Litchfield enquirer., 1872-06-27

never even looked at me-since you camep' was her remark when we were well ont of earshot. a
 You have so kindly given me so many Opportunities, I began.
 Now what is the matter? IdO believe it is Miss Podger. It is too hard on me to see you go od your knees before her, right in my face, and regardless of room ful of lookers-on. It is all very well to pretend it was the decanter"-
 twill you be serious for five minutes, Miss Montague?" My own voice and mood might have belonged to the Arch bishop of Canterbury at state funeral, so sombre were they both
 ''You want to frighten me-" she replied, for the second time anxiously scanning my face; but felt her fingers close tight. ly on my arm.
 went on quickly. T know all about my cousin, and that his pretensions to your hand are infinitely superior to mine. I can see he is handsomer;I know he is ten times wealthier; and, from all I have observed, he appears to be a hundred times more agreeable. -I-well, it's deuced hard lines to be cut out in this way, though-1 might have expected it. Never mind nag feelings, you know-I'm a man and can bear it-and, of course, ii you wish-to be-released"-
 Cecil, you must be crazy! don't know what you are talking about. Who is you cousin? don't know any cousin of yours. What do you mean?"
 'I mean MT. Neremiah Ogg, with whom
 ''Has he come?" she interrupted. ''Oh where is he? Where was he? When did he come?"
 I stared at her, confounded.
 ''ft is quite folly to attempt to deceive me in this way" I replied, suppressed anger making my voice queer and un. steady. s'You talk to one man 3 whole e-eaing-go to dinner with him-dance with him-and then pretend you don't know his name!"
 She came in front of me, putting hel hands on on mine, and looking up at me steadily
 ''I know you are angry" she said, land am afraid you are angry with me; but you are speaking riddles to me. The man who took me into dinner is horrid little wretch called Myers,-a Jew, believe.- and I could not get rid of him sooner, though l tried my very hardest. I did think you might have come to my rescue. But MT. Neremiah Ogg, who is to be his heir, IS expected late this evening" ? "What has he never come yet ?"
 "No. He has been expected ever since you went, and has been prevented coming several times but he Is really to arrive to night; and when you told me-when you said,"-
 Geraldine, you are the same as ever Tell me. have been miserable, unjust to you, making a fool of myself about nothing. Surely I have! An, my darling! do you love me, after all, though I'm poor, and stupid, and such a great goose as to fancy y0u could be fickle or mer- cenary ?"
 Here followed ceremony which I, at least, considered very necessary to the making up of the quarre-if, indeed, a quarrel it was, being all on one side; and my display of contrition threatened to be prolonged one, having, become deep. ly repentant, and also utterly defiant of the all-subduing charms of my cousin when he should come
 But on Geraldine insisting on going into the house again, I pleaded for one min ute, and, with "now or never" sort of courage, said that I had confession to make-a dreadful confession: I-Iwas afraid she would think far less of me when she had heard it; but it must be told. Geraldine, am not what you believe me: my name is an assumed one-my real'-
 A servant here approached quickly, and interrupted me.
 'If you please, Miss Montague, Mir. Bottletop wishes to see you immediately. I was to say gentleman's come, Miss MT. Neremiah Ogg-and please will you step this way at once?'
 We followed the man, my fatal comics stoned silenced; and he led us to the li- brary, where Mrs. Montague and MT. Bottletop were sitting together, one on each side of the fire. The little dance was over, and the other guests had retired for the night. ~ vH.-I BECOME PERFECTLY RECONCILED TO
 MY FATE, MY NAME INcLUDER
 "Wen," said MT. Bottletop, "at last our friend has arrived" q looked round, but saw nothing of him); ''and as it is as well to know our own minds about things let us settle now. Cecil being here makes it a little awkward, so we'll have no mis- understandings. Cecil, in the first place, do you think..you are able and willing to marry on the little money you and Geral- dine will have between you? Do you think, now, supposing your debts were paid, that you could be economical, and keep straight9'
 answered eagerly. Nothing will induce me to relinquish Geraldine again" D.
 "Ay, ay, said MT. Bottletop, with much gravity. "And what do you say, young lady, to this headstrong fellow?"
 'I think he is right" answered Geral. dine steadily, though she blushed. bright "May ask where my cousin is, sir s'' demanded. -
 ''You will see him soon enough" re. sponded my godfather composedly: ''he was in his travelling dress, and not presenta ble when he arrived. But now, Mrs. Mon tague, having heard what these young folks say, and believing I, at least dc that they mean it, and are very fond oi each other, don't you think it will be kindest and wisest, after all, to let them have their own way?"
 Geraldine's soft eyes rose to his face gratefully; and, thoug gh I had not the least hope that my optics could ever be so ex. pressive, I did the best could with them
 But Mrs. Montague replied maiestical ly, ''No, Mir. Bottletop.. I am quite sur prised to.hear this from you. Iobject ut terly to any alliance between my daughter and MT. Cecil Ogg; and, if I know hel alright, she will never wed against my wishes" s'
 Iknew this too we'll, as Geraldine had impressed 1t on me many times; and my spirits fell approximately. r
 'sBut why should you object to him ? urged MT. Bottletop ood-humoredly ':.He is gentleman both by birth and ed ucation; he might be great deal worse te look at; and, for my part, never heard any harm of him-except, perhaps, that he has spent a tride more than he ought and earned trife less." E@-ofs
 .ssAnd you call that nothing ?' said Mrs Montague, with scathing emphasis ''Ar idle good d-for-nothing, unprincipled spend thrift, steepea in debt and poverty-is ht aft husband for Miss Montague?- mar with no sense of honor, or he would nev CT have come in this underhand mannel and re-established his ascendency ove1 II |