Litchfield enquirer., 1876-04-27

t0lStaHb' bRan Su0 1COu10 SaS11y COUu6S 1b 1aeemed strange to hear him speaking close SI 1ss: von tpov oa" snntv t <. aixaya isa we'll, " she answered, still with the huffisd sensation, as if she had 'a run of several hundred miles to add to her thousand be- fore she could rest. .....
 "And you :? But needn't ask H.
 Then brief silence. Mrs. Spencer's laugh. and Sir Harry's drawling tones in reply to some teasing speech of the lady's reused Blanche to the necessity of behav- ing less like an overworked actress who has forgotten her part. .-..st... 1 "I suppose you have had charming trip ?" she began, looked in his face and discovered for the first time how pale and thin he had grown, and added, anxiously, Have you been ill ?" .,< s.sr ..f 2. He shook his head. ,..-
 "You have come back sooner than you expected" she tried again. tesfa 'ao
 ''Too soon for you to be glad to see me, " he returned, making the words an assertion. e "i sS''' F''s'
 "That's rude as telling me that I'm an l glad to find vent for her odd feelings in a nervous laugh, "when I've no relations in the world except Aunt Deb and you-and you are not one at all, ,'s 'In -Ta- Ha3
 'I think you must have been studying the grammar of an Irishman, i" said he, 90 easily and pleasantly that she grew vexed.
 ''Never mind what have been doing she retorted; Git IS always the one who was absent that has to give an account of his deeds. You are sure to have been in mischief" .' fa E'F3 "t z'o-+as sa @-- "Les G6sens ont to,yoars tort, |" he said, sentetiously. ..
 "Have you done any work ?' she asked.
 II have tried to. At all events, must now-work in downright earnest" .a.,l
 "Have you suddenly got up conscien- tions scruples about wasting your time?"
 "I don't know that; but find that I have no more time to waste."
 "Dear me this sounds very mysterious. Do you feel that you are growing old, or have you bad warming F. lArp,-s,...t
 ''The latter" he interrupted.
 "You never seemed to me likely sub ject for translation, 2 said sue, hurried by her nervousness into the sort of irreve. rent talk that belongs to our time, though usually her good taste made her avoid such. - '..'' 7" '" l ''I believe the translation has already taken place" he replied, laughing still, though something in his voice showed her | that he meant the words seriously.
 "Do explain she said,. impati6ntly. "Don't stand there making wretched riddle of yourself"
 ''It is nothing, only that have to go to work whether will or not. Never mind now"
 But she did mind, and, with the persist ency of her sex, insisted on a categorical answer then and there.
 He gave it with @ vengeance:
 ''The fine company in which my money was invested has evaporated like apricked bubble-that's all. | She could not even utter a common place expression of regret; the words she tried fer died in little gasp. .q.. .,,tt, l Don't look so shocked, said he. 'T am only twenty-iv expect my first picture to make my fortune; first pictures and first novels always do-Vide the sen- sation romances." r~t.,. ..s..s....... !
 '.Blanche Osgood T. called Mrs. 6pen- cer, ''you are not to stand there all day exchanging childish "reminiscences with that Harold. l must go home"
 | Sir Harry came up and offered his arm. Harold retreated like man who know that it was right and proper so to do. There was more laughter, more nonsense; then Sir Harry was leading her down stairs and she dizzy with the vision of Harold standing with folded arms, staring out of a window, not even turning to meet the last look she cast upon him.
 The baronet mercifully did not talk to her: she thought she could never be grate- l full enough for that kindness. Two or three times on the way home she caught his eyes fixed upon her in the midst of his animated talk with Mrs. Spencer. and she fancied there was pitying, sympathetic expression in them.
 ' ''Good-by, Enchanted Princess" Mrs. | Spencer said, when the carriage stopped before the castle. u) aa.-.gs.'T a..tH Sir Harry saw her indoors and took his I1eave in the most matter-of.fact insular manner; but Blanche observed the same kindly look in his eyes, and she wanted to | cry.
 Mrs. Spencer was to,drop the baronet l at the Albemarle, and she occupied her. self during the short drivsin slaborately explaining, in very natural way, that l Harold Tracy was like a brother to Blanche, and that she supposed he had come back to marry Lily Ford-every body knew about that affair. She told several dreadful lies, but all out of good nature, if that makes the recording angel any less severe. She adored Blanche, and living in and for the world, she was anxious nothing should interfere, with the | future opening before her friend.
 Aunt Deb was out when Blanche reach ed home, and, with the usual gperVersity of mortais, did not return until almost dinner time. But other people came enough to drive Blanche nearly frantic. She had never in her life been in a state of such excitement But she could not think about herself: Harold's ruin was all Harold, so good and kind! .... | Dusk arrived, ,and so did Amt Deb; but there were guests invited to dinner and the spinstAr had to hurry up stairs and get into her gray moire. Blanche ran in- l to the room half dressed, and related her | incoherent story: but Aunt Deb was busy with her buttons-she never allowed a maid to help her4--and was more unfeel- ing than Hlndoo idol. ts as..l s.,tl's Harold back, eh ?" said she.
 ''But don't you hear, aunt2 That com pany has failed" ae s.ft -os4eq s s
 '.It's way companies have,"' quoth Deb, ..-.-.s.
 .sOh, aunt, he issfirtu is ruined 'sz'ssseq s' so fc s@So is this lace-I've torn it."a si j.lE
 t.You ought to be ashamed P exclaimed Blanch, in 8 passion such as nobody. ever saw her display before.
 "You ought to be more respectful" re, turned Aunt Deb, perfectly nnmoved. .io-
 ''1 beg your pardon ;psitI was very
 Nonsense eIlr"1 [" cut ut in Deb. 'Ia97 .1ese Blanche began to laugh, then to cry; then force heeseh to be silent, and stood shaking like asensitive plant in a high wind. y.... ,.-.. f.4.,..f ,,at.... .,.-.t.-.-
 "Heyday !" cried Deb. looking up from her buttons 'sWhere's the hem@nathic box? Potash is the thing for you. ad
 1T won't haye,lt,"" "" said Blanche, violent. ly. ''Aunty, cant you do any thing ?'' sT just recommended potash"
 Blanche fairly stamped in wrath and pain, tormented stil1 worse by an insane iimpatience to be doing something to make her aunt do something. on the inr stant. 1la tsYou knew we'll enough what I mean. Don't torture me so. I want you to help Harold" she continued, as soon as she