Litchfield enquirer., 1874-08-06

!
 tstire, nntt the other the sorting md rear
 ranging of numerous pieces of lace of del-
 l"ate and intricate fabrication. In the early part of the afternoons she would
 dissolve some Jumps of sugar in glass of water, place it ready 10 her hand, then triiie with her cards, gathering them and distributing them, until she fell asleep.
 After her sleep she would have her boxes
 brought, and would ten,lerly separate, . smooth out, and quietly admire her few
 yards of treasure.
 One day she asked her maid
 "ls not this the t1irtieth of Septem-
 ber?"
 "Ycs, Madame
 ''Then 1t is high time I should be pre-
 pared Take these-there is cap, a col
 lar, and pair of sleeyes-and place then
 where you can reach them at a moments s notice; tomorrow, when l am not so
 tired, will select a dress, and you will put that with the lacc Be ready to dress
 me Ill them at any time.'
 Pretty soon the old lady deemed it
 wastcful to require that carriage should
 be brought to tho door only to be sent away aGaln empty, and so she stopped 1t. Siie compensated for this pleasure by sending for physician every day.
 Now and then, while moving her thin ming hands, a ring would drop off and roll away upon the carpet. ''Ah!' she would say, half aioud, ''the vanity of gold and vanity of flesh begin to desert the skele- ton at the same time'
 1t did not appear that her present abode was resting place only. She never hint cd of going away; she never spoke of mn filled desires. or projected designs. She seemed tranquil and fixed
 Seated, hour in and hour out, in her deeply hollowed chair. she pursued mel ancholy pastime. When her cards and her laces palled upon her, she searched Tor evidences Of her failure, for flaws in her health. She examined with unrelent- Ing persistence tho little trifies which went to show that her death was approach l ing.
 When she fancied she perceived Q winter pallor i'll her cheeks, she spent the day with hand-glass. If she imagined that the cords in her neck were stiffening little, she would endeayor to catch the old studied poses that she had used in the days of her coquetry. If she dream ed that her memory was something less actiVe, she would chant and hum the most ancient of her songs, the most difficult of the foreign alrs and roundelays, and per l haps III the midst of tllom wonid hao;n to nod and would fall asleep.
 She forbore to interest herself about tho other Inmates of the house until one day when she was at a loss. She was seized with q desire to ride, but it was stormy and therefore impossible. She be- gan to gossip with the landlady, who had come to inquire after her health.
 ''Ihere IS lady upstairs who interests me. said the visitor, ''she seems to be very poor, but l cannot bring myself to treat her harshly."
 ''Tell me- said Madame in pleasantly voice.
 ''She is Cuban" continued the land lady, and her name is Aldama. She has husband Ill France, and he is coming to sec her pretty soon. She has been here nearly three months, and she has reached the top Of the house. She commenced bv living in tho narlors over this one bnt her stock of money decrest,yx1 siss1s.----.,1e:: ed, and olo HOW just under the roof She has a pretty child, five years of age, and she is very beautiful herself"
 ''And what does she do all these long hours?''
 'Oh, responded the other, ''she tries her fate upon a little table with pack of cards. it takes up her time, and 1t amuses her to decide something either one way or the other.'
 ''Do you think she would like to come and visit mo here?"
 ''Ycs,' replied the othc, ''I think she would"
 ''Then arrange it for us''
 When tho invited lady entered Ma dame's apartment. she..found her in good spirits. She arose with great effort from her chair, and after poising herself she put out one of her small hands and smiled more warmly than she had upon any one. The lady pleased her.
 She was small and pale, and she was dressed ill black. Her rich hair adorned her head, not burdened it. Her coun- tenance betrayed q profound sadness of heart and at the same time divine sweet ness of spirit. The carriage of her head, tho attitude of her body, and her very step, which was tardy and gentle, was that of one who had suffered deeply.
 She advanced toward her aged hostess with the lndescribable manner of one who flies to repose. or who hastens to shell ter. The timid hand-clasp became kiss; tho kiss became an embrace; it was the con tiuence of two hearts; that of mother, and that of daughter.
 There was fire upon the hearth, and they sat down before it with their chairs close together. They entered at once up- on that sudden intimacy which is obtain | able only by perfect accordance. Moth ing can equal the love generated by first glance
 On one hand the questions were, Why do you suffer SO much?-Why did you leave your home to come to this barren | land? How much longer must you wait for relief? On the other: Why are you here? you who have been so great, so ad- | mired, so honorcd. What terrible disas- | ter has befallen you, the divine baroness? | tell me, so that l may take heart again. By degrees the answers came from ei- ! ther side, and they were not given as an- ! sYers, but as complete and voluntary ex- positions. -.., s-- .- | One said: s-I am here because my hus- band has got tired of me. He has thrown l away my fortune and has not loved me in return. The title of baroness, found, l did not fill the heart. In all the glory of life at court my spirit failed because I was alone. At home they believed was happy, but it was mistake, great mis- take. followed my husband hither and thlther, except when he bade me stay in my hotel, and supplied him with mon ey; that was enough for him. Now I l learn that he IS coming here Ill search of me; his letter says that he comes repent ant, but f know that he comes poor am not desirous of meeting him again. even though l have possessed his name for a quarter of century Woman's constancy is famous, but mans villainy is moro famous still. am going to die here" --z--
 Madame indicated the bare room with l a motion of her hand.
 i The Cuban told this much: ''My hus- bandiis a Frenchman too"
 ''What, with the name of Aldama2. r. "Yes," persisted the other, but with a blush. Madame noticed the blush and quietly reflected upon it. The story pro- 1 ceeded. ''He came to Havana on a mis- sion from his government. I met him at Puerto Principe. He was over forty years of age, and he was handsome, and his breast was covered with decorations. That delighted me- I married him, I left my home to do so. but ye were mar-