Litchfield enquirer., 1873-11-13

to hidden depths of feeling. The heroism of self-sacrifice, the triumph of martyr dom, the glory of the conqueror had been l the theme of the discourse. and Mra. 1 Maitland in her comfortably cushioned l pew at Saint Luke's had sat motionless,
 and with indrawn breath listened to the l eloquent words of the preacher. There were traits in the character of Abby Malt ! land that responded to the truths pre- 1 sented as certain tones blend with tonic and dominant in glorious accord. Abby 1 Alaitland's 8 soul had seemed lifted among | divine harmonies ss she walked out of
 church to sweet, inspiring organ tones.
 -''I will shape my life more in accord 1 ance with these heavenly truths," Mrs.
 Maitland had resolved, and in her Scrip
 ture reading that night the Apostolic in- I junction, "Use hospitality one to another
 without grudging, had singularly enforc- ed itself upon her attention. 1T have
 been unmindful of my neighbor and of | strangers in the town. have been sell 1 fish in this respect. will entertain this
 very week. she resolved, impulsively.
 ''The Convention meets here, and I will 1 enter my name as one who will receive guests. and Mrs. Maitland fell into a reverie full of hospitable plans. ''The
 
 Denning, the charming vocalist, will be l here, and I presume Judge Lathrop will
 bring his wife; their son, who is just many, I hear Is delightful, socially. Lawrence and the Lathrops have mutual friends, and really he would enjoy every one of them very much They would be a charming group; must ask for them in time. have felt no desire to bring oth- CTS into our home, have shrunk from it in fact, but entertainment is one of the so- cial duties of self-sacrifce, I see, clearly, |" and Mrs. Maitland, who had lived much within herself and in her own pursuits. thought of the carriage drives she would take these delightful days and of one or twz. choice spirits she would invite to meet them, and began to quite enjoy her self denial
 And now several days had passed. To- night the Convention was to open. Mrs. Maitland was in absolute readiness to re- ceive her guests after the opening session. s'There would be contest" the commit tee had stated, ''for the honor of enter taining those for whom she had asked. Madam Goveneuer always gobbled up all such people if she possibly could, but they would do their best.'' And Mrs Maitland, jealous for self-sacrifce, re- solved that madam should not take the precedence Together with her desire to perform the duties oF social martyrdom, Mrs. Abby Maitland may be pardoned if she felt a very soothing satisfaction in doing the hOnors as hostess in one of the loveliest, best-appointed homes in town.
 "All shut up, as I'm alive !" said Jacob Hoyt, halting before the house that had been Ellen's mothers home since her second marriage. "NOtO what's to be done? ?''
 Perhaps mothers out to tea. Maybe we can get in and take care of ourselves said tired Mrs. Ellen. But locks would not yield. ''Drive on to Squire Low burys. Perhaps we shall find her there," suggested Ellen.
 ''She's gone to Stowbridge to see John. They started off very sudden. Got tel egrm that John had broken his leg and wanted your mother to come and nnrse it, eemmunieatedh eaho1q 91qulrs 4soon .sn,'-y ye turned % the wagon -=
 ''Cindy, how many of 'em are there 2" asked Aunt Hepsey.
 "Well. there's his wife, or maybe it's his daughter, and three children"
 s'Mercy on us sUe can't take 'em in. and they can't go back to their place Shet the door, Cindy.''
 ''We will have to go on to the village" said Ellen.
 "Who do you know there?' asked her husband.
 ''There are hotels there" said his wife.
 "'Hotels ?" repeated Jacob Hoyt. "A span of horses and whole family You don't suppose we're going to hotel, do you? We'll have to pay regular city prices; it's fast town What are you of to-day, Ellen ?'
 ''We must go on" said Mrs. Hoyt de- 'We cannot go back. It is but mile further"
 "What are you going to do when you get there ?"
 '.Rest," said Ellen.
 "Well, this beats me !' said Jacob. "We might as well drive on while we're talking, suppose" and he did talk about it, while tears dropped quietly under FL lens veil.
 It was not yet dark when they reached the village.
 'Can you read the names of the streets?'' asked his mother of Percy, who sat with her on the back seat. ''I think it is on Broad Street Abby Maitland lives, if I re- right" speaking in low tone be- hind her veil's sheltering screen 'T want to guess which house may be hers, as we pass"
 Jacobs quick ear caught the words "Abby Maitland" he asked, ''she that was Abby Garrett, did you say? Why, she was at your wedding. The one that Mat said had been to Europe and come back and got such handsome house. forgot all about it. She lives here, does she? suppose you'll want to go right there, of course, and see your old frind."
 s'Not on any account, Jacob! It is many years since have heard from Ab- by. We will call there when we get rest ed, or send her word that we are here. To go there tonight and take her by storm is simply impossible"
 'sAt all events" said Jacob, '.we can stop and see If she is at home. We won't stay if we are not invited. But, taking it all around, I think it's inst the thing! I'm glad you spoke of it. As to aU of us going to the hotel, it is out of the question"
 Ellen remonstrated in vain.
 ''Just stop in a friendly way and let cm AuOW you Ec u0ES, p0ESlSleO JaCOD, making inquiries for Lawrence Maitland's and Ellen, her temples throb- ping with pain and herlarms aching from holding sleeping baby Ben, subsided in- to silence, and sat like a statute as they jolted through the streets of the pictur- esque. populous village as the crimson and gold of the sunset were slowly dying out of the west. fsi-
 '.Yes'm, I'll member bout ightin' the gas an all the rest, said Mrs. Maitland's second girl, looking at madam admiring- ly, as she put On her bonnet and gave or ders before going out. "Let me open that blind and let in more light. Why, there's the butler man and all his family. No it ain't, but it looks like him, and he's coming in at the front door,"
 At this moment there was pull at the bell, and Bessie went down. to answer the summons.
 els Mrs. Maitland at home?" asked Ja- cob Hoyt.