Litchfield enquirer., 1876-08-31

that. Susan was my cousin, and a very nice girl. We were always friends, and l | had great respect and regard for CT;
 but we had no more thought of falling ] in love than if we had been brother and sister Things being ill that shape, 1 was very glad to see Ed. making up to Susan, and wished them joy with all my l heart. Her folks were d good deal better
 of than Eds. Her mother was old Cap
 tain Jehlei, i,s daughter. up to Suckernnck,
 and the old man had promised to give
 Snsan two thousand dollars on her we'd ding day if she married to suit him. All
 this made Ed. rather shy for while; but
 they liked each other, and before long they came to an understanding. Susan was
 aquiet, placid girl, but with more grit and
 resolution than good many more no,sy 1 ones. Captain Coffin her father, was no l ways avsrse to the match for he liked
 Ed. and had great deal of confidence ill
 Snsan's judgment :; though for my part
 wouldn't give that scollop she'll for the 1 judgment of the wisest man or woman on earth, once they are faIrly in love. Aunt l Esther, she liked it, too; but old Cap'n Jehiel was'n pleased 8 bit. You see, he wanted her t., marry one her own family connection. There was no end of us boys to choose from and pretty good boys too, though say it that shouldn't. But love goes where It Is sent. you know.
 ''One day Cap'n Jehiel came down to see Susan and talk to her about the mat | ter. Now it happened that Susan had gone up to the haul-over with Ed that l very afternoon, and when he found it out, | the old mans temper wasn't sweetened 8 | bit He waited for them till sunset, and just as he was setting out for home he met them coming in. Ed had his little boat, and there was nobody aboard but himself and Susan sH -- sf
 "'Ed Swayne, ahoy ? sings out the captain. ....r.
 "'Ahoy r answered Ed. .l
 "'Draw alongside, will you?' says Cap'n Jehiel; I want to'speak to you.
 ''So Ed drew alongside as near as he could, and says he, What can do for you. cap'n?'
 Says Cap'n Jehiel, sIs it true what I hear, that you are a-courting my grand daughter, Susan Coffin?' -t That's so, sir, answers Ed. sr.. And that she means to have you?' "'So she saysl' answered Ed, after looking at Susan, and waiting a minute for her to answer for herself if she chose.
 Very we'll! says Captain Jehiel. Then shall save my two thousand dol. lars. Susan has got enough cousins to take her pick from, and if they ain't good enough, for her. then my money ain't good enodgh, either. Good night, young folks W .sst-.t
 ''Then they parted company, and the old man bore away for Suckernuck, think ing he had doue something smart, though he might have known better than to think he should gain anything ty threat ening one of his own flesh and blood. Just as they parted. Susan spoke up, as placid as a summer morning.
 'Good-night, grandfather said she; give my love to grandmother and all of the folks at home --.t
 "Ed and Susan parted good friends enough. but afterwards, when Ed came to think it over, he didn't feel quite satisfied He thought Susan might have spoken up for herself, and that she needn't have said good night quite so friendly So he didn't go to see her for two or three days
 "One day he was busy putting up some cIeats in hls shed. He owned a pretty little house where he lived with his old grand aunt; and, sailor fashion, he was always tinkering it and making improve ments. He was just thinking how Susan would put up her clothes-line on those cleats, and how he would make her set of ivory clOthes-pins his next voyage, when old Huldah Greenaway came to bor- row a hammer. Hul1ah was an off-is- lander who had come from nobody knew where. She was old as the hills, and as ugly as sin, and some folks thought she knew more than any one had business to know. The women folks used to hire her to make soap and try lard, and the like, for she was uncommonly smart to ork; but they got shy of having her after while, because wherever she went some family trouble seemed sure to follow. I don't think, myself, there was any witch craft about the matter. think Huldah was only a misunderstanding, tattling old sinner, but that's bad enough, in all con- science. We'll, she got what she wanted, and then says she,- : {" So you and Susan's broke off!'
 ? "'Who told you that?' asks Ed. ..;- s"'Them that knows!' says Ruldah, with her spiteful langh. I don't have to look in the papers when l want to learn the news. Susan's a-going to marry her cous- in Asa. see 'em. walkin' together only last night. Oh, Susan knows which side her bread is butteredr says Huldah, laughing again and showing her white teeth, as strong and sharp as sharks, She don't mean to let that money go out of the family ,..-...-.. .-- :, "Now, wouldn't any one have said the most natural thing in the world would have been for Ed to come to me, if he didn't want to go to Susan, and ask in so many words what was the matter?"
 "It would have been according to na- ture and common sense, and Scripture in- to the bargain!' said Captain Burton, who had been listening with the greatest interest. eff thy brother trespass against thee. tell him of his fault between him and thee aione,' the good book says. But wlaen folks are in love, there no saying what they'll do. /" 5t51 ,., , ''Just so. We'll. Ed never said word to me or any body. He took his boat and went off scup-fshing all alone, and staid till 10 o'clock at night, breeding and thinEing over all he had heard, and all that Susan had or hadn't said. so that by the time he got. home he was in state to catch fire at anything. As i'll luck would have it,just as he was going up Step Lane to his own house he met Susan and me- We didn't notice him. though 1t was moonlight, for we were in hurry and he was on the shady side of the street. If he had only stopped or spoken. he would have heard the whole story. But not he! He thought of what old Huldah had told him. and made up his mind at once, He just went home and packed. up few things, and the next morning early he went oyer to New, London and shipped on board Cape Horner for five-years voyage. He wrote to his old aunt to tell her the news, and sent message to Susan to the effect that he released her from her engagement to him, and left her free to earn her grandfather's money. There wasn't word to me. s.,
 'If he had only written to Susan, it wouldn't have been quite so bad, for she was girl who could keep her own coun- sei; but old amt Eunace was talking body, and she had never liked the notion of Ea's marrying Susan. So she not only told Susan, but twenty other people, and in two or three days there were not a doz- en people on the island who didn't know that Ed Swayne had broked with Susan Coffin and 0nnes off an a Gupo Ha~nors A