Litchfield enquirer., 1876-04-27
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 Blanche's voice, in. spite of her. was much and the daAh sl1e md Aunt DS6 moxo frantic than ii sxSso s.s sd Sl ;goane; aornsd outside oflprlVat6 mud~houses. ss- aT--.s 2 Don't pinER me- s&REned Deb. N'sYes, I've seen him. Go and yet dress0d;s # will be eight o'clock before you know it"
 Blanche stood rebellious, and opened her mouth for fresh entreaties and vitus perations. All of sudden Aunt Deb rushed from dull impassibihtY into sort of cold rage such as har niece had never witnessed. .s4sss.l
 ''When does Sir Harry want you to go to Europe 2" she asked. ''Youd better be thinking about you wedding clothes than any young mans misfortunes. zee
 Blanche disappeared as quickly hs if she had been shot out of Q catapulk 1nex- plicable as it was, till this. moment she had not once remembered Sir Harry Vane since they parted And he was coming the next day-she very we'll knew whyi But her mi l had come already, and the dressing process could no more be put of than death. se, .. @ .,'
 Whether it occupied ten minutes or year, Blanche could not have told. When she recalled her senses, she was entering the library. The guests were assembled. She saw an unexpected one among them, even Harold Tracy. but there was no time to do moreq than, see him. Dinner was announced, old, Beau, Courtenay tucked. her under under his arm, and out the company filed. She looked down the table toward Harold, seated away ct the other end: she remembered that it was as near as they they could ever approach in all time to come: not a poetical sepafa- tiorl, such as ronances tell of, made by weary leagues of land and sea; by prison, by treachery, by death; but the kind which we endure in this world, which leaves us in sight of all that could have given happiness, yet 'deprives us of them as inexorably as if the tomb shut between.
 The dinner dragged on, the tiresome talk. Blanche was conscious of doing her part, yet somehow he thoughts were wand ering with silly obstinacy back to her childish days, pitilessly mixing aup Har- old with every memory, recalling all his kindness, his sacrifices for her sake. be- ginning with the day he took Q hogging to screen her from Aunt Deb's wrath at some ibabyish enormity. li tae.aA.l- f
 Then, in a lull about herself, she caught something of the conversation going on in Aunt Debs neighborhood. They were discussing 8 new novel She had heard enough, when she Reard Harold say, apro- pos to the conduct of the hero, - -,
 ''A man who would marry rich woman under such circumstances would be too mean te live" e..... s..4arg s3 g. .E..a
 She recollectsd the plot of the book-a girl trying to bestow herself and her money upon an old lover because she pitt ed his misfortunes. ''sf sl7sH
 ''If she loved him ?" somebody suggest ed. gpa4 ..s...ta.-.....rg .,o',...-,..
 If she had not before, she did not then" returned Harold. ''She was 50 fin of sympathy that she mistoSk it for alIec- tion; he ought to have set her right al
 Bravo, Don .Quixote r, pronounced Aunt Deb, and at that moment the ladies rose from the table.
 In the drawing-room Blanche had to dn the piano for the widowed cats, who were either stupid or spiteful at such dooming of them to the society of their own sex. Then up came the men. and Blanche was still condemned to the instrument for their benefit, and Harold was whispering with red-haired girl, who had become proud of her brilliant tresses since the coronation of the blondes. By the time Blanche was free, coffee was brought. Then every body rushed of, because Mrs. Rushmore's ball was in prospect.
 Blanche did not see when Harold took his leave. Beau Courtenay had his sticky mustache in her eyes and when she turn ed her head. Harold was gone, and Aunt Deb calling, 4 IrsY asL 2.
 Here's Rose with your wraps. Fee. MT. Courtenay is going with us. '" ..
 People said that night Blanche was more like the Sleeping Beauty or a snow woman than ever.s Elderly virgins said it was stupid affection, and that the dark rings under her eyes were made with In- dia ink. '3t4 ''.f 5 "Blow, bugle, blow i' whispered Aunt Deb, as Blanche passed her on somebody's arm. - .,.-..r. ...t, -
 For the first time the girl seemed to gain clear perception of the old maids meaning, and felt an unreasOning wrath with Deb. herself, fate, and the whole world.
 1T was promised VaLse," drawled Q lazy, pleasant voice in her ear.
 She turned, and saw Sir Harry Vanc. He appeared to have been trying the h. dia ink dodge about his eyes too: but they looked at her with the same kindly, expression she had fancied they gave her that morning. yrs ......
 If you'd only make it last all night, so that I need't speak another word " she said. d 9 sslaef v sF auT
 He asked no explanation, whirled her away, danced with her a great deal, kept quiet-a boon generally. Finally Aunt Deb came up and said, '.
 1i "Unless we mean to stay for breakfast. Fee I really think we had better go home" ,..-...-,,t. -. ..
 Blanche went down stairs on Sir Harry's arm. +2lE IaIta isHi "s l.e m 'F+a a. .'You are tired to death" was his only remark. "I hope you will soon, be the Sleeping Beauty in good earnest. g Blanche would have liked to scream. The carriage drove of. Aunt Deb leaned her head back and snored diabo1ically. She need not have been afraid that her companion would speak, even if she had taken less pains to prove that she twas
 Until morning dalwdned, Blanche lay on her bed unable either really to slumber or keep sufficiently awake to dissipate the evil dreams which haunted her. At last she, saw streak of sunlight peep through the curtains; but while she was watching it and insanely fancying that it vas a gilt teriDg sword ready to dig at her heart. she went of into oblivion, and slept for hours without a vision. She was only just dressed and trying to eat her break fast when Aunt Deb put her head into the room. e,.fe,.sef ,se / s.os.Ir.,..t ....s....
 ''Sir Harry Vane IS down stairs" she 't He has been asking my permission to take you to England. I re- minded him of the Star-spangled, and told him that under it's folds every woman spoke for herself" '1' '}'4fdi Lua1 .nes ,tf'.Aunt Deb r' cried Blanche. wildly; but the Ogress was gone. 51,fI.,,z. .... Blanche's nervous tremors left her un- der the need for action. She had the saEne as given her promlse: she would keep it. If she were entirely free, her en- chanted sleep had been broken too late. Harold was worlds away from her: he had said 80 last night. If her hand were held out, he would reject ctft--would never be- ieve that it trembled, not with pity. but love. She would tell Sir Harry the sim pie truth: he must judge. Life was cold and dismal Perhaps 1t might be no worse