness hot from the iron, ssyou must leave packing these things till after noon, and get ready for dinner now, for you know how your father dislikes wait ing. I do wish he would carry an um- brella when the sun is so hot. i'm always afraid of his getting sun-stroke.
 'This is his last day of it mother, and before we get back the weather will be cool. Aren't you glad we're going to- morrow? Think of the White Mountains and Mount Besert and Niagarar' and Jen- ny gave little squeal of delight. -s
 'Any letters, papa? asked Lily as MT. Weston came into the parlor few min utes later. ..-s...s.- l5. .a,
 Here's one for your mother from James. hope there's nothing amiss with Fanny cor the children" Mrs. Weston opened the letter and read aloud: ssCould you or one of the girls come to Fanny? She has been in bed a week with what the doctor calls bilious intermittent fever. and though he assures me there's no pres ent cause for alarm he says perfect quiet IS absolutely necessary, and that she can't get well while she lies in in bed worrying about the children and servants, and they keep running to her about every trifle. She needs some one to take all care of her hands, and of course her sister ought to come, but she has arranged to start for Newport to-day with a party of friends, and says she can't possibly break up all their plans. How she can possibly go and leave Fanny is more than can un-- derstand; but perhaps if she came she wouldn't be of much use, as she thinks more of her own comfort than anything else. Poor Fanny worries about little Jamie who is rather fretful with his teeth and does not seem happy with Ann.''
 Here was disappointment for some body. Much talking and crying followed, was to be the one to give up the pleasant journey, but Jennie carried the day, ap- pealing to her father to look at her mother and sister, who were both evidently need ing mountain air, and say if it wasn't sim pie common sense that she should oo to Fanny; she who was perfectly we'll, and stroEg enough for anything. Dear little thingi she did look radiant with health. energy and kindhness as she stood by her tall father with her bright, eager face turned up to his. >.I..,s5 <.
 Of course Mrs. Weston and Lily protest ed against it, but Jenny was memorable and further settled the matter by writing letter to James, telling him to meet her ct the station in New York the next morn ing. .ssa ..a.#-y1as After dinner she proceeded to re-arrange the trunks, without shade of lLhumor, separating from Lily's all her own pretty, new things. She held up white muslin all outings and loopings and valenciennes and cherry ribbons, saying as she did so what pity it was that Lily couldn't wear her dresses, for surely she wouldn't need this sort of thing while she was nursing poor Fanny. s'tsts ssssasss=sssa ' Her mother and sister declared that all their pleasure was gone-and they should not be able to enjoy anything without her. but Jenny insisted that that would be treating father very shabbily, and after all she would go some time. sssShe would make her father take them all again. next summer" 1ft2 Hl q sffi7 zAEi tU3
 The next morning Mir. Weston took her to the station, and put her into the train an hour before the White Mountain party were to start, and she nodded brightly to him from the window as the train moved of, her sunny face bearing no trace of dis loppointment at giving up her plans. sssf She felt repaid when she saw James