Litchfield enquirer., 1874-03-05

0Hl bA0 U0SI JuGS0 on Gl1S DO1nG, Madame. Then may suppose that you are wiling for this alliance, and that ] am at liberty to make the business ar rangements with your respectable hus- band l believe he smiles, cit is the mamma who really decides these ques- tions.''
 A look of doubt comes into Madame's eyes. but they are still full of four, SC their expression is not noticeable as they blink at each instant, and, besides, are swimming with water, and Madame Rous- sel IS des rous to maintain her preroga- tive in the eyes of her daughters suitor.
 "Yes,-yes, Monsieur is right" she says, quickly; "the mamma decides"
 Then Monsieur Furet offers his thanks, tion, to his future, takes his leave, and de- parts.
 Two hours pass by, and then comes the grate grate of cart-wheels on the stony roads
 ''Ssate Vierge !''-the miller's wife runsto an upper window which commands 8 view of the road, d,-sis this the father o1 Eugenie? And how am I to tellf them what I have promised? It is possible they may not consent, and then what shall I dol2"
 She comes down to meet her husband with a very scared face.
 The miller Is a broad-cheeked, jolly Norman, with half-shut corner to each of his blue eyes; he looks genial and good-tempered, but he also looks capable of making an excellent bargain. His face is more serious than usual, as he comes up the steps, and his wife sees this and feels yet more nervous.
 Hedoes not come into the house; he stai.as lounging against the door-post.
 What is it, then, Jacques 9 She waits while he lights his pipe.
 "Ah, what is it, Jeanneton? It is al- ways the same want. I have seen to-day, at Bolbec, an improve on our MecaniQue. Monsieur 1e Baron de Derville has just procured it from England. An, but it is an Improvement to be had at any price. In a. years time would count my sacks by sixties where now count by tens, if I could find the money to obtain 1t for the mill.s
 Madame Roussel could not have said why she felt anxious that Monsieur Flu ret's suit should find favor with her hus- band. Certainly it would be pleasant to hear her daughter called ''the richest wo- man In Veron;" but this is only new and temporary idea, for she worships Eugenie, and shrinks from the thought of losing her. Why, then, does her weak nature leap up in joy at hearing her husbands s words2
 s.It could not have come at better time" she thinks, with prodigious relief. Monsieur Furet will lend the money, no doubt. if Jacques consents to the mar riage."
 TT have had visitor," she says shyly.
 Jacques feels aggrieved; he is accus- toned to sympathy from the foolish little woman. He turns away sulkily, and goes on smoking.
 ssYes, indeed, visitor, who wishes o see you on business. and to join his inter- estsy<sith yours. What do you think of Monslgur Furets''
 Jacques takes his pipe out of his mouth and looks at his wife, to see if her wits are straying.
 "Yes, ,"-Madame Roussel bridles and smooths both hands down her apron, Monsieur Furet; and he proposes to make our Eugenie the richest woman in Veron, if she will be his wife," She gives quick glance at her husbands face, and sees 8 shrinking there. II sad, Eugenie Is too young; but Monsieur Furet bade me ask you when he can talk to you about busi- ness"
 ''The agent who brought the machinery over, goes back to England next week" :" says Roussel to himself; the struggle that came at the idea of his lovely little daugh- ter and Monsieur Furet yields as he pict- ures to himself the results to his mill.
 "Aha." he says, ''the miller of Cande- bee will learn to laugh the other side of his mouth when he sees my sacks every where: Why, I shall be king of the coun- try-side."
 "Eh biea, Jacques, mon ahonanae-when?'
 Jacques turns and slaps her gaily on the shoulder.
 ''When, my girl?-Why, there's no time like the present-I'm going to him now. :"
 He turns away to go down the steps and stops suddenly.
 At the foot of the steps is young girl, blue-eyed and fair-haired like her parents, but with the liquid softness in her eyes, and the exquisite bloom on her skin of sweet seventeen. Eugenie is much taller than her mother, and has a well-shaped figure. She wears sprig- ged cambric gown, black jacket, land Q white muslin cap tied under her chin.
 "Thou art home first, my father," she says merrily. Well, was.so tierd of Madame Giraud's cart that I slipped out and came across the fields. Pierrot will bring my marketing, such candlestick as have bought for thee. Why" she breaks into a ringing laugh, "Mother, what hast thou done to our father? He looks as if he saw ghost"
 Madame Roussel slips past her husband, comes down the steps and kisses Eugenie on both cheeks, and then on her forehead, to give Jacques time to recover himself.
 He stands with h1s mouth still open, but by the time his wife has ended her kisses, he stuffs both hands, pipe and all, into the pockets of his trousers and clears his throat.
 s.Altons, Jeanneton," he says, 'I am going into the kitchen, and you can bring the child there; she must not be kept in the dark
 It IS an effort to say thls, for the new draws him like magnet, but spite of his love of money-making, Jac- ques Roussel loves his little girl better than any other part of his life.
 AAO 0OASO A44ASCA III d DTOdu UdShc6 OSt6y- chair and beckons to to Eugenie as soon as she comes in.
 "1Eens, to petite,' he winks at her pleasantly with his sly eyes-''What dost say to husband, tienss" and goes of in- to quiet laugh.
 But Madame RousseTs sense of the fit ness of things IS outraged.
 1ais tOi done, naGtGdroit," she frowns her dusty eyebrows at the miller, and sides up to Eugenie.
 ssAh, but it is no wonder the dear child blushes and looks frightened, just hus- band, he might be any vaurien-look up then. my lily, and listen; thy father should have said that gentleman, dis gentleman, ,'Zhere Eugenie raises her dropping head and looks inter- ested, ,-'the best parti in Veron, so ad- mires our Eugenie that he will not be happy till she consents to become the richest woman in the country"
 Eugenies face clouded.
 'The richest, ahl" she thought, cit is only the old who are rich" Aloud she said saucily. My mother is telling fairy tales, who IS this wonderful suitor?"
 Jacques opened his mouth, but his wife
 IL