Litchfield enquirer., 1875-09-30


 Yes, Nan has her journey, and she knows that her trunk has to be packed besides.
 Little would she have cared for that, if -ah, well! it is the last drop in her cup, . She gathers up her ornaments and how- CTS, and departs. Softly going along the gallery her step makes no sound, and her fingers are oH fhe::door-handle of her own room. .s. 4-. .. sf-... ..fs .. .,.....
 Suddenly the opposite door opens-she looks round-there is Dick.
 ' Not sound in the great house save the tick-tick of the tall clock in the passage, loudly telling how the time wears on.
 Dick is going to have 6 pipe. He has put on a rough smoking coat, which con- trasts oddly with his shining neither gar. ments, and is hurTying of to join his friends when he thus comes face to face with hls cousin.
 He stands still.
 She stands still. r g.. F.7
 Must she, must she open the door, and when she shuts it after her, close also her last glimpse of hope? Yes, if Dick makes no sign. -'
 She opens the door, Dick steps up hur- riedly.1 May keep you for minute?''
 Her arm falls by her side. ...
 "Come into the schoolroom."
 i''Yes, wait a moment"
 Into her chamber she steps, filings down the rubbish on the bed. passes a comb through the tails of twisted hair, and goes after him. ..s.,,,r-A
 Dick is standing by the window, with his knee on the ledge, his hands in his pockets, and his forehead pressed against the panes.
 The clock says half past four, and the birds are i'm full chorus outside.
 Ghostly looks the schoolroom at this hour. There is Miss Blisset's work -bas- ket gaping open on the table, and the book with which she solaced her lonely evening. There is the piano, whose voice never ceased by day, closed, silent. There is the blackboard on which some little figure reclines perpetually, empty, and tilted up against the wall: The very maps and globes have an air of undisturbed re- pose. f1 s"-s H.ts L"' s..a .t:r The books nestle tranquilly together on the shelye. ma. -..-...., ..s-s.,.-... ........ All sense of weariness has left Nan now. '@hl -I ;A r#F
 She comes up to Dick in her crumpled ball-dress, with her flowing fleece of hair, and shining ornaments, a strange vision in this grim early light. @ 7#s.. .
 She is all in tumult, but still she has an eye to see how nice he looks. One glance suffices to take him in from head to foot; no collar, the red burnt neck showing against the white shirt, the rough coat and the sleek black trousers; Dick never looked to greater advantage. while she-but no matter, he turns round and draws his knee of the ledge.
 Then he offers her a seat, which she mutely disregards, and there is a pause, during which they eye each other awk- wardly.
 How on earth is he to begin? Nan has the best of it at the outset, and that is something. He has sought the interview, and speak he must. At last he makes the plunge.
 Man, I want to ask you question"
 s'Yes?''
 "What made you go on so, to-night?''
 Go on sol Go on how! What does he is there to De hothiansss % assb but dtanas After all been dreaming of love tale, and is she to have nothing but lecture?
 Notifying, miserable thoughtI
 Wretched Nan! She strings herself up, and answers slowly and proudly, 'T don t know what you mean"
 ''You don't know. Oh! perhaps I should have spoken. I thought you might, that was all," says Mir. Wyatt, with freezing politeness. ''I see I was mistaken"
 No answer.
 'I need not detain you then. Pray ex- cuse me, says Dick. with his best bow
 An answering bow, a quiver of the lips, she sweeps away.
 The room is blocked somehow. or Nan does not see clearly, and her dress is caught in Q garden chair. It rends, she tears it of; it rends further but still holds on-She stoops her head. and Dick sees the tears running down her face.
 In a moment he Is by her side.
 .'I can't help it, sobs the poor child. struggling for breath and crimson with shame. ''1 am so-so tired. Let me go."
 You must not go yet, /" says Dick, in her ear. ''Nan, don't you know that this is eUerything to me? T. am no boy to be able to fall in and out of love every second day.. Come here. Sit down. Dear, :" very softly, '.you are not afraid of me?'
 Afraid? No. But she is so ashamed, she is 50 weak, ssO helplesa. Win she ever dare look him in the face again?
 Yet his arm is round her waist, and one of her little shoulders is pressed against his rough coat. She must master herself. and explain If she can, or get away if she can't. Yet she can do nothing but CIV. The anxieties, heart sinkings;I turning. points of that most miserable night have been too much for her at last. / E,.,..s
 Dick attacks, questions, ,pets and coaxes, but she is dumb. +-.f
 'FYou shank get away nOvs I will not let you," says he, quietly. ''You must say something, or I shall have to say it for vOu.s Speak, Nan" E-. ..- ..-s-,rr- E..
 She lifts her face to speak, and Dick clasps the little lovely face to his bosom.
 And what had it all been about then? Absolutely nothing. r.s.E !. ......- |. He had spoken to her, and she had not heard, and she had danced though he had not asked her, or some such fnely-drawn nonsense. osE essI e.-.a tsA .zE
 The right is on her side, and Nan knows it is, but she cannot claim it. There is Q lump in her throat, so that she cannot ut ter a syllable. ? l. ,a5eg v-f a r.a.al..s sa .
 And he looks at her, and great sense of his love, and his triumph, and his hap. piness comes over him Why. Dick, what heart you havel What hidden wells lie there, unknown and undreamed of: sim. ply because they have never been probed beforel sE Let them spring mp fearlessly now, and unchecked; the little north-country girl with the magic of her bright, loving, con. tented spirit has broken the spell. And she will be happy woman, and you have won treasure. God bless yon both.
 Six hours later, and breakfast is going slowly on. One by one the stragglers have dropped in: Miss Blisset has begun her daily round two hours ago; and at last comes down Miss Nan Church, latest of all, and looking as demtfe as if she had been teaching q Sunday class the night before, ,and had had bowl of bread and milk for supper after it.
 She takes the vacant seat, and finds it is directly opposite Dick. al He says "Good morning" in ceremoni- ous accents. and then gives her a look over his coffee crD khak aaks1aa her fnp 4ba