Litchfield enquirer., 1876-10-26
WHOLE NO. 263O.

most decided way. "The town must creep before it can jump. It ought to be right here, close to the depot"
 '"Out' of the question. My real depot, not the one opposite here, is fully three quarters of a mile lower down the road. Just where you want the cattle,shed to Do is the site of my opera-house. in tho EQuartier St. Germain of Thor" | You are impracticahle. Cattle arrive by rail, tired, thirsty, and jaded, and you want to drive them almost Q days journey farther on. The map of Thor must be remodeled. Who constructs the plan of a battle before the action is fought?"
 Hegave way slowly, though with good grace, and it ended by my taking pen- Gil and marking a place for the cattle shed. .s..--,--....-,. ..a.ss.
 'STheSe, that will do" he said. "ltis only on paper after all, and I am sick of paper towns" And with this he pitched Ithe map into 0 corner. ''But tell me about yourself Are you quite well.
 '"Quite we'll, and so much obliged to you for sending the cake and wine. Has the smoilersville paper coma by the early | train?"
 "Yes-it-has."
 ''Pray give it me. want to see my self, for once, dead and buried with all l the honors."
 "I tore the paper into bits, in a rage. They made me Cicero as to eloquence; they put into my mouth a pack of stuff I never was guilty of; they-they"- l "What! anything else?" I inquired.
 "Yes; lot of absurdities, in the worst possible taste, about you" l SAbOuE mnS Sincn vou bava fold mo thus far, you must tell me all"
 'You insist, then?" he asked, very gravely.
 ''I certainly do. Whatever the stupid paper may have published, l am quite in- different about"
 "But I am not" he quickly added. Just then a train came in, followed by more trains; and conductors, engineers, I expressmen, and brakemen came into the office. Lhad 10 be formerlly introduced to all of them, and as they all shook hands with me, and did it vigorously, by the time they were through my arm felt as If it had been dislocated. At last we were quiet; and then my resolve came up- permost in my mind, and vowed that when the clock struck eleven I would speak my mind.
 'Mr. Thor" I said, as the clock ceased sounding the hour, "believe me, it is with some regret that I am forced to resign my position here. As incidents like those of the other night might repeat them selves, 1t must be apparent to you that 1t Is man who is wanted here, and not 8 woman. In fact, you intimated as much to me, and you were perfectly cor rect" I felt that was doing what was right. I awaited his reply. Very quick ly he said,-
 l "I have expected this Miss Brown. Although the chances of a repetition of the accidents of Tuesday are very slight, there are other reasons which might make your stay here exceedingly distasteful to a young lady of your worth and 'charac- ter"
 It was my turn, now, to open my eyes in astonishment. "Other reasons? do not !:V understand you" . .aa = | Yes, ne repIIeu, "other reasoHs. Jahr Thor has no right to have your name coupled with his.
 ''How? What do you mean?" I gasp ed.
 ''Simply this, and let me assure you how much regret it. The foolish paper stated that I was your accepted suitor. that we were to be married'- | l would hear no more. Snatching up my hat, burst out of the office, went home, and immured myself in my room, more wretched than had ever been be- fore in my life, but resolved that would leave Thorsdale that evening. It was five o'clock when my landlady knocked at my door, handing me telegram. One of Mir. Thors depot hands had brought it. l tore it open. It was a message from my sister, with the address of a neighbor- ing town on the line of our road, advis- ing me that by seven o'clock she would be with me. l felt that it was almost provi- dential.
 l ''Miss Brown" said the man from the depot, ''Mr. Thor Says, as soon as the la- l dy comes am to bring her to you." l 'Is there train that leaves about nine o'clock?". inquired. l "Yes, miss; only oCe. the express up train at nine forty-five."
 ''You will thank MT. Thor for his polite ness.''
 "That's all?"
 'Yes," I replied.
 | l now made up my mind that it should be by the nine forty-five train that must go. I knew I could prevail on my sister to retrace her steps with me. The good sister came on time, and rushed down the stairs to. meet her. "You see, Mary" she said, cit was our vacation. Now, had no liking to your becoming famous all alone by yourself. It is such an exceedingly trying position, especially for child like you, to be fa- nous, you know. and so here I am. You are quite nervous and trembling, my lit- tie woman. What has gone amiss with you? Thereupon, without exactly going into details, told her something of my ' three days experiences in Thorsdale. With her keen insight into my character, she understood me at once. | "Well," she said, i've had better go away at once. I am not bit tired; are you ready for q start?"
 "Yes, quite ready
 | ''You will go home with me- When winter fairly sets in, provided you won't help me in teaching. you might make another start. There is night train back, suppose?'
 'Yes. the nine forty five" '"Then it is all settled. Thorsdalel what name for a placel It does not sound Christian-like. It is a heathen name, is it not, Mary? must rub up my mythology"
 1 At just half past nine, we were at the station. ''I must bid hum good-by,"I said to myself; 'T cannot leave without doing 1t. l might never forgive myself if did" Taking my sisters arm, I knock. ed at the door of the telegraph station. It looked dull and cheerless within. A single lamp was feebly burning in the room. MT. Thor was there. with lis head buried in his hands. The door was open | My sister, peering into the darkness, and ignorant of the locality, did not seem to like venturing in, and she loosed my hand. felt that I must go alone, and bid Jahn Thor good-by. ''Mr. Thor" said, almost inaudiblY,--yet felt sure he heard me,-"I have come to bid you good-by, and to say God help you;" and |, stretched out my ungloEed hand to- that he did not see me, as stood in the shadow, He did, though, turn towards ma snddanlv His azaa seemed kn dn-