Litchfield enquirer., 1873-06-26

I she had a strong sense of the ridiculous. She replied, without amusclesof her face moving *a @ <. l s:Capt. Johnstone was telling us you I expect to be recalled soon, but I hope it is only false report. We should miss you all-really r MsH 4-
 'I don't suppose you'd care," said I, shaking the basket of nuts so energetiCal- ly that two or three hoped out on the gravel path and necessitated our both stepping to pick them up. If two faces did get close together for second, what matter? There was only Dolly, the monkey looking on, and he could not tell ales-luckily P 71----,
 Il don't suppose you'd care. said ], repeating the question and trying to get a peep at the eyes that were shaded by the envious straw hat She did not reply; she did far better, raised those darkly -fringed lids and gag ed full at me. Was there a tear tremb- ling on the lashes?
 There surely was, and the thought in- toxicated me. caught her round the waist, and drawing her unresistingly to- ward me, began, ssMy darling p In an- other moment should have poured my love tale into her ear, when rustling in the ne,ghborihg bushes and laugh star tied me, and had hardly time to release Marguerite when from behind the mon- key-house appeared Johnstone and la belle ingeaue. Maggle, who had fled from my grasp, had instantly regained her compos- ure, and began to feed poor, neglected Dolly, who was chatting and grinning, and trying with his pay stretched to it's utmost length to reach the nuts, talking l to him as if she had but one thought in life and that thought giving monkey nuts.
 At that moment, baked as I was. I hated Eunlce, JohnstOne, the monkey, everything but Marguerite, whom I loy, | ed with passon which astonished n.y. self
 'I came for the keys" said Eunice, with an aggravatingly pert smile and know-all-about-it sort of look.
 "And what did Capt. Johnstone come for :" said Marguerite, bestowing her last nut on the monkey, and speaking in the sweetest tones imaginable
 ''To see your charming monkey, Miss Duval, y replied Johnstone, smiling, ssand to assist your sister in search for tue key"
 Hang the keys !' said l semi-audibly. ''Yes; but that's just what Marguerite won't recollect to do, though mamma has had a nail drived in for her and all. 9 said Eunice with delightful simplicity. 1 What the ''all' was was never fated to hear, for Marguerite made one more eff fort to renew our tete-a-tete by dispatch ing her sister to the house with the said keys in great hopes that Capt. Johnstone would think 1t necessary to escort her on her return journey, but she and I were doomed to be disappointed, for Johnstone stuck to us perseveringly from that mo- ment until took my leave. I only just managed, as pressed her hand at part Ing, to whisper, s'Keep the first dance for me tomorrow night, and even this was overheard by Johnstone, who said: He'll not be there to claim it, Miss Duval. Don't you wait for him: he was l never known to keep an appointment in 1 his life," and a good deal more in the same pleasant, bantering strain. It was l enough to try the patience of a saint. and as never pretended to be worthy of can- onlcal honors, my reader, unless he or l she happens to be blest with a super-an- gellc nature, may easily picture to her or himself the horrible temper was in when mounted my dog cart to return to the bar racks Ill company with my interfering | friend, Capt. Johnstone., had. indeed. 1 almost descended to the petty revenge of ] refusing him the lift back that he had the ! audacity to demands but the recollection that If did so he would probably remain Tn my beloved's company until the next car passed made me deem it more prudent to comply.
 Johnstone was really friend of mine and good fellow, but possessed, as then thought, of no tact whatever. Di- rectiy we were of he began, cheerily: Whats the aow. old fellow! Won't she have anything to say to you?' ''1 beg you will not make Miss Duval the subject of any foolish testing" re- piled, with dignity.
 He gave whistle long and low. "Why you don't mean to say, Charlie it's as se- rious as all that2 am sorry I spoke" l vouchsafed no reply, but gave the mare savage cut. My companion lit cigar, and after puff or two began: "But, seriously, Manners, hope you are not caught. You are far too young, and the girl has nothing but her looks; these admit, are good enough to turn an older head than yoprs; but still you'll be a great fool te give up all your future to pair of fine eys.
 "What the d. can it matter to you what do?" retorted, further incensed by the contempte expressed for my two- and-twenty years. ''And I consider the expression you use with reference to being | caught extremely offensive, in the strong est sense of the word, to Miss Duval. whose name I request may not be men 1 tloned III my presence"
 ''Oh, these boys, these boys, grumbled my adviser; then, laying his hand firmly on my shoulder, he said, 'Now, look here Manners, you are a capital good fellow 1 far too good fellow to make fool of yourself and quarrel with your best friend. You are irritated just now, and not likely to take favorable view of my conduct. Some day you will thank me for the last hours work. I am many years older l than you, and l have saved more than one youngster from marrying in haste and re- l penting at lesiure, and, by love I'll save you, whether you like it or mo-" was provoked at his obstinacy, but his good-tempered face and little tw1nk. ling eyes-not unlike the monkey we had just left-upset my gravity, and. forget ting my dignity, I burst into hearty laugh.
 That's all right" said my unthwarta- l ble friend; ''I see Tin forgiven, Charley. l wish at the same time, I could see any signs Ill your face of taking my advice and letting the matter drop now and for l ever.''
 I became grave again, and replied, stifiy, 'I am obliged to you for your ad- l vice, Johnstone, and 1 am sure you mean 1t kindly; but consider am comprom- ised and bound in honor to propose to Miss Duval; and, moreover, I tell you frankly that intend to do so, tomorrow night. at the ball ''.
 Now, to tell the truth, until that mo- ment had never quite made up my mind to take the final step; and as to being compromised. officers in the army, who are always running the blockade, so to speak, know a trick worth two of that. But had recovered my temper little, and with 1t strong temptation had set in to defy my self-instituted menters The latter shrugged his shoulders. and merely remarking, .sTh2t being all settled, it is useless to discuss the subject further un- til the young lady has either accepted or l roiackad yau ahan0ad kha to,,ic and v,e