Litchfield enquirer., 1875-05-27
From Scribners Monthly.l RIRDsALI oF MAPLEFoM.


 '.MAREL. don't you want to come for bitter.sweet? said Birdsall as he took her hand. keeping an eye on his horse at the gate.
 sYes, indeed, Will. she answered mer- rily.
 s'Well, get your hat and shawl, then"
 Down the long winding mill they drove. and through the village street beneath the arching naples, all ahame with their an- tnm splendOr Mabefs eyes fairly glisten ed as she looked and exclaimed:
 ':Oh Will isn't it splendid?"
 And he, with his face turned toward the reflection of all that shining vision in her eyes, and cheeks, and hair, replied:
 ''Mabel, you look like a saint in paint ed window"
 She laughed and looked up with pret- ty toss. --t.s.
 ssBut I'm not much like one when the sun is down the naples burnt out, am I, Will?" 5H Then the horses feet rang on the bridge. scrambled up the steep hill, trotted away a mile or two through fields green as spring time, and cedar-lined by-ways, till the spot was reached where the vines hung on the trees full of the scarlet berries. Mabel had chattered as to much to herself as to Will, of the stream and the squirrels in the fence-rows, the grace and tender ness of the Indian summer weather, and had hardly noticed that her companion was less full of gay spirits than herself. was stiller and sobeIer than usual They gathered the vines, and she wound the sprays about her hat as they rode home ward in the tawny sunlight.
 "Will'" she asked, looking back, with a touch of sOberness in the midst of her merry humor, show long IS 1t since you first brought me here?'
 ''A long tune. Mabel" he answered, looking at her. ''We have had many hap py days together, haven't we? We have been after bittef-sweet every fall, but we have only found the sweet of 1t so far. l hope We are not going to find the bitter ness yet awhile, Mabel"
 s'Oh, Will" she said, with a swift fash like regret and a moisture in her eyes, '.1 wish we could go back and begin again l wish this was the first time We ever came here
 ''Then you are engaged to Chris Mark ham?'
 She turned with flash of anger in her cheeks and eyes.
 Then sue retOftcu "Aat uO you mean?"
 'I'm very sorry" he said. in a low tone.
 'tYOu have no right to be sOrry." she continued, and she flung away the spray she was twining. 'I believe you are jeal- ous, Will
 Do you think SOP" he asked.
 ''Oh, no, I don't, Wilf." he answered, changing back as abruptly to a gentle ko1 h41 4f 1o d. precatingly. You're a good boy" with deal too good for me- No, know what you mean; you think Chris is not model young man, and know he Is not. But we'll, and Chris IS a good hearted fellow. It's his generosity and good -heartedness that lead him astray; people know he can't say No, and impose on him and lead him into trouble. He has too much money and too little will, and will relieve him of the one and supply him with the other," she laughed, shaking her curls at him. and adding: a1You know \ have enough and to spare, Mir. Will, so. you had best say no more"
 So he drove along in rather rueful si- lence, until she made him smile in spite of himself by her chatter, merry and spon- and unreasoning as a brooks; by her comical, graceful play of figure and features, and the bubbling laughter of which she was full, that had touch of pathos for him withal. As he lifted her out at her door she laid her finger on his lips an instant, and looked into his eyes and said:
 "Mind, now. you're to be a good boy and not meddle. And promise me, Will, that. whatever comes, you will not let any thing come between you and me.
 And he answered.:
 ''Mabel, I will be your friend as long as you let me-"
 Then he drove hOmeward with a ming led soreness and sweetness in his heart, and the feeling of her hand upon hisface.
 Mabel was the motherless child of an man. She was willful and light-hearted and handsome, quick to langh or to cry. fonc of pleasure and beautiful things, and impatient of re- straint and poverty She had tried to help her father after butterfly fashion. and Will believed her failure was one incen- tive to her acceptance of Markham.
 They were married in the spring and all summer. Then Mabel was oc- cupied long while with laying ont, re- and furnishing the new place, and when that was done there was endless coming and going and festlvity, and Ma bel blOomed out into splendid beauty and spirit that made Wills heart ache. though he hardly knew why. He had not seen great deal of her in this busy time, though she never saw him without coming to him in her old frank manner, and often rar preached him for keeping away; though, indeed, it was hard to find her at any given time Will went alone that season and gathered the bitter-sweet one gray, chilly day in early November, having waited for a chance to see if Mabel would care. until the berries had already begun to shrivel on the vines When he took her the sprays some days later, he found her and Chris together in the early even- ing, with bright lights and glowing grate fire, looking very pleasant and homelike.
 ''Why, you good for nothing Willi" she cried, N hen she saw what he had. "What do you mean by going for bitter-sweet without me? won't take 1t; you must come and take me the first fine day"
 "I'm afraid it's too late, Mabel, he an- swered. ''I got this last week. and you see the berries were shriveling then, and the weather is colder since. I came to speak 10 you about It two or three times, but you were out
 '.Oh. yes.' she retorted, '.you always make things out to suit yon. But don't care; I think you're as mean as you can be. You never come to see me any more, or come always when I'm out, which is the same thing"
 Will langhed, and answered.:
 ''Or you're always out when I come; which Is it?''
 Chris was lounging on a sofa. looking at paper, and he threw it down,
 ''Birdsall, you're right" he broke in ''We are always out, by George! We're going all day and all night; We work hard CT than Mike. the gardener. by love. we do! We never stay home without we've got a crowd of folks that only care for a fellows victuals and furniture. I say. Mabel. wish yon wouldn't go to that thing tonight Birdsall is better com pany than anybody there. and we can have good, cozy time. .
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