Litchfield enquirer., 1876-01-13

'I believe I saw man, " whispered Don't tell her, returned ret, IT Alice. .sshe l will not sleep wink for thinking of rob berS." -p ala. 8sl5 sys21iGlG%a 31sl.M " l s..What do you sayP.g A mans faceT' cried Mrs. Meston, shriHy. 'IAlice light the lamps. We can't be too careful in these dreadful days of murder and vio- I fence. s3sls za el@47 i9 5el sA3 ao @4si l. Atwinkling lamp was placed in every window of the large house, and Mrs. Mes ton insisted on detaining her two compan: ions in her chamber all night, where she sat within reach of the rope communicat- ing with the great, bell. l..,lasfs. fns ii l. When Holmcroft heard this bell the village was to rush to the rescue, for Mrs. Meston was afraid to have man-servant sleep beneath her roof. !''ShaIl put the knife to my own throat by admitting one of these wretches?", she would say. Thus the three lonely women watched.
 l aai iss.s sae a1sr5Ik1 ,4sE slHtta a4flf 4 fa zl.ass m.-THE OPAL STUD. -5-gsl
 'sWhat did she mean by telling me about her will?" questioned Godfrey Noy, in grumbing tone permissible in ones
 "That you are her heir. I suppose, dar- l
 But handsome Godfrey persisted in talk ing gloomy:.yiew of his prospects, per haps because he had supped on deviled crabs and champagne at one o'clock. that very morning. --- .'l" a.l al .
 ''She may outlive all of us; and ten chances to one she will finally turn to that artist fellow. Francis Iredell.- I Idont be. lieve in these old women who last foreveri If only knew how matters stood. She keeps the papers in the house, and that girl Hannah mounts guard. Look here! l shall have to cut stick before the races l unless" --t'' '.+ d. Hewent out, leaving his mother with Q furrowed brow; and he had already made up his mind how to act. ....... T,
 This happened on Friday morning, at the very moment when Francis Iredell was strolling in the Gold avenue with Hannah Lejeune, moved by all pleasant and sooth- ing influences, a better man, he told him. self, for the emancipation into purer at- mosphere. It was another perfect Octo- Der day, dreamy and soft. His compan- ion fairly sparkled with animation as she showed him Mrs. Meston's favorite views; but he returned again to the maple walk, striving to transmute something of the mellow radience of color to his own men- ory, even as he studied the face beside him, to which expression was magician's wand.
 As for Hannah this was her one holiday out of life, and she enjoyed it almost des. perately. in the belief that she would nev- CT have another. She regarded Francis Iredell with curious sort of pride, and thrilled with delight at every clever anec- dote told by him, every bon-mot in tilt with Mrs. Meston, who delighted in repar- tee. Had she not brought him to Holm croft? Was he not more worthy of Mrs. Meston's regard in every way than was Godfrey Noy? s. .'
 There was @ second evening at the Hall, where Dr. Sharpe, in his brown wig, ap- peared punctually, and Mrs. Meston was as coquettish in her rich attire as 8 girl. Hannah could not determine whether Mrs. Noy had written about herself or not, but she felt that electric foreboding which of- ten precedes great change. Certainly Mrs. Meston much search long while be- fore she replaced this companion, wllo had read aloud well, made all the dainty trifes of needle-work that great ladies like to bestow on their friends, and traced by intuition the meaning of those patterns sent into the country for the benefit of 1 dress-making womankind.
 ''She saves me two or three hundred year by her taste in trimming" Mrs. Mes- ton had said to Mrs. Noy but it had not occurred to her to add the sum to Han nah's slender salary.
 Francis Iredell was charming His heart really warmed to the people who re- ce1ved him so kindly, though his curiosity was not yet fully satisfied as to Hannah's motive in sending for him, ,and he brought l tO hn% nkD oe interest which can only be imparted by those ont in the world, who gather crumbs from many sources of public gossip. Haunah listened with parted lips and changing color. Did not Othellos peri ods became more eloquent and fiowery for the attention of Desdemona, think you
 The day had not been without excite ment in the society in society of winning girl. Francis Iredell had not indulged in similar luxury for years. He was Bo hemian yet, if he could afford to marry, his ideal wife was not unlike Hannah, in her broad straw hat, with knat of red berries on her breast.
 The two gentlemen again walked down the hill together, and, in sentimental mood, Dr. Sharpe told his companion of his profound admiration for Mrs. Meston.
 'I think we might get married, quite a sensible way, of course, said the doctor, psnsively. "Only I cannot give up my place, and she will not leave the hall" Restlessness pursued the artist to the ! gloomy tavern. He never composed him. self to sleep before o'clock, and here was Holmcroft sleeping soundly at 10. He wandered down the village street without purpose, and then the fancy impelled him to climb to the summer house where he first saw Hannah Lejeune, and evolve in the stiffness and darkness the picture which haunted him. The night was warm. He stretched himself on the seat comfortably. Not a soul stirred abroad : he was the solitary watchman. His cigar went out. Reverie may have merged into stupor. when he was aroused to full consciousness. Mrs. Meston's bell was sending forth wild startling peal through the night. ''
 Alice, the maid slept in a room connect ed by a passage with Mrs. Meston's chamber; Alice. most prim and ex- acting of privileged servants, had betaken alacrity from having spent the previous one in an armchair, owing to the face seen at the window by Hannah. She was aroused from heavy sleep by slight noise in her closet s
 ''It's the Maltese cat. Poor, poor puss P 7+ Alice opened the door, and confronted a man-the blood-curdling fulillment of the household dread-burly. ragged, fierce in aspect. s....-ss .--....--.7l :. The candle dropped as Alice sank on 1 her knees. A ring of cold steel pressed her temple, a hoarse voice spoke in her ear, heavy hand grasped her shoulder. Where's the silver kept Scream and I1l-" '4 ~4'% '' ''' .+
 fMercy! r groaned covering Alice. ''The box is in the passage-waY." a4 H She thought her moment had come. She was lifted into the closet, and the key turned on her. The tramp groped his way into the passage. As he did so. the door of Mrs. Meston's room was closed softly and bolted in his very face. He waited in silenca