Litchfield enquirer., 1876-03-09
AFTER FIVE YEARS:
AN ORIGINAL STORY.


 fulwoman. was all that marked their intre- duetion.s Yet there.pas more than stfis--s a glance of surprlse, almost pleasure, in the face of the one, startled look, an almost perceptible deepening of color. in the face of the other; and each turned quickly aside to other things, and no one dreamed that the under.current of any life had been stirred. ..@.-. ..5
 While the usual formalities of introduc. ton, and preparation for the evening meal are going on; let us turn our, steps back ward and briefly review the past: Ernest Maynard flor this is the name of the stran- ger just introduced to the readeT) and and Belle Eastman, were school-mates for many years. From their earliest school days they had been firm friends; and. as they grew older, friendship ripened into love, and after a time they were be- trothed. For one short year, the "course of love ran smooth;" then quarrel, start. ed and kept alive by gossip, caused them to part in anger. Since this time they have never met until now.
 Over five years have passed. since Err nest Maynard bade farewell to home and friends; parted angrily from the girl he loved, and went into distant land.
 These years have not passed without many changes. He now returns unex- pectedly, to find his home desolate- father, mother and sister having all died | during his absence. He turns his steps towards the home Of an old friend, who, he learns, is married and living not far away. Here he meets Belle, the last per son he ever expected to see again-per- haps the only one he did not care to meet. .-. .sss
 The family are gathered around the table: Mir. and Mrs. Mitchell, Ernest Maynard and Belle, are all the party. Eager questions are asked which lead to an epitome of Ernest's life abroad. He recounts the incidents of his travels, and describes scenes through which he has passed. Nothing is seid of why he went from home so suddenly; each feeling, perhaps, that this is forbidden ground.
 At last the evening meal is ended; and one, at least, is thankful for a chance to- escape. Pleading unusual fatigue after her walk, and letters which must be writ ten, Belle leaves the friends together; going. not to her room, but down the grass-grown path so often trod in happier days, to little retreat on the river-bank. There she d6es not need to exercise the self-control which has kept her calm dur ing the last few hours She sits thinking Of the changes i'll her life, and wondering why they have ever met a1ains and what effect it will have upon her destiny. The 4 moonlight rests upon her, making her even more beautiful than is het wont, vet there is sadness. grieved. eager, long ing look in the violet depths of her beau- tiful eyes, that makes one pity her.
 She is dressed in deepest mourning, yet strangely out of place in such a. dress large amethyst ring sparkles on her left hand; this is always there. For many years it has been her constant companion, and she loves and pets it almost as if it was thing of life. At last, with one more sad look at it, she rises, and saying with voice full of tears. 1T wish I was far from here, but can only. wait," she walked slowly back to the house.
 Day after day passed. The four were constantly together in some scene of pleaure. Of course Ernest was always Miss Eastman's s escort.
 From meeting as strangers they grew to be good friends. and if either ever thought of the past the other never sus- pected it. In his heart he called her false, and wondered if she wore his ring because she pr1zed it. She was sure he had forgotten their little romance. and tried to forget the Ernest she loved and think only of the proud. stern man she had so recently met. But think and try as she might, angels of the past would come, and in her hours of solitude she had to remember. sa et
 One afternoon. some three weeks after Mir. Maynard's return. Belle sat by the parlor window, her head resting on her hand, watching the ever-changing colors in the beautiful sunset, 50 absorbed in her own thoughts that she dld not hear approaching foot steps, until some one stopped beside her, and voice like that of the Ernest of the past said s.Ma Beller' She started from her revery, only to dis pei the vision. Immediately the stern man of later days, with courtly bow. placed in her lap bouquet of pond lillies and saying,
 Miss Eastman. these used to be your favorites," was gone before she could reply. ....,,.-.a..g ,s..--.s..s
 With bursting heart she hastened to her room, and opening 2 desk, looked ab- sently among old letters, few rare, beau tiful jewels, &c.., until she came to a lily discolored by age. She laid these be- side the fresh ones, and on the wings of thought, went back to her happy home to the night on which she promised to be Ernest Maynards wife. He placed this lily in her hair because it was her pet among the flowers After the sestrange- ment and final separation, when her lover was gone and all hope of hearing from him had at lastdied away, she took all | his gifts and buried them from sioht in this desk, Now, for the first time, she allowed herself the painful pleasure of looking at them again. 1 said an-but there was one gift she could not force her self te part with, so in all these dreary years, her engagement ring had kept it's place on her finger In words the tie be- tween them had not been severed; and while she feltthat they would never fulfil their VOW. she could not. be the first to acknowledge it's hopelessness, or hide