Litchfield enquirer., 1875-09-02

| "You would not have far to seek. When shall cali for you, Isleave week from
 today VIII that be convenients"' . ;. Il "AI days are alike to me-" .d9asi "a.
 ssL Lucky Miss DsEringerl And will they
 part from you willingly here?" =, ''They are not distractingly fond of
 me- shrugging her shoulders. sWho is
 fond of dependent? An uncle's wife
 and some cousins aresan my possessions
 here. I'm glad of diversion in my fa-
 yor. Nothing ever happened to me be- fore"
 Something has happened to you now
 with vengeance" !" thought Denen.
 It was a long journey for Estelie from
 Valeville to New York, through scenery
 where the bloom of summer was in it's saeet prime. with birds whirring in the
 thickets, and alders ringing the stagnant pools, and subtle sense of fepose haunt ing the cool recesses of woods that opened
 on every hand, and led the imagination enchanted through rlabyrinths of dewy solitude. Mir. Denen took care that the
 hours should not drag for Estelle. He
 had q legend or romance for every way station; he knew the names and habits of
 birds that sang within call, of the flower ing shrubs blooming beside the path; he made his fellow passengers the subject of amusing conjectures, of droll guesses at their dispositions and aims; he quoted poetry and talked novels, and discovered who were EsteAes' favorite heroes; and when the crystal day dissolved at nightfall into shower, and great flashes of light ning swathed the heavens, revealing in the lnstaDts illumination gloomy rayines, | over which they seemed to hang suspend cd, shuddering caverns of darkness, whose brink they skIrted, he made her forget the present. and zee, instead of this wraith of the storm scudding by, pie lures of happy iresides yet to be evolved from the chaos of the future. pictures of | gardens where lovers loitered and children played. -os e'..... ..
 And here VIC are at New York, <" he said. rising. - .-..s,
 "Already? Why. thought it was great way"
 Grandpa Derringer was waiting to well come then. "All Derringer, "he declared, holding her at arms-length; but I dare swear the Kew will crop out"
 "And why shouldn't it?'' said she, sauci- So life in New York began for Estelle- very different life from the other phase at Vaieville. Here she had fine clothes to wear, and no one Co say, "Why do you sos" nobody to quarrel sith; nobody to taunt her with beggarY, to twit her for being washed-out blonde of whom her grand relations were ashamed. Yet, for all that, after the first novelty had vanish ed. she had her feeble regrets sometimes. She would have given a good deal for a nice round quarrel to ripple the dead calm. The days were fearfuliy alike, sum- pictures of one another, with not enough perspective to give them charm. She be- gan to wonder if everything had happened to her that was going to happen. Mrs. Wheat was always engrossed in sorting linen, overseeing the cooking, or making maryeiods lellies. Grandpa .Derringer was gardening, or reading piles of stupid newspapers about the var in Europe, the rise in breadstffs. the price of 9oid- or else he was playing chess witfi MT Denen. As fo- herself, she. might play on the rusty piano, or read the novels of fhe last centuries. or assist Mrs Wheat, walk in the garden and pick the purple plums, make calls, or spend her pocket money abroad; but after that there was nothing for her but to listen to grandpa and Mir. Denen upon disputed law questions, the last political imbrogiio, or the councils of popes and kings. @ Ho5@sS
 Having safely landed her upon her na- tive heath, so to speak, Mr. Denen seemed to have forgotten her existence. He came and went without regarding her: he never referred to her opinion-such deli cate fiattery to young lady; if she spoke. he replied without pursuing the converse tion. This conduct had the effect of piqing Estelle; he had given promise of such pleasant companionship; it was like the fairy gold turning into withered leaves. She used to watch him furtively, longing painfully for little attention, just be- cause he withheld it. prizing it beyond it's worth. perhaps, because it was so rare. She had heard him speak of the gay world which he frequented. of nights at the opera, of tragedy and comedy, and she felt like Q bird pining for freedom, and beating its wings against the prison bars.
 "Let us go to the opera, too, Grsndpa Derrlnger, she entreated one day.
 . rNot ]. Operas are played out for me 1.'aslpld. You can go, though: I'll ask Denen to take you"
 ''Oh no, no! will not go if you do." If he should ask her himself. that womb be different. Strange that the things we long for most should be the last to hap pen.
 .'Then stay at home, .sauce-box," said Grandpa Derringer. But Estelle did not mean to stay at home. She stole out next day and bought her ticket, and when night fell, and while her grandpa was en- tertaining some gentlemen in the library. she disguised herself in a front of false hair which she had found in rummaging the attic, crowned with a cast of bonnet of Mrs. Wheat s; attired herself further in mantle and gown from her grandmoth- CTS wardrobe, packed away in lavender and tobocco. mounted pair of gold bow cd specgacles, drew over her features a lace vel, and passed into the opera m. questioned with the motley crowd. She was a trihe dazzled and beside herself at first; but the ushers treated her with such condescensian. and everyone else seemed so utterly blind with regard to her, that she soon composed hefself, ,and was quiet ly enjoying the strange fantastic scene, when asfamiliar voice at her elbow caused her fan to drop from her grasp to be re- turned to her by the ,exquisitely gloved hand of no less person than Mir. Denen, Who took a seat directly before her. Es- telIe was Hlse enough to bow her thanks simply, and then the curtain rolled away like a cloud, and introduced her to fairy iaud.T AfFst opera is like first love. in that it IS a new. experience and develop ment, and has all the freshness of novelty. Este1le abandoned herself to it's enioy- ment like child; for the time the people and situation were real to her; she laugh cd and sorrOwed with them; and when the curtain fell and Denen rose to depart. he caught glimpse of 8 lovely gray-hair. ed lady. with the bloom of youth on her cheek and tears in her eyes. i
 ''J0ve!' he said toa aGfandpa Derrineer next day, while Esteile sat in the broad wfndow seat dreaming over her evenings I pleasure, sT saw the most remarkable old Eiadg.at the. opera. Her cheek was like epeach,e her, hair silver white. and there were two great tears in her superb eyes when the play was over. She might have stepped out of some old painting, or she nay hsye been some pretty girl masquer-
 "A pretty daring girl, I should call her. :" said grandpa. - 1a- ID
 . s&Ntxmk F4l.0 r.