Litchfield enquirer., 1876-04-06

but he would be so proud to help you"
 From him least of all"
 Because of his love for you ?'' Gardis was silent.
 Miss Duke, let me ask you one ques- tion; If you had loved Roger Saxton, would you have married him 9 ~ Never r
 You would have sacrificed you whole life, then, for the sake of-''.
 My country, Sir"
 1 We have common country. Gardis, ' answered the young man, gravely. Then, as he rose, "Child,' he said, ''I shall not relinquish the charge. of your property, given into my hands by MT. Copeland Gardiston. and, for your own sake, I beg you to be more patient, more gentle, as becomes woman. A few weeks will no doubt see you released from even your slight obligation to me: you will have but short tune to wait"
 l Poor Ga, dis ! Hon prnud woHt TOT nothing, then? She was overridden as thongh she had been a child, and even rebuked for want of gentleness. The draw 1ng'room was cheerless and damp in the rainy twilight: the girl wore faded lawn dress. and her cheeks were pale: the old house was chilly through and through, and even the soldier, strong as he was, felt himself shivering. At this instant entered Cousin Copeland. ''Of course you will \ spend the night here" he said, heartily. ''lt IS raining, and I must insist upon your staying over until to-morrow-must really insist"
 Gardis looked up quickly; her dismay- ed face said. plainly, 'Oh no, mo-" There upon the young officer immediately ac- cepted Cousin Copeland's invitation, and took his seat again with quiet delibera- tion. Gardis sank down upon the sofa. Very well, ," she thought, desperately, "this times it is hopeless. Nothing can be done"
 And hopeless it was. Pompey brought Tn candle, and placed it upon the table, where it's dim light made the large apart ment more dismal than before; the rain poured down outside, and the rising wind rattled the loose shutters. Dinner was announced-one small fish, potatoes, and corn bread. Pale Gardis sat like a statue at the head of the table, and made no eff fort to entertain the guest; but Cousin Copeland threw himself bravely into the breach, and, by way of diversion. related sAO "AOl0 hbOIJ Ol tIl6 uuCuTOu1Cleu WIG of one of our grandfathers second cous- ins, " who had turned out to be most re- markable parsonage of Welsh descent, her golden harp having once stood in the very room ln which they were now seated. ''Do you not think, my child. that a-a little fire in your aunt Magaretta's boud- oir would-would be conducive to our comfort ?" suggested the little bachelor, as they rose from the table. ''As you please" sad Gardis. | So the. three repaired thither, and when the old red cul tains were down, and the fired lighted, the little room had. at least | a semblanco of comfort, whatever may have been in the hearts of it's occupants Gardis embroidered, Cousin Copeland chatted on in a steady little stream, and the guest listened. II will step up stairs to my study, and bring down that file of documents said the bachelor, rising. He was gone, and left only silence behind him. Gardis did not raise her head, but went steadily on with the em- broidered robe of the Queen of Sheba.
 ''Iam thinking" began David Newell, breaking the long pause at last, 'how comfortable you would be. Miss Duke, as the wife of Roger Saxton. He would take you North, away from this old house, and he would be so proud and so fond of you. !" No answer.
 ''The place could be put In order if you did not care to sell it, and your cousin Copeland could live on here as usual; in- deed, could scarcely imagine him in any other bome."
 "Nor myself.
 "Oh yes, Miss Duke; I can easily imag- inc you in New York, Paris, or Vienna. I can easily imagine you at the opera, in the picture galleries, or carrying out to the full your exquisite taste in dress"
 Down went the embroidery. 'Sir, do you mean to insult me?" said the pale cotton robed little hostess.
 By no means"
 "Why do you come here? Why do you sheer at my poor clothes? Why" Her voice trembled, and she stopped abruptly.
 ''I was not aware that they were poor or old, Miss Duke. I have never seen 8 more exquisite costume than yours on the evening when we dined here by invita-, tion; it has been like picture in my memory ever since.
 "An old robe that belonged to my grandmother, and I burned it, every shred, as soon as you had gone," sad Gardis, hotly.
 Far from being impressed as she had intended he should be, David Newell merely bowed the girl saw that he set the act down as ''temper ''
 suppose your Northern ladies never do such things?" she said bitterly.
 ''You are right I: they do not" he an- swered. ....
 "Why do you come here ?''pursued Gar dis. 'Why do you speak to me of MT. Saxton? Though he had the fortune of prince, he is nothing to me-" f-
 Rogers fortune is comfortable but no princely. Miss Duke-bv no means prince ly. We are not princely at the North added Newell, with a slight smile. ss'and neither are we 'knlghtly.' We must, fear. yield all claim to that prized word of yours.
 II am not aware that have used the word, " said Miss Duke, with lofty in- difference
 ''Oh, did not mean you alone-you personally-but all the Southern ladies. However to return to our subject: Sax ton loves you, and has gone away with 8 saddened heart"
 This was said gravely. "As though" Miss Duke remarked to herself-''really as though Saxton's heart was of conse- quencer' .-,... .-
 "I presume he will soon forget" she said carelessly, as she took up her em- broldery again. <-...
 "Yes, no doubt" replied Captain New ell. ''I remember once on Staten leland, and again out in Mississippi, when he was even more Yes, as you say, he will soon forget
 ''Then why. do you SO continually speak of hlm ?' said Miss Duke, sharply. Such prompt corroboration was not, after. all, as agreeable as it should have been to a well-regnlated mind II speak of him, Miss Duke, because 1 wish to know whether it,is only yonr Southern girlish pride that speaks. or whether you really, as would be most nat- ural, love him as he loves you; for, in the latter case. you would be able, L think. to fix and retain his somewhat fckle fancy. l He is fine fellow, and, as said before, it would be but natural, Miss Duke, that you should love him.
 a"I do, not love him." sad Gardis,