Litchfield enquirer., 1875-02-11

she was conscious of a watchful eye upon her horse, a ready hand if she ventured to walk upon steep ground or. over slip pery banks, and a thoughtful choice of shady hooks for resting places.
 And to her shy, sensitive nature this si lent, constant homage was thoroughly de- ightful. It needed the year she had spent winning her bread by the drudgery of music teaching in families of vulgar rich, with stupid children, and often un- der rude patronage, to give full value to Ralph Guernsey's courting. He was undoubtedly king in his cousins circle, man above the others by right of brains and beauty, the easy, courtly grace of long familiarity with society, and cer- Not woman of all the circle but was dattered when Ralph Guernsey bent over her hand and paid her courtly compli- ment, and Ernestine certainly felt 8
 thrill of exultation when he turned from the bellies there to watch the happiness and comfort of an humble little music teacher, who had to study closely to get variety of costume out of the limited number of made-over dresses in her possession. Some of the ladies sneered
 as they recognized the white tulle over the three silk dresses, the dresses without
 tulle freshened by black lace or white;
 the jewels. few in number, varied by tasteful arrangement; but the gentlemen
 saw only that the beauty of the new face
 was ever bewildering, the voice of Er- nestine ever clear and sweet in speech or
 song, the figure ever graceful in dance or
 ride.
 Weeks glided by in fairy dreams, and Ralph had so surrounded the girl by the
 atmosphere of his delicate attentions, that almost unconsciously she looked to him for every pleasure. Without one word of love e-making, he had become more open in his atetntiaas, her sel-elected cavalier l in drives and rides, her frequent partner l in the dance, and her companion in morn ing strolls, taken before the late break
 fast. In these rambles along the river
 bank, through shady lanes, in the flower bordered garden, he opened new world of delight for her eager young mind. She had fed her intellect upon hard, dry stud ies to win her diplomas in the school she
 attended to fit her for teacher, and leaving this had found her time fully oc- cupied with her pnpils and the care of her father. It was 8 new delight to have the world of poetry and romance opened
 to her by the eloquent lips of her new
 adm1rer. He guided her selections from
 Mrs. Willoughby's library, and discussed
 with her the eagerly devoured volumes, pointing out thousand beauties that
 had escaped her observation. He talked to her of that Western land he had made his home SO long, rousing her warm en-
 had heard described by the pioneers of $ho horon1 %ho thick ly-settled cites.
 When he thought he had made himself
 a necessity of life, he asked Earnestine to
 be his wife. They were lettering in the
 summer house in the twilight of an Au- gust day, when he dared his fate. The girl looked at him in unfeigned amaze ment. She had accepted his kindness as a child might have done, with an astonish-
 but utterly unconscious of having establ- ished any claim upon his affection. or walk ened in him ahy deeper emotion than kind
 Illness. She thought he pitied her shyness, and her long deprivation of pleasure. and she was profoundly grateful for his gentle kindness. But love between herself and Ralph Gurnsey! Lovei Could it be he ask ed her to wander with him in that rosy dream-land where Walter Leigh had SO easily led her young heart?
 Her face grew as white as her dress as she said. pitifully: ''I do not think you can be in earnest. 1 am but an ignorant child beside you"
 Nowise discouraged, he repeated his as- sertion of deep. undying love. Tears fill ed her eyes.
 "Iam so sorry! so sorry!' she said. ''I never thought you cared for me except in the way of kindness, and I am engaged to
 be married"
 He staggered back step or two, This
 was blowi Engaged! This child, who had already confded to him many of the secrets of her hard, narrow life, but who
 had never mentioned the artist upon the floor blow in the quiet boarding house. Engaged! This sweet, grieved face moved him strangely, but the confession did not shake his purpose.
 In few well-chosen words he express ed her regret at having annoyed her, and left her with well-acted despair upon his handsome face. She cried till her eyes forced her into the seclusion of her own room for the evening. She was like 8 child who, having toyed with a costly jewel, sees 1t break, and for the first time realizes its value. Innocent of any CO., A0Se4yS SnO 4n0 Q VokuC 1C2uO1SO 0Au 1CdH that she had been that odious thtng, a fiirt.
 The next day Ralph Gurnsey was gone He had impressed upon Agnes his desire to have Ernestine still remain her guest, and Mrs. Willoughly, too lazy to question his motives, was sufficiently fond of Erne- stine to be very willing to keep her. And while the girl, pale and troubled, missed her kind friend sorely, Ralph Gurnsey was seeking Herman Grantley
 Here he found his task easy to absurdi ty. He persuaded the broken man that he was man of untold wealth in that
 Western city which has sent so many mil ionaires to their old homes. He dazzled the feeble intellect by tales of golden in- vestments and speculations, and while the old mans mouth watered to hear the sounds rolling so easily from the temper,s 8 he offered him an opportunity to take 8 part In this easy race for wealth.
 'We need men of experience like your- self, Mr. Grrautly," he told him, ''to con- duct our Eastern branches. l have an office now=in Albany, where shrewd busi- ness man can coin money, but I cannot leave New York to manage 1t Will you accept the positlon?'
 The duties explained seemed to consist for the present of lying back and watching certain stocks, reporting them each day to Ralph Gurnsey, and the old man was cas- fly persuaded to remove to Albany, and take rooms there.
 No word of Ernestine! It was sufficient for the present to prevent her return to the city where Ralph was certain her lover resided ItWas easy to bind Herman Granney to secrecy, and he had been in Albany week before Walter Leigh knew the fact from one of E.nestine's letters. Fl cannot tell you why he has gone," she wrote. ..his letter is so vague; but he has some new project by which he hopes to retrieve his fortunes.'' . s-23 -s With aheavy heart the young artist re- ralized the separation he could not prevent. He had urged his suit during Ernestine's absence, but her fathers refusal had been so insulting he could not renew his plea. Yet the letters from Hope. as he fondly called her in his heart, were 30 tender and loving, that he waited for better days with sOma ahnyv nf r,afiouoo Ri1I %hic Iok