Litchfield enquirer., 1877-12-27

Along the straight road lying between the two clefts Lisette walked slowly with her head thrown up so that any sound in front might reach her quickly. She knew the road well, had known it from her earliest childhood. She could have trodden it blindfold. She was now treading it by the aid of blind tradition in her memory. To right and left the stolid darkness reached from theinvisible earth to the sightless heavens. The darkness opened before her and closed behind her, folding her round as strict ly as water folds round stone falling through sea-depths in cave. ~ ..ss ~ S x She did not know it was dark. She did not know it was still. She felt that if he were ap- proachiug she should hear his tread. She knew that when he had come she should know his voice. Oh, it was too bad he staid away 1! What change had arisen in him How was this cruel change to be accounted for She had done nothing to cause it. There had been no quarrel But worse, thousand times worse than any quarrel, he had of late grown reserv- ed. Heno longer spoke out to her freely and ioyously, ,as in the delicious, bygone time. In her presence he seemed nervous andin at ease. When they met he scanned her face hastily, fearfully, as though, he dreaded something. What was it he dreaded? Not that she had al- tered toward him.. He knew her too well for that But why did he shun her Of old, no evening passed without his coming. Now, for the past month, he had stayed 8 week away at time. It was ten days since she had last seen him. This morning Tom the gardener had brought news he would be with her that night It was close to midnight now, and he had not arrived Oh, how sunny faced he used to he How his blue eyes softened. as he looked into hers How his strong arms wound slowly and surely round her, holding her ten derly, but as though no power on earth could steal her from his embrace! How his lips had fingered How he had shaken with sighs as he released her and went! And now what had all this faded tol He was still tender, but q half concealed fear seemed to come between them. An airy dread appeared to unnerve his embrace and kill thesweet purpose of his eyes. An invisible hand drew him back from her, and their lips met but hastily. Why should this be? Was not all arranged Were there not to
 be deep kisses now, while they were lovers 1 Surely he might not fear she objected to the delicious mystery which the lips of lovers know, In her no alteration had taken place. What
 had caused it in him What could be the req
 son for bis keeping away Why did he seem
 to stand in continual expectation of something direful ?s-ss;.es<.-4g t.'.-.,s She still kept on. She hadonly misty, half.
 defined hope he would come. He had never
 before broken a promise made to her. 6he
 walked and listened mechanically. Her spirii | was busy with the past. It had not yet gained the courage of desperation requisitefor looking | into the future
 Why had hesbroken his promise and mol
 come Could it be?
 She put aside the thought that threatened her, turned her head rapidly from one side te
 the other to distract her mind, and pregent the
 sWoop her reason had begun to make upon hel peace. The house was now nearly mile be
 hind her, yet no footsteps sounded. A frozer
 silence held the earth darkness stood up ikt
 an ebony wall on the moor. .+-....f Would be come tomorrow morning early