Litchfield enquirer., 1875-01-28

A&431 N42@k04Se kO u10 OWA tOW0s aAO C0e60- hshed him in business. No one knew the I cost Of 1t all. It was not the good physi- fclans way to make his charity a burden. Mrs. Bamber wiped her eyes as she slipped her tea by the stove, and the night closed in.
 | Up on the hill She old Platt homestead was shrounded in gloom, and revealed on- ly, tone dim hght in the dining-room. It was brick house, with white pillars SUD- porting projecting roof, shaded in sum- nler by large trees, and seemed in the clear crisp evening surrounded by tender memories. Now 1t was ali to be swept away, for the doctors purse had been ever open, and he had left wife and son in straltened circumstances. The lovers l stood in the window, hand clasped in hand, as If claiming silent mutual SUD- poFt, while Mrs. Platt. stout lady with 8 quefuiOus mouth, wandered from room to room gazing at her precious household gods f5 2
 Even little Mrs. Bamber owns the roofover her head, and all owing to the doctor" sobbed the poor lady, taking up 2 fayorite tea-eup with loving touch. The young son set his teeth and drew a long breath. Charlotte could only lean her brow against the cool pane. If they knew all! The night broug ght sorrow, but the ensuing day was only anticipated with dread. ,1. ,.,ra1ea rs5) Hiram Driggs made himself comforta- ble on the yellow satin couch of his little parlor, with a decanter of wine at his el- bow and cigar. If conscience is mat ter of education, he should have been wholly at ease, but there had been an ex- pressibn in Charlotte Eaton's eyes as she departed that day which pricked him smartIy even in remembrance. This look he might never forget. The wo6derful backward glance of the Cenci haunts 8 world. Lounging on the yellow sofa, he reasoned himself out of these fancies. He would gain at 8 cheap rate fine home. Dr. Plat was a reckless spendthrift in his day, and his creditors need not be blamed for that. As for Charlotte, he might make terms with that proud young lady yet. Altogether the evening passed not un- pleasantly for him in planning improve ments on his new property.
 New Years Day dawned on Stoneport, bringing joy to many hearts, and striking like knel on other lives that found their burden greater than could be borne. All nature smiled beneath a cloudless sky; the snow was rose-fushed on the slope, and ther shrubbery glistened as if pow dered with diamond dust; the harbor, where two schooners rode at anchor, was deep blue. Stoneport did not keep the holiday especially, although it still ad- hered to the Puritan belief that New Years Day should be sanctioned rather than Catholic Christmas On the hill the young ladies appeared in pretty dresses of blue and pink, and there were cake and wine on the sideboard should the young men call. The shops were open. At ten o'clock man passed along the main street, paused before Mrs. Bamber's show window, shaded his eyes moment, and walked on. Mrs. Bamber observed him with the habitual curiosity of the resident of a small place. He was an insignificant person Tn a gray coat, with red whiskers and round face. That was all. Pale and anxious after sleepless night, she stood with her eyes fixed apprehensively on the clock. It could not be long before Hiram Dnggs would do his worst. The shop bell rang sharply. siiea eEafi
 "What do you ask for your pictures. ma amp"
 "Five thousand dollars, muttered Mrs Bamber, abstractediy, still staring at the clock.
 What was that? The insignificant stran- ger in the grey coat had reached for the the pictures, and was uncermoniously striking off the splendid gilt frames with his stout cane. t..-. .... ...
 "Mercyl Stop! What are you do1ng?" Mrs. Bamber ran nimbly to his side and arrested his hand -.F@'
 'I don't want these frames" said the stranger. contemptuously. s'You set your own price, and will give you five thou sand dollars" ' --.'s' " l'.E Mrs. Bamber sank down on stool in speeches. astonishment, How unreal every thing had become-the snowy street, the shop, the man in gray coat! Surely Nanny would soon tap on her bed room door and tell her 1t was time to get up. Then, by a sudden and not unnatur- al transition of awakening. she became suspicious and vigilant. Her visitor vast ed no superfiuous words; his broad ruddy face betrayed not trace of emotion as he produced 8. crisp bit of paper, dipped 8 pen into Mrs. Bamber's ink. and began to write. ts- "'H you are not cheating me, let me see the money interposed Mrs. Bamber, sharply, He wiped the pen, restored it to silver sheath in. his pocket, and took up the draft. a-ee.t- ..-.t.,l - -, tVery good" was his sole comment. and he went out
 Mrs. Bamber laughed hysterically. Would he ever return? Perhaps he was | maniac. It seemed an hour before he returned, aud counted out pile of broad shining gold pieces that made a pleasant ciinking music as they fell in giitteripg heap. Five thousand dollarsl
 Still phlegmatic, and apparentlv un- moved, the purchaser folded the pictures beneath his ample coat, and returned to the StOnepOrt Hotel. where he was the solitary guest. Once in his chamber his reserve melted; he beamed in broad smiles. and rubbed his hands with sub- dued chuckls of triumph. !. @5i - Dirt cheap!" he said to himself. and fell to studying the dim canvas with the aspect of cOnnoisseur He then wrote the following letter:
 's1o the Right Honorable the Earl of H:
 s'MY LoRD,-I have the satisfaction of I informing you that have found the three pictures, after two years search in the States They were In the possession of an ignorant woman, keeping shop in an obscure town of the New England coast. who sold them to me for 41OOO. The pie lures are undoubtedly the missing origi- nals of Raffaelle Sanzio, and will com plete your lordship's collection. track ed the Italian, Luigi Carnole, to the haunts of his race in the city of New York, and was obliged to proceed with greater caution from the fact that he appears to have been actuated by revenge in the theft of the pictures. Your lordship will be better able to determine than I am whether this revenge was loyal attach ment to the palace of his master, the duke. and consequent rage at the disper- sion of it's works of art to foreign lands. or more strictly personal motive. He made no effort here to sell the pictures as ongluais to dealers or privateindividuals., and after quarrel with some of his coun- trymen he disappeared, in company with another Italian. Pursuit led me across inc plains to the Pacific, where found the second Italian, a wandering musician. on- ly to learn that he had parted with Luigi Carnole SIX months before, in the city of | NAW Havon Tn