Litchfield enquirer., 1875-07-29

from the curve towards Hollowdale, and, as he took of his hat, partly in greeting, partly to free his forehead, moisture was visible on his brow, and his cheeks were bright with new, clear color, steady but also swiftly pulsing. Marnie inclined her head to him in well come.
 'I was at Hollowdale for a time," he said, "and thought I would walk down and make you a call" "Recess is just over," she answered, with something of timidity in her man. ner.
 Couldn't see you afterward, then? I wanted to speak to you particularly. It's the old subject, education-with a new face. I'm going to build my model acad- emy."
 She looked up at him, ioyfully. Morning school will be over at twelve," she said.
 ''But you will want dinner, then"
 Perhaps, she responded, hesitatingly, eff you were going to be here, we could talk of it on the way to the house,
 ''Oh, said Walter, shortly. "Yes; I will be here," he added. Their glances did not meet agaiu. Mar nie went within, and the rapid bell on her desk shock out it's shrill summons on the air moment afterwards. Halliburton went over to the spot where the brook poured into the trough, and, stopping over this, took deep draught of it's yer nal fullness. elf could only slake this same source" he said to himself. Then he took himself to the deserted bower of twisted boughs, and sat looking at the elm, the trough, and the school-house. Marnie, meanwhile, fancied him some where without, smiling, she could only hope in pity and not in disdain, upon her shabby little school. But there was noth- ing either of pity or disdain in his face; it was very different expression from either of these. At last he drew from his pocket volume of poetry, and began reading. When, after the lapse of more than an hour, the pent-up life of the school-room burst forth again, he went down to meet Marnie, with the book in his hand.
 Cant we go through the woods?" hc asked,
 "I believe there is sort of path through them," she replied.
 In moment, they had disappeared within the viridencent maze of the forest They entered, through an arch of lighter foliage, into an alley of pines farther on, and shaft of sunlight, striking on the grass at their feet, laid an elusive thresh- old there of greenIng gold. But before they passed out of sight from the road Walter showed Marnie the book of poems he had been readidg.
 Fl came to render up something that belongs to you" he said.
 When the dinner stood arrayed on farmer Fayrewether's table, Marnie had not appeared. Like many other wood paths, that which she had followed had only brought her back again to the start ing point. Yet there was difference in her situation, too. MT. Halliburton stood there before her, just as before their en- trance into the wood. And yet, again, there was difference
 "And so read their story wrong?' said the young man, glancing at a cluster of pressed forget-me-nots in his hand. 'And they did not mean tha. there was some thing here which enchained your heart to this spot?'
 Une win ever Know exacUiY what they meant, at first. But it seems that, after all, they were to be the cause of keeping me here."
 Young Halliburton took the hand of his newly betrothed, and kissed 1t. The hi d. den significance of the dried blossoms was, apparently, clear enough to him. But 1t might have added another element of wonder to the deep surprise of his new
 
 forget-me-nots had taken root, while yet in their freshest bloom, in two other hearts to which they brought no such sweet fruitage as to his. The first whose eyes fell on them, after they had been plucked, bore away their beauty, and treasured it secretly within himself. The second stretched his hand out boldly, and even held them in his fingers; but, after all, he had done no more than to furnish the means of preserving them for third per- son. Into Haliburton's possession they had fallen, at last, as if by special dis position of fate; and it had remained for him to fill their withered forms with the new life of his love, until they bloomed again into unfading sweetness.
 It was several days after this walk in the wood that light trotting-sulkey, driven at great speed, and bending springily un- der the weight of slender young man, approached the FaYrewether farm from at the gate, and MT. Grooseck, leaping down, asked for Marnie at the door. She came to the sitting-rOOm, and found the young man standing, in a light overcoat, with one hand on the table, and looking toward the door as she entered. His man. ner was eager and energetic.
 "l wanted to see you very much" he began; "and as l had business in the neighborhood"-
 ''I am glad to see you, MT. Grooseck," said Marnie. She seated herself, but the young merchant remained standing.
 "I don't know" he resumed. ''whether you remember our conversation in the cars, almost yea- ago. No, of course, don't suppose you do. But never for: got it. And that is what came to speak about.
 'I remember" said Marnie.
 'Well, think I made fool of myself. You know what said-something abont your not wanting to-that is, something about woman's rights. You do remem- ber?''
 ''Yes."
 "Well. I don't think so now. I've changed my mind. That is-in point of fact, Miss Weston, was going to ask you to-to''-
 "I am afraid I know, Mir. Grooseck what it is," said Marnie, rising quietly. ''You know my frieud Mir. Halliburton, I think"
 "You are'- Here Mir. Grooseck falter. ed.
 ''Yes; I am engaged to him."
 The young hard W are merchant took q step backward, and removed his hand from the table, making no immediate at- tempt to conceal his embarrassment. Then, in a moment, deeper candor than had hitherto been apparent made itself felt Tn his face. It was as if an incredibly light gauge had been lifted from before his features. He held out his hand and Marnie took it, kindly though not very firmly. .. .a r3s
 ''You have my best wishes, Miss Wes- ton" he said. ''I an sorry made it so awkward for you."
 He opened the door. "Good-by," he said, and went out. Immediately the sulky skinned off over the road again. and disappeared beyond the ridge by tho elm. Grooseck had business engage ment at Hollowdale; he had originally planned to allow himself only twenty min utes for the interview with Marnie:
 Timothy had seen the young man arriv-