Litchfield enquirer., 1875-09-23
':No, thanks" says Dick; "fhis will

'cNo, thanks" says Dick; ''this vii do."
 Pax Burnand has gone of in the small boat with the eldest Miss Wyatt; anC from the schoolroom window Miss Blisse watched their departure, communing witl herself as to all 1t would lead to. Editl fills her thoughts, she has no eyes fol Nan; and it is we'll for Nan that she ha. not.
 In the big boat they are very merry.
 Augusta favors them with her celebrated river song, to which Mir. DalIie throws il a neat second.
 It sounds charming on the water, a. music always does, and Miss Bushe i. much applauded. At the close she ad dresses her neighbor, graciously, "Don' you sing at all, Miss Church?" Where have her thought been wandering: Dick looks at her, and smiles. He hal got into way of looking at Nan anG smiling. lately. Perhaps he is beginning to like her.
 "Pray, Miss Bushe, give us another, implores little Hefton; ''that last one va. so awfully jollyp N. B.-He takes the opportunity of letting his oar dip impo tently in the water in exact time with the rest.
 Dallie continues to sing and row lustily.
 He determined not to seem as if, when singing, he is unable to row, or when row. ing. he cannot sing. Little Hefton, be hind his back. is grinning from ear to cal while Dick pulls the strings, and keeps the boat even, conniving at his iniquity with. out twinge of conscience.
 When they land, Dallie is rather puffed but, true to himself, he is the first to jump ashore, and has hand for every pretty one.
 ''Don't get out yet, Man," says Dick. ''Ill take you over for those forget-me- nots while they are getting luncheon"
 So he takes her over; and the Dents, who have been on the spot for some time, and are buslly making preparations, are q little disgusted at the coolness of MT. Wyatt.
 It had been alleged that Dick had come down for their ball on the morrow,-thaI ball of which Edith had told her cousin.
 Dick is not ball going man, and the Dents had taken it as a compliment.
 Who is that with him in the boat? And is she coming to the ball?
 Yes, Edith assures them of that. Their cousin has the offer of an escort back to Westmoreland on Friday, but she is to be at the ball.
 Miss Dent would as soon that the escort had been for Thursday. The two voices on the river sound pleasantly together.
 Are they never coming back?
 Luncheon IS waiting, and Dallie volun- teers to roar 8 summons. putting his hands together as a trumpet.
 He does it once. twice, thrice, thinking he never had such difficulty in making people hear in his life.
 A happy thought strikes little Hefton.
 Just as Nan is stepping of the ledge in- to the boat, large stone splashes into the water a couple of yards from her.
 "Oh, say" calculates Hefton, catch ing his breath, ''that was rather . close shavel"
 Nan is easily startled. She loses her balance, and would infallibly fall into the water If Dick had not hold of her hand.
 He hauls her ungracefully into the boat, and then turns upon his friend, black with wrath.
 Nan says not a word, but looks pale. Dick stops short in his scolding, and bends over her. ''You were not frighten- ed, Nan?"
 "Oh, mo-"
 ''It was one of that Hefton's baby tricks. He IS the greatest fool ]" explains Dick, who ln his heart loves Hefton a thousand times more than Pax Burnand, Dallie, or any one of his other mates, whatever hIs sisters may say.
 ''Awfully sorryr in 8 violent haIloo from the other side Ought to be-" Low growl in the boat.
 Hefton is at the landing-place to help Nan out.
 Dick turns the boat up the stream, and keeps him marching by the side for a couple of hundred yards. Mans blue for get-me-nots drip on her white frock, and she knows that it is punched up behind with Dicks breast-pin in a most inelegant fashion, but she IS quite happy.
 At luncheon she sits little in the back ground.
 Dick is obliged to take the hosts part and unwlllingly exerts himself, ordering Dallie hither and thither, who would be a far more competent head of affairs than he himself.
 Little Hefton sits down upon a tray of glasses, and Dicks grave face explodes In a huge laugh.
 There is great drawing of corks. and changing of plates. and chatter. and fuss, and no one notices that two or three of the party are very quiet.
 ''We hardly expected to see you at our ball, Richard" says old RMother Dent, shining with goodnature and champagne. We feel honored."
 TDick handa hor noko
 You never were dancer, we know" '" says she.
 Nan's face falls. Not dance with Dick! Then she might just as we'll be back in Westmoreland,- at any rate, be as well away from the ball.
 Dick tacitly acq1iesces.
 You don't want dancers, Mrs. Dent. !"
 We shall be glad to see you, at all events"
 Thanks"
 We have been in such trouble about the tent, Miss Dent privately informs the girls '1t gave way twice, and we did not dare to let mamma know. If any of you are nervous people. you had better not go into il"
 None of them are nervous, but never theless there IS an inquiry as to where the uaACAuS IS IO D6S
 ''In the saloon. We thought it best, you know, in case of accident. Supper will be in the tent, now and we have got mamma to let it be opened at eleven, as 1t will be such a charming place for people to go out and in, aud get cool in between the dances. Papa has had lights hung in the shrubbery, so you can meander there as much as you like, my dear" This
 "Mr. wyatt," says Augusta, softly, 'toottd you mind giving me out my shawl? think the grass DsGy be little damp"
 The ground is as hard as . flint; but what then? One must have same excuse.
 Dick spreads the shawl.
 ''And now sit down for minute your. self, and tell me about your mother, says Mrs. Dent, goodnaturedly. flaming her self. "Here. between Miss Bushe and me. We will take care of you"
 Dick sits down. es...
 What is to be done next? He hates this sort of thing. He has no idea what is ex- pected of him. So follows a quarter of an hours dreary conversation, questions and answers.
 Little Hefton has lit his ciOar and