Litchfield enquirer., 1873-06-26

rite Duval or no ?" Prudence-that tAc often fatal enemy to the tender passion said No. Love contradicted her hatly and said ssYes." And Love, having the formidnhle allies hefora mentioned tc |:strengthen his cause, was on the point ! ot gaining victory over his stern adver- yersary, when was recalled to sense o1 my present position by the sopening oi fhe.ante-room doar, from whence distaste- fdI sounds of mirth were borne on the tobacco-tainted air; then, as I feared, steps approached my door, which had taken the precaution of locking. paid no attention to 8 loud knocking, which was followed immediately by violent wrench at the handle, and 's1 say, old fel- low p
 "WeIl?" growled, surlily.
 ssI say, old fellow P
 ''Well?" (stin more surlily, and drawn out into prolonged tone of irritation.)
 "It's 0nly me-Hood; want to speak to you." f-.z q.
 Here another voice chimed in: .sOh leave him alone-he's sulky brute-and come and have have game of pool. , Then the speaker walked of leaving Hood master of the position.
 Hood, or, as we generally called him, Robin, was great ally of mine, and as good fellow as ever lived; so, repenting of my ungraciOusness, l opened my door cautiously and admitted him. Though I had yielded so far, was too sulky to of fer him my favorite armchair, but let him make himself as happy as he could in an American rocking chair, with his fee! upon another. Next came the inevitable question: ''Got any thing to drink?"
 ''What bore you are!" replied, civi ly, and, dragging my weary limbs out o1 my chair, produced from an oaken bu reau some seltzer, brandy, champagne and some old Venetian glasses, of which I was not little proud.
 ''Why, old fellow, you have got an at tack of bl1e devels, to night, and no mis take" said my companion, helping him self hberaIly to liquor. '1'n give you some of this delectable beverage, and you'll be all square in no time at all. '"
 Having taken dose of that remedy oi the British sub against all evils, became more amiable, and we both began to smoke. At last Hood asked, as he knock ed the ashes out of the top of his old gen. tleman's expansive head, and proceed ed to refill it again from the contents of small seal-skin tobacco pouch. ''Any plans for tomorrow, Manners? vote we get away from the busy >haunts of man, especially committeeman"
 No, I've no plans; and I perfectly agree with you that flight or suicide is the only course left open to us.
 ''Not going to see MademoiselIe Mar guerite, eh?" This was. said too gravely for me to take umbrage. I glanced at him to try and detect chatf, but his face was as sober as judges is popularly SUD- posed to be, and wearing that peculiarly dreamy expression the physiognomy of man derives from the perfect enjoyment of a second pipe.
 scious of wretched failure ill my att tempted uneoncern of tone.
 Puff, puff, from Robin, and silence for few seconds. ''I am going to drive out to Nethercotes,' he presently said, ap- parently regardless of my last remark. twill you come? Let me see, do you know them?~
 ''I know the son; and between you and me, I think he is bit of cad"
 ''Not bit of one, but the whole ani- nal" replied Hood; ''but the girls are pretty, and sing like sirens. By love, ' he added, waxing quite enthusiastic, "I could listen forever to Paulina's voice. 3
 Are these young ladies Terpsichores as well as Euterpes?" asked sententious- ly.
 ''What the deuce do you meanP" said Robin, who was not we'll up in his clas- sics, not having had the advantage of a colleg education. CD
 "Well, in plain Engliah, are they dan -ln coming to our ball?''
 Decidedly. I have promised to dine there and escort them hither; and have an invitation for you to do the same."
 l was about to express my approval of the arrangement, for had long wished to make the Miss Fanshaws' acquaintance. when my appointment with Marguerite flashed to my recollection, and hesitat- ed.
 'I should like to go with you, of all things, Robin; but won't it make us late at our ball? For the colonel expressed a hope We should be all there to receive our guests?"
 ''I Is that your only reason for wishing to be early? But won't chaff you, my dear Charlie,' replied Robin. "To re- ieve your mind. let me assure you, you will be in ample time for the first dance. The Fhshaw girls have each promis- ing irritation on hand, and are not likely to be late. So you come with me to Meth ercotes; we'll drive out about o'clock, and promise you a very agreeable after noon"
 ! consented, but not without some fears. for one well knows how difficult it is to start from country-ho eight miles of so ss to be in anything like time. The next day, at o'clock. found me driving with Robin. through Mir. Fanshaw's pret- ty pleasure ground, and approaching the large white veranda-guarded house. My friend was right; we had very pleasant afternoon; the girls were large-eyed, large-hmhed and large-voiced, and sang to perfection. The dinner, also, when it arrived, was perfection; but it was un- punctual, and my fears were realized, when, on the ladies leaving us, I looked at the clock, and saw the hand fast ap- preaching g..
 The ladies had to dress, and saw the gentlemen of the party intended to fprti- fy themselves against the fatigues of the coming evening by ''big drink" and I reflected with the calm agony of despair, that if were enabled to keep my appoint ment 1t must be by miracle. However, I determined upon making an attempt, and leaning across the table, said to Hood, '1 must be off Will you let me order the dogcart at once?'
 Couldn't be done, dear" he said with provoking calmness; 'sI should have to pay doctors bill either for your neck or horses knees. to dead certainty. No one but myself shall drive Semiramis; she takes after her beautiful namesake, who, by all accounts, was rum one. Besides, have promised to take Fanshaw over, and you are to cavalier the ladies'"
 There was nothing more to be said, and wisely gave up the idea of being in time, and trusted to the chapter of accidents, And 2 very long chapter it was. It was exactly half-wast 10 when we got under way, and it was not by any means blair sailing after that. What with gibbino horse, broken bolt, and something wrong with Hoods turn-out--he insisted on our waiting while we remedied it. be ing, he said, so unsociable to divide par ies-it was 12 o'clock before we reached Aylmer's hall, and by that time the fur xxya0 1acriuer fact and f11 ri0.Yo nf oo,,,cr I