Litchfield enquirer., 1876-01-13
-a ''You hear that? | Hannah, tell MT. Irs-
 dell the two plans. Mot a word from you.

doctor.'"' .rgi7i 95 rastsn.i it.o sts s.s,sl7 q It was droll to see the two old people stiffen with repressed excitement as this proposition was made. A faint color stole into the girls cheeks, her lips curved into 9 smile revealing a dimple. Francis de cided that animation almost made hel pretty. :. "Holmcroft isi considered to possess great advantages by those best iacquaint ed with it's resources" she began, like 2 guide-book; ''the climate is salubrious the scenery fine, the drives unsurpassed the lakes most romantic. It has beer suggested that no more desirable spot could be selected for a watering place Would fashionable hotel or Il sanitary retreat be best in your opinion?"
 "A hotel, "said Francis promptly" "ther the invalids cDnld build house after ward, or, if the hotel failed, it could be converted into water-cure."
 Mrs. Meston skipped up to her nephew and kissed him.
 My very wordsr' she exclaimed. '@ 3
 The discomfted physician upset tn. card-box, and became purple in the sface in the effort to recover the pack. Hannal Lejeune beamed on the newcomer in the sudden radiance of rare beauty; laughter wrought the'change, sparkling in the sad blue eyes and revealing a row of pearlJ teeth. She placed her finger archly or her lip. -.
 Evidently Francis Iredell had won favor at court, unexpectedly to himself. His conscience pricked him when Mrs. Mestor urged him to remove from the tavern, ,an6 he declined firmly. He felt somehow like an imposter, deceiving his aunt as to the object of his visit, of which he was, in. deed, ignorant as we'll, and would only promise to remain in Holmcroft another day.
 Dr. Sharpe accompanied him down the hill. A whimsical person, evidently, who had retired from the city world to slum Der away the remnant of existence in se clusion, but who could no more attain the required somnolency than an electric ee can remain inactive when attacked.
 The old Frenchman may close his days over truffled turkey and children's games in chateau; the old American. turned farmer, must work, experiment., manage the politics of the village. W
 You have seen Miss Hannah before young man?" said Dr. Sharpe. "Don't tell me! There's girl in million-sen sible, active, and lady.
 My dear sir, you are mistaken, l have never met Miss Lejeune before to-day"
 Then Francis entered the tavern, won. dering what manner of girl this was who had sent for him in such an absurd fashion, and, lighting cigar, began to draw on sheet of paper a black figure, with trees arching overhead.
 Hannah Lejeune slipped into the dim drawing and leaned her forehead against the pane of the long French win. dow, gazing blankly into the darkness be- yond.
 II like him, perhaps because he is poor" she murmured.
 She was trying to fathom that mysteri- ous abyss of self No one understood Hannah Lejeune, and she leatt of all She had bethought her of neglected, al. most forgotten Francis Iredell in a mo- ment of hysterical defiance. The most timid animal will turn at bay, and Hannah Lejeune had thus turned on Mrs. Noy and her son. handsome Godfrey Noy, presump tive heir of Mrs. Meston's property.
 Two years before, Hannah had TUT away in the early morning from Mrs. Noy's town-house. goaded to the rash act by the injustice of that lady, whose dead hus. band had promised always to shelter and protect the orphan niece.
 Mrs. Noy had been somewhat alarmed, but when she discovered that Hannah had fled to her old nurse Bridget, and propos- ed to support herself in some way, the h. dy washed her hands of her, said it was all that could be expected of Hannah s blood, she being Lejeune, and decided it was just as we'll to have pretty girl out of the house before Godfrey returned from his German university. Godfrey from early youth had shown a truly la- disposition to fall in love with every girl he met. The traces of these two years were to be read in Hannah's suber blue eyes and firm, rather thin lips. There were warm hearts and reckless generosity in the little dingy room back nursling received the best; but launching her little fleet of hopes on a stormy tide, saw many of them per- ish like glass bubbles on the rocks.
 Three months before Francis naet her in the Gold avenue, she had answered Mrs. Meston's advertisement for companion; and had been received at the hall only to discover that her patroness was a connec- tion of Mrs. Noy's. Hannah awaited the result in silence. ......
 Godfrey Noy came to visit his aunt. brought his handsome assured self, his dog-cart and groom, bis gun and silver dresslng-case. The young man performed his duty according to his lights. He fattered Mrs. Msston, he ca- joled Alice, the maid. with presents, he dirted with Hannah Lejeune, ignorant of her identity. The companion trod the rim of her volcano with rebellious pride. She was very necessary to Mrs. Meston, by Alice, and tossed back the ball to Godfrey Noy with a secret amuse- ment which she strove not to find pam. the inevitable resulted. Mrs. Noy canie to see her dear sister. in law, and to fetch away her naughty boy who was SO happy at Holmcroft. s..-l.
 Hannah confronted the cold stare of her relative, and inhaled again a perfume of rose, hateful to her childhood from assocation. Mrs. Noy bowed when introduced. but afterward she pounc-
 "What are you doing here?" she de- ,shaughtily.
 'sI am Mrs. Meston's companion.'
 ''You must go away" said Mrs. Noy, fixing her black eyes steadily on the girl.
 ''Do your worst, replied Hannah, flush ing and trembling.
 "I advise you not to force me to ex- tremities. You were always a wild girl. have only to tell Mrs. Meston that you ran away from my house under suspicious ~asss-.<
 Hannah turned white. All the world was against her, peniless, homeless girl, striving to gain her own independence Of course Mrs. Meston would be infected with this poison of suspicion and dis charge her. Life at Holmcroft was dreary enough; still it had been a safe shelter, and she must lose that for Mrs. Noy's cruel caprice. a '' .-' '''.' .'.'' ''4 a. Mrs. Noy also pondered on the situa- tion, and held her peace. Hannah might be lady's companion, provided it was not known as reproach in her own world, and also provided it were not at Holm- croft. Still. the girl was an enemy in this camp. and must be driven of at any cost. The code of her class is to crush and in- tim1date by insolence. and 'learn to know thy adversary" was 8 rule of subtle analy- sis quite beyond Mrs. Noys range of in-