Litchfield enquirer., 1875-08-12
..Mx sonr cried fhe father.

'1 retract." cried the son; Consider it unsaid. Twill never reproach my fath- er."
 :m is we'll" said the father. '1 was wrong It is my quarrel I go to settle it myself"
 Dr. Messy moved quickly between his father and the door. General ViIlivicen- cio stood before him utterly bowed down.
 ''What will you?" sadly demanded the old man.
 '.Papa," said the son with much tender ness, ''I cannot permit you. Fifteen years we were strangers, and yesterday were friends. You must not leave me so. I will even settle this quarrel for you. You must let me. I am pledged to your ser vice."
 The peace-loving little doctor did not mean ''to settle," but ''to adjust" He felt in an instant that he was misunder- stood; yet, as quiet people are apt to do, though not wishing to deceive, he let the misinterpretation stand In his embar- rassment he did not certainly know what he should do himself
 The fathers face-he thought of but one way to settle a quarrel-began in- stantly to brighten. ''I would myself do it" he said apologetically, "but my friends forbid 1t.
 ':And so do I, said the Doctor, ''but l will go myself now, and will not return until all IS finished. Give me the paper.
 My son, l do not wish to compel you.
 There was something acid in the Doc tors smile as he answered.:
 ''No: but give me the paper, if you please"
 Ire General handed 1t.
 "Papa," said the son, ''you muss wait here for my return"
 "But have an appointment at Maspe- ro's at''-
 'I will call and make excuse for you, said the son.
 "Well," consented the almost happy father, Ego, my son; l will stay. But il some of your sick shall call?"
 Sit quiet, said the son. ''They will think no one is here" And the General noticed that the dust lay so thick on the panes that person outside would have to put his face close to the glass to see with. Tn.
 In the course of half an hour the Doc tor had reached the newspaper office, thrice addressed himself to the wrong per son. finally found the courteous editor, and easily convinced him that his father had been imposed upon; but when Dr. Messy went farther, and asked which one of the talented editorial staff had written the ar. ticle:
 ''just step into my private office a mo, ment."
 They went in together. The next min ute saw Dr. Messy departing hurridly from the place, while the editor complacently hi ho4 ha not return.
 General Villivicencio sat and waited among the serpents and innocents. His spirits began to droop again. Revolving MOssys words, he could not escape the fear that possibly. after all, his son might compromise the VillivicenciO honor in the interests of peace. Not that he preferred to put his sons life in jepo-dy; he would not object to an adjustment provided the enemy should beg for it. But if not, whom would his son select to perform those friendly offices indispensable in po- lite qGarrels? Some half-priest, half-wo- man? Some spectacled bookworm? He suffered.
 The monotony of his passive task was relieved by one or two callers who had the sagacitY Cor bad manners) to peer through the dirty glass. and then open the door. to whom, half rising from his chair, he answered, with a polite smile, that the Doctor was out, nor could he say how long he might be absent. Still the time dragged painfully, and he began at length to wonder why Messy did not return.
 There came rap at the glass door diff ferent from all the raps that had forerun it-a fearless, but gentle, dignifed, grace ful rap; and the General, before he looked round, felt in all his veins that it came from the young Madame. Yes, there was her glorious outline thrown sidewise upon the glsss. He hastened and threw open the door, bending low at the same in- stant, and extending his hand.
 She extended hers also, but not to take his. With a calm dexterity that took the Generals breath, she reached between him and the door, and closed it.
 ''What have you?" anxiously asked the General-fOr her face, in spite of it's smile, was severe.
 General, she began, ignoring his in- quiry-and, with all her Creole bows, smiles, and insinuating phrases, the se- verity of her cOuntenance but partially waned-''I came to see my physician your son. An! General, when find you reconciled to your son it makes me think am in heaven. You will let me say SO? You will not be offended with the old playmate of your son?"
 She gave him no time to answer.
 ''He IS out, think, is he not? But am glad of 1t. It gives us occasion to rejoice together over his many merits. For you know, General, in all the years of your enlargement Messy had no friend like myself. am proud to tell you so now; is it not SO?
 The General was SO taken aback, that. when he had thanked her in a mechanical way, he could say nothing else. She seemed to fall for a little while into a sad meditation that embarrassed the General beyond measure. But as he opened his mouth to speak, she resumed:
 Nobody knew him so well as I; though I, poor me, I could not altogether under stand him; for look you, General, he was what do you think?-G great DaGn!- nothing less"
 ''How?" asked the General, not know ing what else to respond.
 You never dreamed of that chi" con- tinued the lady. "But of course not; mo- body did but me. Some of those Ameri- cains, suppose, knew 1t; but who would ever ask them? Here in Royal street, in ~NO" O4AC0AS1 WACAC "C PCOpA0 AuOW uObu" ing and care nothing but for meat, drink, and pleasure, he was only Dr. Messy, who gave pills. My faithi General, no wonder you were disappointed in your son, for you thought the same. An! yes you didl But why did you not ask me, his old playmate? 1 knew better. I could have told you how your Httleison stood head and shoulders above the crowd. could have told you something too wonderful to be- Ieve. could have told you that his name was well-known and honored in the scientific schools of Paris, of London, of Germany! Yes1 conld have showed you she warmed as she proceeded could have shown you letters q begged them of him), written as between brother and brother, from the foremost men of science and discoveryY'
 She stood up, her eyes flashing with ex- citement.
 ''But why did you never tell me?" cried the General
 ''He would never allow me-but you why did you not ask me? will tell you: A<n~