Litchfield enquirer., 1874-07-23

wards the gate of the field they had gone into, and got safely out into the road. Some distance down it she could see Withers, the groom who was having lit- tie difficulty with his horse, which was plunging and curveting in Q diagonal posi- tion, as is the manner with eager horses, performing an equine balance-step with out advancing particularly. On Crusad- CT catching sight of his companion in ill., doing, he proceeded to initiate his actions with a considerable amount of exaggera- ton.
 Patty, finding him bursting into can't CT, attempted to take up the curb-rein, but only succeeded in getting both in an inextricable confusion. Then she clupg in terror to them with both hands, on which the irritable Crusader fought him. self into q confused canter, which develop ed into & smart gallop, dashed past the astonished Withers. and stampeded. Our friend, the major, had arrived at the meet that morning, and was consider ably chagrined not to find the object of his intentions present. ''The stiffest bit of country for miles round, too," he said to himself. "What can she be thinking?'
 Ills determation of the morning was still in his mind, and he longed for an oppor- tunity of putting it in practice. Oh, for the sight of the well-known blue habit and iron-eray steed! The major was des- tined to have his aspirations gratified in very unexpected manner.
 He had been riding line of his own for short distance, and was separated from the rest of the field by the breath of pasture, when he heard the quick re- peated rattle of horse going at full gall | l0pN l,a &lo I1.. hedge, parallel to which he was riding, and in another moment he saw through the twigs the horse he had looked i'll vain for at the meet tear past him at mad speed, the blue habit streaming back as tho wearcr swayed in the saddle, holding the reins in both hands with the convul- slve grasp of fear.
 ''Run away, byfJove!" said the major, turning Zerlina's head without the least hesitation at the quickset. Two or three intense, short strides-a rise and crash of twigs-a rattle of horse-hoofs as they batter on the hard road, as Zerlina just manages to save her knees and nose from damage by clever recovery, and then the major aScool as if he had been hOp- ping over gutter instead of ono of the ugliest drops in his experience, set her going in pursuit.
 The fact was, the major was in that state of exaltatiOn that every soldier feels on going into action. Quick as lightning he saw the coming situation and braced himself to take advantage of it; as he crept nearer to the fugitive lie felt his con- fidence rise in his horses powers and his own,
 About half mile from the place where this stern chase commenced, where the road was crossed by another at right an- gles, stood an inn called the Cross Keys. The major knew this, and also that on the other side of it the road dipped down in- to rather steep hill. He had got up some twenty yards nearer when the inn appeared in sight, and keeping on the turf at the side Of the road, that the noise of his approach might not add fresh speed to the runaway, he called on Zerlina smartly for decisive effort.
 In front of the Cross Keys there was a triangular patch of soddon turf, and as Crusader came upon this he slackened Lis speed very slightly; the major dashed alongside and seized the reins near the bit in his right hand; the horse, which was not vieions one. stopped after few struggles as he felt the power at work on the curb, and the lady, falling fainting forward in 8 heap on his neck, would have tumbled to tho earth had not the ever-ready major leaped from his saddle and caught her in his arms.
 It would have made capital picture the two bores standing steaming and, pantlng, and the major staggering under the weight of the senseless damsel, whose chin hung over his shoulder, whilo her hair, released from its bonds i'll her wild flight through the air, streamed down the scarlet-coated back.
 With some difiulty the major carried his lovely burden into the porch of the Cross Keys.
 Show me private room, and get me a glass of brandy" were the orders with which he stopped the mouth of the aston ished landlady.
 'La! Poor young lady!" said that fe- male, in 2 voice of sympathy. as she brought the restoring fluid. "Can ] do anything for her, sir?''
 ''No, think not, said the major, de- cisiYely. ''Leave her to me. I've had some experience in cases of this kind:" and, thrusting half 8 crown in the wo- man hand, he shut the door in her face.
 Well, how she could ha' married hep' said the woman to herself as she turned to the bar. She evidently thought from the majors want of sympathy that he must be the husband of the sufferer.
 The evening glooms were just closing in. and made the little back parlor look more and more dismal and dingy. The major raised the clinging vail sufficiently to thrust the edge of the glass between the lips of the patient. Presently the color came back to her face, she drew a long. gasping breath, and felt for her ocket-handkerehief. It was in the peck ct ct her saddle-the major instantly placed his snowy cambric in her trembling hand. Then she oYerfowed.
 The major waited little. Then he ventured to take tho hand that was not occupied with his pocket-handkerchief and aaid in tone of respectful tender ness:
 Don't, pray don't give way so! You're quite safe now, assure you.''
 Sob, sob.
 If you don't knew how every sob you utter rends my"-"vitals, the major was going to say, then he thought of ''breast," then he substituted ''heart, -'you-you wouldn't keep on so."
 Sob, sob,
 "You don't know how I have hoped, longed for moment like this: to hold yON@ AAes-AA III AAAAC, " 4GG4 bktab we are alone together; that you do not repulse me; that am permitted (kisses her hand;) "that you do not forbid me- Business as before.)
 Sob, sob, sob.
 When will lshe stop?" the major thought.
 ''You do not answer; speak to me-or hear me while tell you what have wish ed to say for long days past, Miss Har- fOrd-Diana love von9"
 '"That was decidedly we'll put up," thought the major to himself.
 ''Sir!' said the lady, suddenly becom- ing electrified into an erect posture. It was but one word, but it was quite enough to almost throw the imperturbable off his invincible equilibrium. For that moment Miss Roseneath could boast of having seen that great man, to use common but expressive term, fabbergasted.
 'Pattyi-Miss Roseneathi"
 Yes, Major Maiorihanks, Miss Rose heath. Oh, take me home! and never. never dare EO call mo Patty ora;,p,