Litchfield enquirer., 1875-12-09

return, and now stood alone, apart from all, forgotten I could not bear it longer and left the parior, intending to spend the remainder of the evening in my own room. At the foot of the stairs a hand detained me. and Wills voice, with no self reproach in its tone, said =
 "Where are you going, Nelli You sure ly will not run away so early the first night I of my return?' II have promised to finish something for Daisy this evening, said. 'Oh, Daisy can wait till tomorrow i and have not had a chance to talk to you yet"
 I thought, had he desired the chance. he might have found one; so answered. quite coldly:-
 There will be plenty of time for tbat ! m the future. You know I am a fixture in the house now; that is, so long as I give ! satisfaction"
 1 His face flushed for an instant, and then 1 he said, quietly:-
 ''Of course, If you have no wish to re- main yourself. cannot urge 1t" felt how cOntemptibly had returned all their kindness by that speech of mine, and tried to smooth it over by saying:-
 '1 have duties which must be attended to tonight"
 He bowed and returned to the parlor. while l passed on up to my own room. where. finging myself upon the bed, I cried and scolded myself by turns for the next twenty minutes. Presently my door was pushed open. and tiny figure glided across the room to my side.
 Please, Miss Nellie, Captain Montague 1 sends his compartments, and would you please come down again?' 'Where did you see him, Daisy?' ''He was looking ali over for you, and sent me Tn here to find you.''
 Tell him have headache, Daisy. Or no, I added quickly, fearing that such a message might lead to investigation from some of the others. Ask him please to excuse me; and. Daisy come back and tell me what he says," l whispered, half ashamed of myself.
 The child elided silently sway, but in a few moments heard the batter of little feet outside my door, and she was with me l again.
 He says won't you plerse come out in the hall just one minute" do not think that I was vainer than any other girl of my age. but the devotion of a good-looking young fellow, who could command the homage of any young lady from whom he had chosed to accept 1 1t, vas qualification to me at the mo- ment, when felt others had slighted me, | and-need add?-I rose and went out in- to the broad, brightly-iighted hall. where | he stood patiently waiting, leaning against the balusrers with folded hands. ''I know you cannot be so cruel as to doom me to a miserable evening, he said, earnestly. ''You would find me very stupid con- paDy, Captain Montague. I feel ont of sorts this evening""
 He said a great many foolish things in reply, and knew them to be SO, but they pleased the weaker side Of my nature, and the result of his soft pleadings was that fifteen minutes later we were down stairs | Tn the library, continuing the folly for which Mrs. Wraybnre bad given me that look of reproof. Suddenly the door, which was half closed. opened, and Will Wray burg entered quickly, as if in search of something l thnnQhta a look of annoy- ance fitted across his face on seeing us there,
 Excuse me. I did not know that any, one was in here," Ire said. quite stifiy. while he fumbled among the books and papers on the table II only wish to get the evenin g paper"
 Pray. don't apologize, " said, half de- fiantly: Captain Montague and have no desire to monopolize the room"
 "I believe that 1 took the paper up stairs. Will, said the captain, with the embar- rassed manner of child discovered steal ing sweets. II win get 1t for you."
 Will made no object on to his doing so. and thus we were left together. I sat si- lent. looking confused, Knew, and he re- mained standing by the table, watching me gravely.
 Are these the duties?" he asked.
 ''I suppose it is duty to oblige friend, answered.
 "You did not think so a little while ago."
 "You asked me to remain down stairs for politeness' sake-the captain for his own"
 ! The captains step was on the stairs, and Will leaned across the table, 50 that a whisper could reach me, while I felt his eyes were fixed on mine; his voice was sad and tender.
 Nell. l am not going to quarrel with you the first night of my return, though you do tempt me to sorely."
 Then he took the paper which the cap- tain handed him, the two men bowed. and will left the room Without speaking again to either of us. Some way the thread of sentiment was broken, and we could not readily resume 1t, so the second time i pleaded fatigue Captain Montague did not offer to detain me-
 The next week was perfect carnival. but I was wretchedly unhappy those days. although the captain was as devoted as ever. and laughed, flirted, and went about my duties as usual. apparently en- JoylDg all the gaiety to the fullest extent. But Mrs. Wrayburg never took me into her confidence now. and 1 often met that look of reproof. Ginnje, too, seemed wholly devoted to the entertainment of her guests, and rarely found an opportun- itv to visit my room for one of our old talks; and as for Will, foreign life seemed to have developed all the melancholy in in his disposition. Except when riding, talking, or otherwise entertaining Miss Janin, we ladies saw little of his society. although he was constantly arranging par ties of p easure, or some amusements for his guests.
 At the end of the week, Clemence Janin and knew no more of each other than on the first night of her arrival. Whether the dislike and distrust felt we're recip- rOcated do not know, but I fancy she was too indifferent to the subject to have given 1t thought. When in Will Wray- burg's company, she appeared perfectly helpless to think or act for herself, relying on his judgment in everything, and quiet ly mOnopoliz ng his attention as kind of right which no one disputed, and no one seemed able to resist. There is no way in which woman can bind man more firm. ly than by thls kind of helplessness. When left alone with us, Miss Janin was content to sit in the most comfortable chair Tn the warmest corner of the room. snd seemed quite capable of entertaining herself with g French novel, or folding her white hands on her lap and musing On what, Heaven only knows! Nothing scientific, am gure. But at all times she was perfectly self fpossessed, aud I had a feeling that no circumstance in life could ever disturb that 1adylike repose. Some times | wOfsld find her vatcI.Inx rna ar1