Litchfield enquirer., 1874-05-28

tpR had often done that; but I resolved fn take the letter myself, and post it at Gmssford. The postmaster there had Inarried parishioner ofmine; she would bek glad to see me; the walk was pleas sasa dnesss ahda 1lssasAs fn h fxAlne s6f mind which demanded quick motion | step ped out cheerfully, that bright September morning wondering among other wonder ings, whether Dorothy and should ever walk that way as man and wife"
 ''Now," interrupted Jack, sI suppose We are coming to the postage stamps
 'We are" said I, "but we must come at them my own way The postoffice at Crossford was a.grocer's shop. The mis- tress. my friend, Mrs. Sims, was, as I ex- pected, pleased with my visit.
 'Such pleasure, to be sure, sir, and you looking so well-fresh as fourteen year old, as my goodman do say of you, sir, special.-Yes, he's nicely, sir; thank yOu-gone to Boxham market to look about some pigs. There's a fine new sort they do say, that Sir William have brought into the country, from Shropshire You'll come into the parlor, sir, and sit down. You may look at all them letters, and I said I'd see to stamping them, and that I will, surely"
 8''PH do it for you, said I. T see you want to put away these goods, and it will amuse me while 1 talk to you "So, notwithstanding resistance on her part, l began. daresay there were be- tween thirty and forty of them, and was getting rather tired when I came to the last. I had really not looked at the ad- dresses of the others. T could not have told where one of them was gong; but this one-'
 "Was to Miss Dalton, from your son!'' exclaimed Jack.
 a"It was indeed" I replied, sand can. not attempt to describe my feelings. believe I was for some seconds uncon- seious: the ground seemed gone from un- der my feet. My own son was deceiving me, and l could not conjecture how far Dorothy was involved. The one misera- ble consolation was that my own letter re- malned safe in my pocket. I was not com mitted. I conclude that my countenance had changed, for, when rose to go, as did immediately, Mrs. Sims entreated me to have some brandy, saying that she was sure that ''the smell of the nasty dips had upset me, but what could she do? People must live. and she must sell what there was demand for.'
 You need not be told with what differ ent feelings walked home; the entire as- pect for life was changed for me. Doro- thy was irretrivably lost, and hanging over me was the disagreabIe necessity for an explanation with Charles. As far as my observation reached, he had not only shown no preference for Dorothy, but paid her less attention than, in my opin- ion, she had right to expect from him. It annoyed me exceedingly to become aware that was an utter stranger to my sons inner life. thought him more than usually silent at dinner, but then I was as the servant had gone, l said, "Pray, Charles do you consider me an inquisi- tive man?'
 Certainly not" he replied. No man less so, I should say.'
 distrust of you, or any disposition to hamper you by unnecessary exercise of pa sHa~ialzsa amazed, and answered: No, sir; l have always felt, when com pairing my position with other mems, that I was singularly fortunate in my father. g
 s'That's we'll. have the less difficult ty, then, in putting question to you. Whats the meaning of letter addressed by you to Dorothy. which without blame being due to anybody, I saw this morning at Crossford Postoffce?'
 Surprise, displeasure, and sort of dog gedness were in the countenance; he turn ed away from me-they seemed to me minutes passed before he said; ssIt would never have occurred to nae that there was anything out of the way in my writing to her; we have been brought up like brother and sister," ''But why walk six miles to post your letter? l should not have thought anything about seeing a letter from you to Dorothy on the table or in the bag. though should have re- minded you that you could not core spond with her with propriety. You might, of course, have written a casual note to her about book, or some ar- engagement"
 ''Why infer,'' he asked, ''that the let ter you have seen was not one of this char acter?"
 ''In the first place, " replied, ''because you took the trouble to post it where it was in the highest degree improbable that I should see it; and lastly, from your evasions."
 Then there was a long pause, and I thought he was determined not to speak.
 "Charles," I said sternly, Dorothy has been so much among us, that I am re- sponsible for whatever, involving her hap pIness or misery, is connected with any of us. As your father, and in place oi her father, demand what relation exists between you and her, which leads to your writing to her clandestinely. If cannot elicit it from you shall have an immedi- ate explanation with her."
 He looked badgered, ill-tempered even, and said hurriedly and sureily: ''I wrote to Dorothy to ask her to marry me some day"
 'sAsked her to marry you?" exclaimed. ''I put aside your gross disrespect in ig- noring me in so important matter, and remind you that you have not taken you, degree, that you are wholly dependent on me, and that, during my lifetime, unless l assist you, you will, in all probability, have nothing better than a country eura- cy."
 '1 suppose it was not unnatural to ex- pect that you would help me, sir, as you are. very fond of Dora"
 This he said in tone which softened me O AsSAOs AASCA aAs G1OuSAt 4s uC IS very young. "Pray what answer do you expect from herr" I inquired. was relieved to find that she was innocent of aught that would have lowered her in my eyes. She was lost to me forever, whether she ac- cepted Charles or not, but she was worthy the place had given her in my heart, and would have given her in my house. Without giving him time to reply, I went son: t.I have too good an opinion of hel to believe that she will answer you with out consulting her mother.
 'I begged her to say nothing to any one" ''Then either," I rejoined, .you are more ignorant of the world than believ ed even reading man could be, or you have endeayored consciously to lead hel to act as modest girls shonld not. Pray what reason did you give for such re. quest?"
 This: that. in the event of her taking me. some years must elapse before could marry; and should dislike being pointed at as an engaged man all that time; and that if she refused me, it was no bushes. | of any one else. 5