Litchfield enquirer., 1878-02-21

and finds out too late it is Bottom the weaver. In Louise's case, however, there was no dan- ger of such waking she had good reason for her preferance. Elisha Squires, her fathers clerk, was handsome, we'll educated ener- getic young fellow-a gentleman by nature and breeding both LohisShad pitied him ten thousand times for his unfit position in her ia thers employment before he perceived that she was interested the least in him or he occu- patton, and when it dawned on the busy and weary soul that one bright blossom looked ov- CT the pailing into his desert life, what was the natural impulse that followed? It is not a young man who 'loves the wild rose and leaves it on it stalk, literally orfigurativey and these juvenile idiots fell fathoms deep in love with each other, entirely unconscious of the melancholy fact that one was the richest girl in Bassett, and the other working for daily bread. Arcadia could not have shown more divine simplicity; but Bassett was not Area dia, and when sundry jealous and disappoint- cd swains discovered that "Lowisy Paine" would go home from prayer meeting with 'Lisha Squires, had actually been seen finger ing with him at her fathers front gate in the starry May darkness even after the nine o'clock bell had rang, and was sure to welcome him on a Sunday night, thought she might snap and snarl at them, then Louise's troubles be- gan. Prayer meetings must be attended, but the Squire went to and fro with her himself and Elisha could not be spared from the store to attend them at all. Squire Paine hated to lose his clerk, but he would not lose his daugh- ter, so, with the obtuse perception of the heavy father from time immemorial, he rushed into the melee, like some laundering elephant into flower bed. #.
 ''Lowisy," said he, one Sunday night, af- ter the row of adorers were dispersed, Elisha Squires among them, linear to me now ! ain't a-going' to hev you courted the hull time by these here fellers. You've got to stop it. Specially 1 won't have ye careerin' around with 'Lsha; he's poorer n poverty, an as stuck up as though he was mighty Caesar. I've fetched ye up an gin ye good eddication, an you ain't a-goin' to throw yourself away on no sech trash"
 The hot color rushed up to Louise's fore head, her red lip curled and unspeakable dis dain expressed itself as she looked straight into her fathers face; but she did not say word she left the room with perfect compos- ure, stopping to pick dry leaf from her pet geranium, and walked up the stairs with slow precision that ought to have spoken vol tunes to her fathers ear, as it did to Ryxy's.
 ''Well, you've done it now," remarked that respectable woman.
 "Yes, I guess hev," was the squire's con- placent answer, quite misapprehending the sense in which he had done it. 'I guess I've put a spoke inter that wheel, an sideways too"
 Roxy gave one of the silent chuckles which meant deep amusement, and took herself of to bed. She was not a woman to interfere with the course of true love between Louise and Elisha, both of whom had become special favorites of hers since their first acquaintance but, as she said to herself, she would not make nor meddle" in this matter, having full confidence Tn Louses power of managing her own affairs, and far too much reverence and delicacy in her own nature to be match-mak- CT. But the squire went on from bad to worse, and, in his blind zeal to have his own way, brought things to a swift conclusion; for hav- ing given Elisha notice that he should need him no longer, he was more than surprised one fine July morning to find that Louise had left him toO-that the pair had gone together. The squire was black with rage when the fact was announced to him by Miss Roxy, and a brief and defiant note from Louise put into his hand. He raved, ragged even swore, in his first wild fury, and paced up and down the kitchen like wild animal.
 Miss Roxy eyed him with a peculiar expres- sion. She felt that her hour had come As she afterward said, 'I should ha' bust eff hadn't spoke. I'd been a-hankerin' to give it to him quite spell, but held my tongue for LOwisy's sake. But thinks, sez I, now's your time, Roxanny Keep; pitch in an do your doOty, an l tell ye it whistled of itself. Seems as though 'twa'n't me, rally, but some- thin maxim tin horn out O my lips to rouse him up to judgment" And certainly Miss Roxy was reused herself she confronted the squire like Yankee lioness.
 Look a-here, Samwell Paine: it's time somebody took ye to do. You've ben a-buyin' an a-sellin' an a-rakin' an a-scrapin' till your soul-ef you've got any-is nigh about petered out. You call yourself Christian an pro- lessor, an follerer of tho golden rewl, do ye? An here you be, cussn an swearin' like Hivite an a Jeboosit an all the rest on 'em, because things ain't jest as you would have 'em to be. You hain't had no bowels of compass sion for Lowisy no more'n ef you was her jail CT instead of her pa. Whats the matter with 'Lisha Squires? He's honest, good-disposed reliable feller as ever was good enough for anybOdy's girl Christian too-not one O the sugar -sandin', rum waterin lightweight kind, but a real one. He don't read the golden rewl tOiher side up, as you do, tell ye. You make it doin' to other folks just what you want to d. an lettin' them go hang. tell ye the hyp- Ocrite's hope shall perish; an you're one on 'em as sure as the world. Faint sayin' Lord Lord that makes folks pious it's doin' the will O God-justice an mercy an lovin' kind ness"
 Here Roxy paused for breath, and the as- founded squire ejaculated, "Roxanny Keep! '"
 Yes, that's my name 1 ain't afeard to own 1t, nor to set it square to what I've said. hain't lived here goin' on three year an seen your ways for nOthin'. I've had eyes to be- hold your pinchin' an sparin' an cra%lin; grindin' poor folks's faces an lickin' rich fOlks's platters actin as though your own daughter was nothing but bill of expense to ye, an block to show off your pride an van ity, not a Twin, lovin' soul to show the way to heaven to. An now she's quit She's got good. lovin', true hearted feller to help her along where you didn't know the way, au' didn't want to, neither, an you're ravin mad cause he haint got no money, when you've got mOre'n enough for all on ye. Samwell Paine, you ain't no Christian, not 'cordin' to Gospel truth, ef you have been professor you was converted for you never was Folks ain't converted to meanness an greediness an self-seekin' an wrath an malice the Lord don't turn 'em into the error of their ways ; He turns 'em out ont. Eff you was a minis ter in the pulpit or a deacon handin' the plate, you ain't no Christian 'thout you act like one an that's the etarnal fact ont. You've ben a Twin all these years, an you've endedby driv- m your only daughter your own flesh an blood, the best thing the Lord ever give ye, out O house an home cause you was mad af- ter money. An it'll happen unto ye accordin' to the Word O the Lord about sech folks; you'll be drOwnded in destruction an perdi- tion. an pierce yourself through with many soETers. ef you don't flee for your life from sech things and foller after righteousness, gOdliness. an the rest on 'em You'd oughter go down on your poor old knees an pray to be converted at the leventh hour There Pve freed my mind, thank the Lord, an there won't be none O your blood found on nv skirts ef the last day comes in to-morrer morn in," With which the exhausted lecturer heaved long breath, and began to mop her heaaed lace vigorously with her iuseparable h2nd2nA handkerchief, which might have gym bo9Ized to the audience, had there been any. a hOneay victorious banner.
 The squire stood amazed and afraid. In all the long course of his life nobody had ever be- fore galnsaid him; outward respect and con S0G@1aon had been his portion; now the ground cracked under his feet. and he found kiusef in a new land He did mt on to tho