Litchfield enquirer., 1874-10-01
HISS EYEL1E.

The great clocks in tile church towers were toiiing seven, one after another, the farthest chimes coming up like echoes of inc nearer bells Ii was September now, and at that season the twilight in Italy is very short; night seems to spring for ward with bound almost the instant the sun sets.
 Ne had lately come back from so- iourn among inc mountains, and were again established in cur old quarters iE +tsreHce. We occupied part of great -l-aett palace in the Via Maggio, not far :s9sa the house Blanca Cappello built, while Ter shame and wickedness were still new, thrte hundred years and more agene.
 When say we, l mean my mother and myself 1 am Dr. Norman Grey. We lad been in Europe almost two years. Yeu who are very young will think T was 6 dreary cid bachelor, when tell you l was Eearly thirty seven. Older people will wonder what right, maI, with claims to youth still left, had to be wandering about Europe instead of en. 'hnsiastically attending to his profession aiduties ct home. E
 l had given them up for my mothers sake. 1 had been hard at ,wOrkE since twenty-two. 1 had long possessed Enot only very successful practice, bItsa also & Certain amount of celebrity. s I think dearly than 1. It was hard struggl3 to quit it for years; yet could not doubt that it was right so to do. My. mother, some months before we left Americ8T had been attacked by terrible internal disease, one that l had made special study, sand believed that new remedies, which .t.had would, in time, cure herg I knew that at least by. constant care could prolong her life for years. /.
 ply work seemed opened to me. There was no hope of success, unless gave my whole time to her. 1 must: be at 5ohce physician and nurse. It was decided among us, that is, the doctors whom consulted and myself, that an ehtire change of climate and sea-voyage would be very essential. So we came to Leg. horn by steamer and journey up to, Flof- epce, the bracing air of Tuscany, having been considered the best we could seek.
 That is the whole history in few words. loved my mother, as had never loved any human creature. 1 had never kr0W the pretty romance, which dawns early on most men, so there had never been even 6 youthful dream to come be- tween us. My mother was not an old woman yet, according to my idea; she was only 1lfty-fiye, and did not look her age, though she had known much grief and sorrow, is well as much physical pain. We two were alone in the world now; at ease-rich, even; only this dreaded mala- dy between us and tranquil happiness But my mother bore her sufferings with her usual patience. She had implicit falth in my skill, and had resigned her SGT to my giving up my profession be- canse itS seemed right; because it was Gods will; though it was terrible struggle to her at first, for she rejoiced in my industry, and exulted in the little fame 1 hda won. Poor motherl I may as well tell you here that. during these l6ng months, lad written book treat- ing of this disease, among other matters HShad been gladly. hailed by my medical hrethren in many lands, and she felt that sselaQps | was doing as much good as I eouid have done, even if 1 had staid at home
 BntI have wandered long ways from myFcommencement. I was leaning over the window-sill,; idlysswatching the people In theIother houses, who were amusing themselves lin the same fashion.i < My mother was lying down in her own room :; we had been for a drive, and she was somewhat tired
 Suddenly the door-beil rang-the bell of our apartment, mean, for we had a large suite of rooms on the second floor The door of tie salon, where I was, openedstinto kthe passage, and was ajar 1 heard Assunta, the stupidesS and best natnred of chanbermaids, open the door which gave on the staircase, and begin explaining, in voluble Tuscan, that the signora was ill: "would the lady give her namer" Evidently the lady had ex- haustea her knowledge of Italian in her first inquiry. 1 lad sent my man Martin out with letters to post. stepped into tho passage myself, already very dark, as Assunta, with her customary negligence, had forgotten to light tie lamp.
 '' You wished to see Mrs. Grew" I asked. could just faintly make out n woman's figure standing in the doorway.
 The lady darted past Assunta, ran up to me, and caught my hand.
 Are you Dr. G:eyn' she said. Where IS Felicia? Take iue to her. quick. She will help me-she promised O, I am safe, safer'
 Then, without any warning, she fell forward. 1 caught her in my arms, and laid her on a sofa. She had tainted away.
 It was singular preG!cament, to have a strange young w0man rusl. in, demand an unknown Felicia ii that frantic man. ner, and then swo0n before could inform her there was no Felicia there to assist her. However, brought her to, after while. l had shut Assunta out, I lighted candies. and stood looking at her as she began to recover her senses. She was simply the most beautiful creature I had ever set eyes on She did not look over eighteen. She was not tall, and was very slight, with complexion and features perfect, and with a mass of the most gorgeous auburn hair I ever saw outside of one of Titian's pictures.
 She came to herself, at last, sat up, and stared at me.
 Did I fain;r" She asked, "I am SO tired! But where is Felicia? Call Feli- cia."
 "You have made some mistake" I answered. There is no such person here"
 She started 10 her feet with groan /; sat down again; controlled herself by a terrible effort.
 |" You are Dr: Greys" she asked,
 Yes. But do not know the lady of whom you speak"
 She seemed with difficulty to prevent herself from sWooning again I held some water to her lips. She drank
 She opened q little satchei she had on her arm, took from is a port-monaie, drew .out slip of paper, and gave it to me 1t was q card from the American Register, published in Paris, list of the strangers registered at the different Floren- hne banks. At the head of the list was.
 DR. N. GREE-
 MRS. GREY.
 l had written my address at Eyre and Matteini's, when returned to town, as we had taken new apartment
 That is you?" she asked.
 "Yes"
 And Felicia? She married Dr. Grey- pr. Noel Grey-in India, two years ago She promised if ever I needed heIo. She would give it."
 am Dr. Norman Grey, an Ameri- can," interrupted.
 What shall do? What shall I dosp she moaned. II thought I was sefe I have felt so safe ever since I left Paris o, Felicia, Felicia!"
 lookei up and saw my mother who had entered unobserved. Sic was not in the least nervous, though an invalid. The girl saw her, too, started forward as II the sight Of a woman gave her new courage, and then she suddenly stopped short.
 The ouns lady has 1aa,!e mistake" my mother said, in her kind voice. II am very sorry. You thought to find a friend here?" she continued, addressing the