Litchfield enquirer., 1873-11-27

.s eSe-A0 f4sss0 ' 4A1Ghiy.s Ab Is 2 warm, bright, summer afternoon. In little cove Abrams boat is lying idly on the water; he IS fishing. and Alice, in the stern. IS watching him. She has taken Oil her hat, and the level sunbeams uuiy- CT through her golden curls, and dance over the white arms and restless little hands.
 Come, Uncle Abram, aren't you mostly ready? Aunt Martha will be so cross.''
 The artist up on the rocks who, unper- celVed, has been sketching the group, goes hastily on with his work. now"
 She leans back again, and sits quietly watching the white gulls flying out to sea. The golden brightness fades little. and the young face takes tenderer look. Abram IS dimly conscious of something that makes different all the world to him, a something that is pain and pleasure both. He leans over and touches her hand softly-"Shall we go now, pretty Blossom ?' and with start the girl comes out of her dreaming and smiles up at him, a child again.
 ''I must have that girls face P And as Abram takes up the oars, loud "Hal- loo p. comes to him from the rocks. and looking up he sees a figure springing down from point to point in evident haste to join him.
 ''We,l have to stop a minute, Blossom, yon ladll break his neck, I'm much afeared."
 As he comes up the stranger doffs his hat to Alice, who bushes Tn pretty sur- prise and embarrassment. 'sCan you tell me sir, he says, turning to Abram, "of any place where could stay for week ? Your coast is so beautiful, and I am an artist : he stops abruptly and looks at Alice, who, with doWncast eyes Is dipping her hand in the water. "What a lovely face r he exclaims mentally.
 .fWell ! mebbe Ben Lawson's wife could take you, ef you're willin' to eat fish an eggs an. sech like"
 Chi quite willing is the stranger to eat anything, but where is Ben Lawsons wife to be found ? Then Abram, with his natuial politeness, offers him seat in his boat, and so for one short half hour, he has the happiness of sitting opposite his hoped-for model. and listening to her low, sweet replies to his lively conversation. Presently he lays his sketch-book on her lap, open at his late attempt.
 Her eyes sparkle. ''There is Uncle Abram and the old boat, butt never looked like that, Is it me ?"
 ''Of course it is You are not very com plimentary to my skill. why is it not like you ?"
 ''Is is so very pretty answers Alice with shy blush, which makes her ten times more enchanting to the amused eyes watching her.
 Then the boat grates on the sand and after receiving directions for finding Ben Lawson's cottage, the artist strides off up the beach, only to turn again to look at the two figures climbing up the cliff. They are clearly outlined against the evening sky, the old man strong and hearty yet, head erect, clear eyes and firm, sure step, the seang girl, now sprlnglng on before, now clinging to his hand with child-ike corizsence;; and sothey vanish under the sl;sifss ssl,sii. wfsh \. trees, aEd he walks on
 The next morning rose DrIgnu ;alG sun ny with just enough wind to rufe the blue water. Outside the ledge of rock the sea was dotted with tiny sails. whiten ing the morning sun. The little waves curled over with just feather of foam, and the gulls were darting hither and thither, their long wings gleaming in the sunlight.
 Ernest Hathaway strolling up the;beach came suddenly upon Abram and his ''lit- tie Blossom" cozily sheltered beneath the old boat.
 Good mornin'. sir, you're out early, '' and Abram rose slowly.
 ''Don't get up; may n't I join you ? This is such shady nook in all this blaze of sunshine"
 Come an welcome, sir, ef you're will lin to take the sand for cheer; we aint got much furniture in our house, hev we, Blossom ?"
 "And Blossom smiled shyly, pushing away some sea-weed to make place for the young artist.
 "Do you come here often ?" he asked as he threw himself down on the sand.
 Claws, yes, sir, Blossom an me, we comes here most days that's fine, we couldn't do without the old boat, could we. Blossom ?"
 And Alice laughs and shakes her head, then turns her eyes once more to the shimmering water. Ernest Hathaway fol lows her gaze, and the beautiful light strikes through and through his delicate appreciative face "What a perfect morn ing this is !-nothing left to wish for.''
 "It's just that, sir, perfect, as you say. l often think folks talk bout how they'd do, but If any one of us had made this mornin', sir, we'd ha' left out somethin'. Mebbe 1t would ha' been the wind and the sparkle like it makes on the water, mebbe it would ha' been only the gulls, but any, way it wouldn't ha' been perfect; it takes God to do that"
 They were all silent few moments and then the stranger turned to Abram. ''I almost forgot my errand, which was to ask you to take me off somewhere in your boat, where can get view of the coast with this sparkling sea in front; you can fish while you wait for me, you know"
 'Well, sir, ;" the old man answered slow ly, ''not but what I'd like it, and I'm not unciyil I hope. but hadn't you oughtel take young Ben's boat ? You're stayin there, an he's only just started; the fish ln's poor this year, an young Ben he wants 1t more'n me, an so you see, sir, I'd rather not
 ''Very we'll, if you would rather not, o1 course 1 won't urge you, but where's young Ben though ?"
 s.I'l find him, sir" and Abram hurried of we'll pleased with his success. Earnest Hathaway now set himself deter minedly to overcome the shyness of his companion, and had so far succeeded that they were talking quite gayly before Abrams return.
 'There's Uncle Abram now, and Aunt Martha wants me. must go."
 Ernest held out his hand. "Must you: Then goodbye
 She understood his hesitation-"M name is Alice; haven't any other; good bye"
 'Here he is, sir" and Abram came ul with "young Ben"-an enlarged edition of his father-in his wake. ''He'n do a. well for you as any one, I'm sure, an hei got tidy boat of his own, sir
 Perhaps I'll find out something about that enchanting little sprite from thu young giant, " thought Ernest Hathaway as he settled himself. in the stern opposit' the shining delight embodied in the coun tenance of young Ben. And he was no disappointed; he soon learned all Alice history, as far as 1t was known; and nov not day passed that he did not fint some excuse for visiting Abrams cottage Now 1t was some rare shell which he ha(