Litchfield enquirer., 1877-01-25

with her midnight visitor. daqsa 2Eis3 ? d' -''.iaastasea I Ti ao .atn4 j s, ssi1 le aos3sa : Y z I t9laosb sssoa P Almost month has passed away since lNenuphar's midnight condolences, when we take our next look at her. It is after dinner, and she is seated on low chair by an open window in the drawing room, contemplating with faint, tronb- led look, most unusual on her calm face, Mir. Long and Heather playing chess in the farthest corner of the room.
 John Clermont, looking older and per- haps somewhat harder than he did on that June morning nineteen years ago, is conversing in low tones with Mrs. Evans on the unusual beauty of the weather they have had of late. '"There will be grand harvest,' he says, conclusively; and then he rises, and goes over to the window where Nenuphar sits, and for a few moments watches her i'll silence. In- deed a silence seems to have fallen on the whole party. One might have said there was an angel pausing overhead. but Mir. Clermont breaks it..
 ''What are you thinking of, Nenu- phar?" s5s taat 1a a.1
 She raises her great eyes to his, and half sighs. as she says, Thinking of? Really do not know
 As she thus looks mp, you can see in this mouth-since that day when Sebas- tian's shadow fell across ,her--a change has come over her. though wherein.the change exactly lies it would be hard to say. But it is there nevertheless a half troubled look in the blue eyes, which glves them depth they did not possess in the days when no sorrow or joy seem. ed to have any power over her.
 And what is it, then. that has come over her? Not jealousy of Heather, surely; for Nenuphar is beautiful woman, and has seen so many men bow down and do homage to her, that it is impossible for her to grudge Heather her one conquest And as to love, why, she herself acknowl- edged not so very long ago that the very meaning of the word was incomprehen- sible to her.
 At first. after his return home, Mir. Long had believed, as so many men had done before hlm, that in Nenuphar Cler- mont he had found his ideal of all that was perfect and lovely in womanhood. But after the first few days it seemed to his passionate Southern nature there was something almost repulsive in the cold beauty, that nothing could stir out of it's unnatural calm. Then he had be- gun to think of the other girl, so full of fire, and activity; of whom his dreams hadlbeen the first night of his home com ing, ana whose voice had once welcomed him back so warmly; and whose eyes had learnt to brighten at his approach; and this vision gradually plotted out that other one that had stirred his fancy for a little while with the wonderful fascina. tion of Its beauty.
 Do you think" asked Mir. Clermont, after another little pause. spent by. him in speculating as to the ikeliest question to gain him an insight into Nenuphar's thoughts-"do you think that those two," with half movement in the direc. tion of the chess-players, " are likely to make match of it?"
 "Do you?"
 ''Yes. 1t would not surprise me" Nenuphar lifted her eyes then, and looked in the direction indicated. ''What makes you think it?'she said, and though she spoke quietly, the very faintest tinge of pink passed over her cheeks--a very unusual show of emotion for her.
 ''It seems like it," said old MT. Cler- mont. ''To think that my little, rough, careless Heather should have lived to be preferredlto beautiful woman like you for you are beautiful woman, Nenuphar, there in no denying that. Eyes, and no eyes, is it not?'' -.. .~
 "Beauty is not everything"
 'Perhays not. But it is nearly every. thing-or rather, 1t is a royal road to nearly everything" .....s
 Beauty only turns heads; it does not win hearts" said Nenuphar, softly. ooh, l wish l knew" she went on, almost ap- pealingly, "what it is that is wanting in 1 it is that makes me so different to every one else! why he" looking to- wards the far-off players, ''finds some- thing almost repulsive in me. What can it be?" sessssr-~aH8 s.es.7-.oz
 His bad taste," retorted Mir. Cler- mont. "Be satisfied with yourself just as you are-it is the best way. And besides, it would be folly to wish change; for you are lovely to look upon, and nothing more should be required of woman. Di- rectly they grow learned they become ar- and woman who argues, ah!' and John shrugged his shoulders ex- pressively. "No-ignorance and beauty, Tor women?' f ' "
 "But that is not what mean: it is not
 
 able,-women thousand times plainer han T-women in every way insignificant. What is it? Oh, wish knewi or rather, | wish possessed it, whatever it is"
 Do not strive after it, my dear, or gain nothing in exchange There and mignonette-andt they are all prized, Ihor e aot be grasping, and try to seize all the blessings: you may be sure they are equally divided"
 But am not fiower," urged Menu phar, still with that faint tone of plead ng in her voice. saas* saE :l z-E5
 Are you not, my dear?" said old John, nockinglY. "I am not so sure of thatp'
 Now let us cross over to the chess players for a few moments, and see how heir game is progressing, ,sns-..2
 ''Check to the queen" said Sebastian. And at his words. and nerbons a1ao st | ain tender look in his eyes, quick, 1 bright flush passed over Heather's face.
 .'Check?" she repeated, inquiringly.
 Sebastian touched black knight with | nls finger. ''Do you not see now?''
 "Then may as we'll give up the game l 1t once," she replied, somewhat petulant- Iy, ''for there seems nothing left for me to do. do not feel in. the humor for playing tonight. srf
 'sThen you will give up the game to me, will you not?" said Sebastian, in Q low voice. #8 #ffax' tTz9- 31ed 2 fa
 s.No, Twill not" said Heather, as she rose from her seat. ''I never could bear to give up game without fighting for it; 30 we will leave the pieces as they are, and put off the conclusion of the game till tomorrow, when perhaps I may have some way out of my difficult ties. a...a
 ''That is hard upon me" said Sebas- tian; ''for very likely if we wait till then you will have thought. of some way of me, whereas if I pressed my advantage now
 .sYou are too generous to do that, 7 re- plled Heather, softly. So goodnight: I will think all tomorrow, and perhaps shall beat you yet.
 "Have you ever heard. said Sebastian, Il klck keu uI0 fhnPn