Litchfield enquirer., 1873-07-24

giving my eyes by turns to my book ani to the fair figure on the rock I had left. Again little while and she said, smil ing, You are very good; now I think really like you a little. You begin tt show some character"
 That was always my strong point"
 "Hush. you are not to speak until spo ken to" Upon which, much amused, held my peace for time.
 'tMiss Helen" "Well?" -..-..
 GA man in this book says, There is nc time when truth is out of season." s'He must be fool If he lived at New port he would know better. don't un derstand what he meant by it's being il season; but I do know if you want to b. uncomfortable yourself and disagreeablt to everybody else, you may do 1t by mere ly speaking the honest truth for one day.
 '1 am not quite sure agree with you If everybody had to speak the truth, il would lead to some delightful results which, for 8 shy fellow like myself, would De ever so nice"
 "But such as -"
 ''Well, you see, about women. Some one, some time or other, would just say Did you ever notice how much I love you ?" <
 ''What without being asked?"
 'Of course that is just the point of it Don't you see how much bother this would save fellows like me me, who car ride, and shoot, and fish, and dance, and can't talk ft's an awful business, is life There's such lots of talking to it. That old war was good time for fellows like me-"
 s1 trust your good times are over, then As to downright truths and so on, they do for men.
 '"That is, you think if a man loves 6 woman he should say so and take his fate"
 "It were better very often that he held his tongue"
 "But having done so these many years and d-"
 'There is nothing men are such fools about. I don't conceive that there is any. thing on earth so stupid and brutal as t1 make woman just say no, point-blank, so that she will have to soothe and com. fort the wretch afterwards by making be. heve to be his friend and so on. Why, il is-I mean, it must be-dreadful.'
 Should think so. Gives a fellow 6 chill to think of it."
 'T was thinking of the woman.''
 s'And I-well, you see, Miss Helen, ii may be unpleasant taking the fish off the hook, but it's harder on the fish,
 >"Why could n't he let it alone, till he was sure he was the fish that was wanted ?'
 "Please, how can he tell %
 1sTell How do know? But suppose that. with women of sense, a man could easily enough ask without saying, Wont you marry me :? or some such downright horrible thing as that. They say queens have 2 nice plan; because if queen gives 6 young man a rose, that means, of course, he may make love to her and saves em. barraasnent.
 sflhink I would like that; but should want to choose my queen"
 Absurd; but, of course, I meant that the4nan should give the rose, and then, if she tesnd d;a is vel gaEl it wonld be all right; .-.ad II she dld not taKe IL, Sa--- 4hav wonld stay friends, and there would be no harm done.
 ''But do you not think the queen who, perhaps, would not be willing to take the rose, would"
 ssWell ?"
 Perhaps had better retreat. I am getting into trouble"
 "But insist"
 "Well, I was only going to say that wo- men are not all alike, and that, if my queen were only just to hesitate the least little bit over my rose, it would be wise to take for granted she was about to say yes, and"
 "But you might be mistaken"
 'Ah that dare say, but faint heart, you know; and on your plan . fellow would have to write little note and say, Please, Miss Susan, am coming a court ing this P. N. Be good enough to let me know beforehand how you like the sub- iect approached"
 "Well, there are ways and ways, and sometimes none are best"
 'Or wise ?''
 ''Yes, or wise"
 s'You think sometimes none are wise. That was what you said."
 "Yes."
 After this there was silence awhile, and I heard with new distinctness the roar and crush of tumbling waters and the winds blithe song among the rocks After this little while of quiet, Miss Helen gathered up her long skirts Tn lazy way, and said, 'sLet us see it closer" That was the seq she meant, I believe, because, quickly stepping by me, and not taking great note of the hand which seems to be very much needed on these rough ways by most young women, she gained the top of the outer range of rock. I stayed my OWL steps moment to note the ease and grace with which she stood facing the sea, the long folds of her riding-habit cast oyer one arm, and the right hand deftly busy in the half-fallen folds of her loosened hair. There is something pretty, think in the way the quick white fingers go il and out and play at hide-and-seek among the tangled thickets, bringing back order again. and netting mems souls the
 ssliiss Helen ?'
 'sWhat is it2's
 .Tve been thinking of what you said { little while ago. Suppose you were g man Miss Helen, and suppose you were il love, and the woman you loved was,-well charming; n!s how would go" ask her to mar
 50, but I couldn't. should just sim
 "1nd-and-leaye her? You wouldn't you would want to be near her all tn. time; to hear her. to see her, to Why Miss Helen, it might be, you know, tha she was just ever so little in love witl you, and then, you see, to leave her would be cruel: I don't think you could bt cruel."
 ssHow do you know that P
 ssl am not quite sure of Ii"
 'sNo; we'll then, it is good belief tt have about me"
 .sYeu are testing"
 aNo; you must not think it. I wa not.
 Here silence full of thought fell upo1 us. Gayly as if at play of acted cha rades we had tossed to and fro the sligh words on which hung the fate and happi ness of lifetime. had taken Ter hin and ventured my love on a few foolisl phrases. I had been lightly but clearl. answered.
 For few aemeats-they seemed t me hours-I stared at the sea-margil where the long. coarse sea-weed hung dis nal for q moment, and then swayed il changeful curves on the rising wave, an. was thick with fading pearls little while 1-.- T.