Litchfield enquirer., 1875-02-11
IFrom Godsy's Magazils 1uI BAEEEED.
BY s. ANNIE FRo8T.

q WlSn you WOulu 1nYlbe Ter 10 jOiu our party for 8 month or two.
 Mrs. Wiiloughby actually sgt upright iii the easiest of all lounging chairs, in her excess of amazement. 4 i.Iny,te Ernestine Grantley here!' she cried. her lazy blue eyes open 10 their . fullest extent. ''Why. you must be crazy. ! Ralphi'
 II assure you was never more sane But the child has not two decent dresses in the world; and the Carters, and Holmby, and all the most dressy of our friends, will be here.' a ''Invite her, all the same. s But I tell you her father has lost everything, and Ernestine gets her iving by teaching music"
 ''I want you to invite her.
 ''Why? You can't be in love with her. Ralph?" 'I never saw her.
 ''No; she could not have been more than seven years old when yoa went to
 ''H'm! Nineteen? An interesting age" said Ralph Guernsey, aloud, while he thought, Two years to work inr Mrs. Willoughby had fallen back in her easy chair, looking at her cousin with a perplexed expression in her large blue eyes. It was twelve years since he had been her guest before. and in those years her husband had trebled large fortune, and died, leaving her one of the wealthiest widows in New York State. When they were children, Ralph Guernsey and her. self, they had been companions in all things, being orphans, and mutually de- pendant upon an old aunt who had starv- ed and stinted herself, that her charges might have q good ledueation. .tand Relfh start in life. -. ...'-- 4-...ra.. r'',.,
 When Agnes married Carleton Wiiiough- by, the influential merchant had given Ralph good position in his ewn count ing house, and after some years experi- ence had sent him to California to take charge of . branch business there But when he died, to Ralph's disgust and sur prise, his entire fortune went to Agnes, not dollar to the cousin, who had fully expected large legacy. Unfortunately, agances that not only exhausted his gen. erous salary, but plunged him into debt.
 MT. Willoughbys partner in San Fran cisco-an old bachelor. past seventy-had followed his friend to the grave in less than six months, and the business was sold. It would have been an easy matter for Ralph, with his knowledge of business, and his honorable position m the mercan- tile world of the city that had been his home for twelve years, to obtain lucra- tive position. But, to the intense aston ishment of all his friends, he turned his back upon all such prospects. and return ed to New York. Finding upon his arri- val that his cousin Agnes had gone to her country seat upon the Hudson, he had written to her, and. as he expected, re- ceived a cordial invitation to make one of her summer party of guests -7s-f
 Looking at him, as she lounged back in her chair the day after his arrival, Agnes Willoughby. in her heart. admitted that time had dealt more gently with her cous- in than herself. They were nearly of ore age, both having passed their thirty fifth year; but Agnes had grown feshy, and her complexion was too rosy for her blonde hair and blue eyes; while she was indolent, and inclined to avoid all exer- tion. Ralph, was tall, little in figure, with large black eyes, 8 clear dark complexion. and attractive, in every sense of the word. Though he looked every day of his actual age, young New York, with all its conceit, could have found no fault with his dress, his manner, or his conversation. He could pass from grayest subjects with old men, to the frethiest of small talk, at home in either,
 ..Ralphl'
 There had been a long silence, and Agnes spoke abruptly, startling her cousin from : reveris, to fix his great black eyes inquiringly upon hex face. --.0-
 sRalph, why did you leave Californian
 'I saw prospect of employing my time more proftably here. After my summer holiday, I shall 90 to work; for I am poor man, Agnes- Business is not my forte: I detest grubbing for money
 ''You are going to speculateT
 ''Well-yes- suppose speculation is as good a name as any. What kind of a man is Grantley, Agnes?"
 "How you harp upon the Grantleysi Herman Grantley is a prematnrely old man, broken by his failure in business, and sincere mourner for his wife He lost several children. too. Ernestine was the youngest of nine. and the only one who lived to grow up"8 7 oi szaiaa- -.=
 ''She is pretty? aaz<s.z .E.e
 ''More. She is exquistely lovely; like a flower. so childlike and pure; and gen. tles too; giritin ten thousand" es
 "Blonde?" E
 "Purely blonde; hair like spun gold. and eyes like violets; slight and graceful. I am very fond of Ernestine.
 And yet you hesitate about inviting her here
 Because she will be uncomfortable. In spite of her gentle disposition, she is proud, and they are very poor. Yet they have been rich, and she will not like to be shabby amongst well-dressed group"
 '1nvite her. though. want to see her" ... --T s,---.zt- r-~
 '.Why?" -.- ,..-,-.zs .-..
 ''Mere curiosity. I think her father may be of use to me in my proposed spec ulations. s.L |
 ''I will invite her, since you desire it." Agnes Willoughby said, reluctantly; 'but I cannot imagine why you want to see her. "y-5 a8t -4a@ 1..lz.1l sz
 -.sThanksi" Ralph said,a ignoring the the Last part of the sentence, and rising as he spoke. Shall we drive?: s1aS isa
 ''1n an hour or two. must have nap before I dress" r=aus 6as ezsllaz =
 Taking this broad hint, Ralph Guern- sey left the luxurious boudoir. looking back to see Agnes already half asleep, ,nes- tied in the cushions of hereasy-chair.
 Sauntering up and down the garden walk, a fragrant cigar between his lips, he thought, Fortune favors me at last. When l expected to spend months trying to find ErnestineS Grantley, behold here she is one of my cousin;s friends. Pretty, too; young, and easily influenced. Luck IS with me for once. Agnes must write at once. Shabby! We'll, can stand that. too. Gratitude will not be a bad senti- ment to awaken at first. :. yxzz e4s..zz.r Three days later. looking into small room fitted up for studio. in very mod est bo9rding- house in New York, spec tator might have seen avery pretty love story enacted. .tHe" vas an artist. by name Walter Leigh. . slight, graceful man of twenty-two, with brown hair and eyes. and . acomplexion like girls; yet, in spite of . hoyish face and figure. pos. sessing the broad white brow and sout-in- spired eyes of genins. 'sShes was mu- sic teacher, in . we'll woan linen dress. that bore unbiushing traees of frequent visits to the wash-tuh. and her nome vasl Ernestine Grantly.
 Upon an easel before them VI was n large canvas. and Walter Leigh had pnt there A~uk -AE ~a