Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-22

married has suspicious look, but pass ing for married man when one is single IS quite another thing"
 month later, Ralph Willett opened the fall term of Monroe academy.
 The close of the first day of school. Down the shaded sidewalk went trio ol schoolgirls, Rose Peters, handsome, dressy belle, Kate Martin, the wise and witty, and Fife Broom6eld, sweet gen. tie girl and universal fayorite, spite of he. humble home and plain attire.
 '1sa't he perfectly splendidI' exclails, preceptor. our whilom acquaintance. Raiph W1llett
 'sWhat an intelligent. expressive eye he has, remarked Kate
 "Yes," assented Fife, ''and such fine. ly shaped head. One needn't be phre- nologist to notice that"
 ''I do think" said Rose, candidly, "tkat he Is really the most attractive prscepto, that we ever had in our academy"
 ''Take care. Rose, laughed Kate, 'no flirting now, you know," for Rose was a frst-class firt, and her capabilities in that line had done more than all else to turn the heads of the two last precepters and abate their usefulnes in the school No wonder her father had introduced that remarkable resolution among the board trustees.
 Rose turned in at the gate of her ta- ther,s handsome residence, but paused for a few more words. 'Just as if, " she said, ca married man couldn't possi- ply firtl For my part I think they're just the best men of all to firt with"
 ''Rose PetersI said Fife, reprovingly, cit is we'll for your credit that only your friends hear that speech"
 '.I mean it" persisted Rose. s'They're so safe, you know, not being on the look out for wife, and one can go to any lengths without the least fear they will spoil it all by popping the question"
 'I suppose" remarked Kate, ''that very question was just what you aimed at in your hirtations.
 ''It's no such thing. I always avoid it as long as possible. for it spells the fun. When I can slave 1t of no longer, and they will speak, am always as lenient as possible with the poor fellows, and tell them hope we shall be friends all the same, but we never are. Somehow there is always coldness after that. ,
 Rose" said Fife, seriously, ''I must either change my definition of 6 fiirt, or give up that you are not one" ? "What Is your defnitlon?"
 ''I have always called young lady a hirt who led on young men to declare themselves for the sake of refusing them. "
 ''Then I'm not one, according to your own definition"
 ''I must confess" said Kate, outspok- en, as usual, ''I don't see what better you are, save from selfish motives. The ef- feet on them is the same.''
 ''I can't help it if young men will be so foolish as to fall in love with me-" per sisted Rose. "All I want is a good time, and no vexatious questions about mar riage. That's why I like married men the best, you see" ! ''Allow me to prophecy, Miss Rose, ' said Kate. ''that you've found one mar ried man who won't dirt with you, and that's MT. Willett" And with this part ing shot. she and Fife walked on.
 A week later. and the Monroe ladies sewing circle was convened, with it's us, ual assortment of thimbles, talking and tattling. ..
 "Wal, a new broom sweeps clean" re. marked Miss Grum, billious-looking fe- male, with false teeth, and dyed hair, Csc I s'pose this MT. Willet Il be perfect merrikle, for spell" s&
 'He's as pretty as pink, now, say, , put in Annabel Simpson, a rather soft hearted old maid.
 ''He is pretty man," echoed old Mrs Watkins, land jest the best boarder ] ever had at my table. He's dreadful qui ct and orderly, too; you'd hardly know there was a soul in the house,
 sWhat room does he have, Mrs. Wat kins?" asked Rosamond Green, more fol the sake of further general information about the stranger than anything else. "The front chamber, and he keeps il just as neat as wax. His wife must be particular soul-men aint neat without trainin'."
 .'I should like to see her." said Anna bel, her big, innocent blue eyes looking as childishly curious as if she had beer five years old instead of fifty.
 "He don't say much about her. saic Mrs. Watkins, who was just now the cen ter Of information. sI said to him. ths first day, that I was afeared he'd be kind Q lonesome without his wife, and he said he meant to keeptso busy as to have nt time toabe lonesome. But he's jest ths nodestest mani I asked him if she .hal any children, and he colored clear up tc his eyes and said, mo ma'am. tHere [