Litchfield enquirer., 1878-11-28

over roc tonight, and the ventilating draught was closed in the drawing room"
 "That was because Professor Ammon sal near it, and the old gentleman's tonsis are ss sensitive"
 He ought to know from Dr. Dyer-Doi tha systematic and regular exposure tt fdraughts stimulates the mucous membrane while fixed air, over COG invariably" Fl am afraid, 1" interrupted Mrs. Rightbody with femenine adroitness, adopting her bus bands topic with view of thereby directing him from it-'.Im afraid that people do no1 yet appreciate the substitution of b0atizIon fol punch and ices. I observed that MT. Spondet declined it, and fancied looked disappointed | The fbrine and wheat in liqueur- glasses passeE quite unnoticed too.'
 And yet each half-drachm contained the half -digested substance of pound of beef. Im surprised at Spondee," continued Mir. Rightbody, aggrievedly 'sExhausting his his brain and nerve-force by the highest crea- tive efforts of the Muse, he prefers perfumed and diluted alcohol favored with carbonic acid gas. Even Mrs Faringway admitted to me that the sudden lowering of the temperature of the stomach by the introduction of ice ? Yes, but she took lemon ice at the last Dorothea Reception, and asked me if had | food at temperature over 60 MT. Rightbody again moved impatiently toward the door. Mrs. Rightbody eyed him | curiously
 You will not write, hope? Dr. Kepler told me tonight that your cerebral symptoms interdicted any prolonged mental strain.'' l T must consult few papers," responded Mr. Rightbody, curtly, as he entered his libra ry. -so | Itwas richly furnished apartment, mor- HdlY severe in its decorations, which were symptematic of gloomy dyspepsia of art, then quite prevalent. A few curios very ugly but providentially equally rare, were scattered about; there were various bronzes, marbles and casts, allrequiring explanations and so fulfilling their purpose of promoting conversa- tiSn and exhibiting the erudition of their own l eI. There were sODUesirs of travel with a his | tcry, old baic-o-6rGe with pedigree, but little or nothing that challenged attention for itself alone. In all cases the superiority of the own l CT to his possessions was admitted. As nat ural result nobody ever fingered there, the ser wants avoided the room and no child was ever known to play in it. 4 s-.t MT Rightbody turned up the gas, and, from cabinet of drawers, precisely labeled, drew a package of letters These he carefully exam ined. All were discolored and made digni6ed
 
 must have appeared trifing and inconsistent Nevertheless that gentleman spent some mo- ments in carefully perusing them, occasionally referring to the telegram in his hand. Suddenly there was knock at the door. Mir. Right body started, made alf-unconscious meve- ment to return the letters to the drawer turned the telegram face downward and then, some- what harshly, stammered:
 sEh? Who's there2 Come in !" -n5
 'I beg your pardon, papa,'' said 8 very pretty girl, entering without, however, the slightest trace of apology or care in her manner, and taking chair with the self-pos- session and familiarity of an hG5itue of the room; 'but knew it was not your habit to write late, so supposed you weresnot busy. l am on my way to bed"
 She was so very pretty ,and withal so utterly unconscious of it, or perhaps so consciously superior to it, that one was provoked into more critical examination of her face But this only resulted in reiteration of her beauty, and, perhaps, the added facts that her dark -eyes4were very womanly, her rich complexion seloqaent. .gand hnr- -chisled lips fnll -ennngh tn ne passionate or capricIous, notwithstanding that thelr general effect suggested neither ca price, womanly weakness nor passion.
 With the instinct of an embarrassed man MT. Rghtbody touched the topic he would have preferred to avoid.
 "I suppose we must talk over tomorrow" he hesitated ''this matter of yours and Mr. Marvin's? Mrs. Marvin has formally spoken to your mother"
 Miss Alice lifted her bright eyes intelligent ly but not jeyfully, and the celor-of action rather than embarrassment-rose to her round cheeks.
 "Yes, he said she would" she answered simply.
 '.At present." continued MT. Rightbody, still awkwardly, see no objection to the pro- posed arrangement"
 Miss Alice opened her round eyes at this.
 'Why, papa, thought it had been all set tied long ago. Mamma knew it, you knew it. Last July, mamma and you talked it over"
 Yes, yes," returned her father, fumbling his papers 'that is-well, we will talk of it tomorrow" In fact, MT. Rightbody had in tended to give the affair a proper attitude of seriousness and solemnity by due precision of speech and some opposite reflections, when he should impart the news to his daughter but felt himself unable to do it now. ''I am glad, Alice," he said at last, ''that you have quite forgotten your previous whims and fancies You see soe are right"
 ''Oh, dare say, papa, if Pm to be married at all, that MT. Marvin is every way suit able"
 Mr. Rightbody looked at his daughter nar- rowly. There was not the slightest impatience nor bitterness in her manner; it was as we'll regulated as the sentiment she expressed.
 MT. Marvin is" he began.
 sI know what MT. Marvin is, interrupted Miss Alice; land he has promised me that 1 shall be allowed to go on with my studies the same as before. shall be graduated with my class and if prefer to practice my profession, \ n n fyUn ftor
 'In two years ?" querMMr Rightbody cu- riously.
 2. 'tYes You see, in case we should have g child, that would give me time enough to wean it." .-
 Mir, Rightboey looked at this flesh of his fesh pretty and palpable flesh as it was ;; but being confronted as equally with the brain of his brain, all he could do was to say meekly:
 ''Yes, certainly. We will see about all that tomorrow"
 E Miss Alice rese Something in the free, un- fettered swing of her arms, as she restrd them lightly, after half yawn, on her curving hips, suggested his next speech, though still distrait and impatient.
 'You continue your exercise with the health lift yet 1 see."
 ssa 'sYes, papa, but had to give up the flan- nels. don't see how mamma could wear them. But my dresses are high-necked, and by bathing toughen my skin. See,' she added, as, with child-Ik unconsciousness, she unfastened two or three buttons of her gown and exposed the white surface of her throat and neck to her father, 'I can defy a chill" 't 's
 Mr. Rightbody, with something akin to a genuine happy, paternal laugh, leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
 ''Its getting late, Ally, he said, parentally. l,,,A ,,<~% ,a<oA r.o11 fxaT ks T II took nap of three hours this afternoon" i" said Miss Alice, with dazzling smile, .'to an ticipate this fatigue. Goodnight, papa Te- morrow, then" +3ii@
 Tomorrow" :" repeated MT, Rlghtbody, with his eyes still fixed upon the girl, vaguely Good night. ..e- .-.
 Miss Alice ripped from the room, possibly a trife the more light -heartedly that she had parted from her father in one of his rare mo- ments of illogical human weakness. And per haps it was we'll for the poor girl that she kept this single remembrance of him, which, I fear. in after years, his methods, hls reasoning, and indeed all he had tried to impress upon, her childhood, had faded from her memory.