Litchfield enquirer., 1876-02-03

It occurred, one day, to me, as we sat and painted together to ask Lady Diana about the unknown princess whose hospif tality sheltered us both. told her of my imagination of her-8 rather dignifed copy of Mary Queen of Scots, sngges tion of Lady Macbeth, something rather dark and terrible. Mystery is great painter, have observed one of the old est of the old masters She laughed her pretty, hearty, sweet, musical laugh.
 "Hear, Alfrsd-hear MT. Thornton's description of the princess said she.
 He, too, laughed, but turned his head away as I looked.
 "Well, we will let you believe in your two rather contending imaginations of the princess until you see her," said Lady Diana; ''only I advise you to cultivate the Lady Macbeth theory" and again she laughed. So I was all wrong. The prinr cess was probably large, red.haired blonde-a type I hated. remembered she was from the north of Italy-yes. unt doubtedly she was the Flora of Titan and all that sort of thing. Well, did not want to see her. gE i
 But these golden days were numbered, Lady Estcourt got ill, She thought there was malaria at the Villa Lucca. The odor of the Oio fragrans, which has been waftf ed to this lower sphere directly from the gates of paradise. gave her the headache. When Lady Estcourt got headaches she away by business. towards Milan, l be- heve. .srs-
 Lady Diana lost her interest in water-col4 ors. Alas color seemed to be losing it's interest in her, for her lovely cheek grew po1o oo1 khonobk has hIVo avoS xwora less brilliant. Yet, she was sweeter and more lovable, every day and, when she came to bid me good-by, and to say that the lessons were at an end, tears stood in those great, pure, honest eyes. ..-
 I kissed the white hand she held out to me. I kissed it, perhaps, two or three times.
 ''It has been an episode in my life which shall never forget. Mir. Thornton" said she, kindly
 "It has been the romance of my life, Lady Diana," said I, firmly for it was pleasant to let her know, now that we were to part, probably forever, how en- tirely had worshipped her. .a
 . The beautiful hand was withdrawn, the lofty, noble head gave me parting smile; and, as suddenly as she had come into my life. Lady Diana Estcourt went out of it.
 The Villa Lucca resumed it's quiet, and I returned to my Correggio. The Madon- na looked at me responsibility. l had neglected her and, as tired to catch the subtle charm which Correggio has in fused into all his women, I failed. T thought of pair of great, blues eyes, of heavy, chestnut, wayy hair, of lilies and roses, and of that spirited turn of the e 1eT and she spoiled my work.
 went of and pulled on the lake. even besought old Luigi, the steward, to let me prune his trees I tried various minor industries known to artists, in order to recover my tone. Nature treated me kindly, and the long wilderness of garden offered me an amending opportunity for work. @ -ao = .t~o !
 Twas a very successful pruner. so Luigi thought, and did good service to the plumtrees. rose early and worked late. There was pain at my heart which | could not extermiHate readily and Tn my close room. where she had sat SO recently painting by my side, it was uncomfortable.
 One morning, after sleepless night, I went out early to cut away at my plum trees. The morning was glorious the flowers were in their richest midsummer luxuriance. I was alone with the sunrlse. Adam, in his first morning walk in the garden of Eden, was not more alone than I. thought of our great progenitor as l mounted my ladder to cut branch that was interfering with a fruit-laden vine, "How lonesome he must have been," I thought and, as thought so, l looked down and saw what Adam saw-I saw 8 S~QI
 Yes, beautiful young girl in lilac frock stood looking at the. morning-gIo- ries. She was so slight and delicate that, airy bells, she was more aerial than they. thought of my friend Hamon's picture of spring or summer-I forget which-of glory drinking dew out of another.
 'Ah," thought my friend Luigi has 8 pretty daughter. He has kept her much secluded. or perhaps she has been away from home."
 then remembered that. late the even- ing before. had seen boat stop at the little wharf and some two or three people 
 "Good-morning, my dear," said I to the young girl; for she was looking anx- iouslY at my falling branch. 'I will not allow th1s te fall near you but perhaps you had better step away from this neigh borhood for moment ?" ,. .... i ? ''Save the morning glories l" said the girl, as she stepped away while lowered the already falling bough.
 ''Yes," said I, gallantlY, ''f only that you have admired them ;" and I then threw the bough over the trellis which she had just quilted, and descended myself.
 "So you are my friend Luigi's little daughter, l suppose? And you came home last evening, did you? Well, you are out early this morning."
 She lifted her eyes to my face, and look ed at me with an amused expression.
 Perhaps" said she, 'I am always an early r1ser. Did Luigi-I mean my fath- er-tell you to prnne these trees ?"
 ''Yes he was doing it laboriously, one day, and came to help him-your fath. or is getting old" 1a gsfs...g ar s
 ''Yes. and very indulgent, said the girl. laughing.
 She was very pretty, there was no doubt 50 delicate. so slender, so young, with the soft. wavy, golden hair seldom seen except in very young children, and gray eyes which had startled look. Her lilac muslin dresss was knotted round the waist with ribbon, and her long, loose sleeves fell back from her white slender arms, which had yet to reach their fullest beau- ty. She was exactly creature to meet in the early morning, while the dew was on the fowers-she was at that hour her. self,
 "A bud with all is sweetest leaves yet folded"
 "And you are the Amer1can artist who lives in the pavilion, suppose, are you not ?" asked Luigi's daughter, after giving me good look out of the startled eyes, which I noticed had lashes darker than her hair. t. r.s-.-. ..r. .ts...z-Fr
 '''Yes and when your good mother brings me my breakfast, this morning, won't you and she come and eat it with me :? I feel, I assure you. very lonely since Lady Diana Estcourt and her moth- CT left, and think shall go away soon myself." 2Ba1 1a6i ra aT@.7 g t
 'tDid you admire Lady Diana Estcourt?" said my garden-nymph. s, gI r
 ''She is very beautiful, very superb" l said in fact, everybody, everything that %lxn Tslln ' ,-oxnn ,n1v,rrs A<~