Litchfield enquirer., 1875-01-07

thought it looked so pleasant and cool under the trees that might as we'll read away an hour here, so came in, and he-e I | am, you see. ]" ''Old George" coughed dubiously as she offered to make room for him beside her, but he sat down nevertheless in obedi- | eEce to her gesture to do so. Well, say, this is a go!' whispered George to Nina. ''How long are they go- ing to sit there? An, my poor kneesi' ''Do you know what, George; I'm be- ginning to suspect" , ''Oh! you are, are you? What?"
 ''That you and I have made mess of
 Tell us something new, he whispered, satirically.
 ''That we have got hold of the right parties and the wrong parties in one" ''How enigmatical you callp'
 ''You stupid fellow. can't you see what mean?" ':No, that can't"
 ''Why, that Uncle George and Aunt Vil- l Hers are Adonis and Ariadnep' Nonsense! It can't be!' whispered he, aghast. t 'It looks very like it, That's all I can sayr' And after pause George was obliged to confess that it did look very like it. | very much indeed.
 '1t's sweet spot this" observed Mrs. Villiers meanwhile; in the hearing of the | conspirators. ''Do you frequently come here to see your old friend the bear?"
 "About as often as you do to read" re- torted "Old George" rather gruf1y. In fact, he was just then thinking that he was cutting rather ridiculous figure on the scene, and the more he thought of | 1t the less he liked it. ... sI believe George and Nina are in the park to day." observed Mrs. Villiers.
 "By-the-way, you have not told me any thing lately about that projected match for your boy. "'
 ''What? Mrs. Mustard? Any man but a fool, as that boy is, would have had the widow long ago. Fifteen hundred year, all her own to do what she likes with, and not bad-looking woman either" Here Nina drew herself a little away from George, and Mrs. Villiers looked round at the noise.
 'What's that?" she asked. Some bird or brute, replied the faith CT, carelessly. 'I threw a stone in there just now" s'Indeed it is time that George was set tied in life, said Mrs. Villiers, langiudly. ''And Nina too; don't you think sop
 Certainly. Have you thought of a
 ''Yes; there is Mir. Bogie, for instance: an excellent man."
 Young George rustled here, and again Mrs. Villiers cast her eyes toward the shrubbefy
 "Bogie! the dissenting minister from the North? Never do, never do for such girl; but there is the Count De Crepites, now"
 "A eard-sharper, and as old as the hills, rejoined Mrs. Viliers, indignantly.
 ''Not so, but excellent whist-player and fine income, ? cried ''Old George.
 ''This is pleasant, |" whispered Nina in the bushes, hysterically, ''isn't it?"
 'sVery much so" answered the Hussar, coldly, for he was feeling jealous.
 z.s.Ab o4etime, :. observed Mrs. Villiers. ''I thought Nina was inclined to encourage MT. Bogie, but no doubt your son laugh ed her out of an excellent match and a most worthy man. Sometimes, MT. Fitz- gerald, my conscience reproaches me for allowing them to go about so much to- gether.
 ''No fear, ma'am, no fear whatever. My boy does not care farthing rush-light for the girl; told me so himself"
 At this insult Nina moved so hastily away from her cousin, who was support ing her with his arm, that the noise was considerable. "Old George" turned round, and Mrs. Villiers handing him a large clod which lay at her feet, he threw 1t into the bushes, covering the cousins with dirt and gravel, and causing small hail-storm to fall in the branches.
 ''1t is shameful this! to be pelted with stone and clods by ones own governor" said the Hussar, with indignation.
 ''And to have ones aunt handing the missiles, whispered Nina, between laugh ing and crying ''See! there is ever so much mud in my eye."
 While her cousin was silently trying to extract this with his handkerchief, the elders resumed their conversation.
 "lt is nothing, after all, D observed Mrs. Villiers; "only blackbird, perhaps"
 ''No, no" continued the old beau, George has his faults, but love for his cousin is not one of them But he is good-looking fellow; very fair chip of the old block, eh? and girl might easily be taken with him." ,.-.-'-" v. - think. She has often spoken to me of George as a feather-pated good-for-no- thing, unworthy the consideration of any sensible woman" i"
 This was indeed true, but Nina had so spoken only to mlslead her aunt She could now hardly dare to meet her cousins indignant gaze, but sat covering and blushng with downcast head on the clods and rubbish.
 Besides, continued Mir. Villiers Cit would be quite impossible for the two to marry, since Nina can have nothing but what choose to give her."
 'Old George" was silent for 8 little, but after pause he said,
 ''And if it's not an indiscreet question, Mrs. Villiers, how much might that be?
 ''No, no, MT. Fitzgerald, only my law yer IS acquainted with my affairs; but you need entertain no doubts of my solvency."
 "Never! Such a thought never entered my head for one moment. An, Mrs. Will Hers, a0oader what brought you here to- day?"
 My carriage"
 ''My dear creature, now shall tell you secret? It was this," and so saying, ''Old George audaciously placed an arm round the widows waist, offering her letter with other hand.
 Nina looked impressively at young Fitz- gerald.
 ''D1d not say SOP" she whispered.
 ''Ay, indeed; a nice hash we have made of the whole business, said he, biting his lip angri1y.
 ''Hush!'' whispered Nina ''Listen to what aunt ssys.''
 "And is it possible that you are Adonis?' observed Mrs. Villiers, with a laugh. ....--.
 ''As sure as you are Ariadne, g he repli- ed, with emphasis.
 'But, excuse me, you are not, you know, so young as this advertisement sets forth.'
 ''My dear madam,' replied "Old George" slyly. neither are you."
 ''I said l was not'under thirty, which is the truth" she said, hastily.
 'Thirty!' groaned young Fitzgerald in the bushes. 'Fiftyp | "Youth is not essential to a happy home, however, 3 observed Old George, ''and that, you say, was your object in |