Litchfield enquirer., 1878-10-17

tnnk that mamma cannot see me, ana then smile to think how Nell would clap her hands,, and Chubby would blow out his cheeks and make impertinent comments on my grandeur. Then I wrap myself round in an Indian scarf that mamma unearthed from the few treasures still remaining to her, and descend to the draw ing room, with it's crimson velvet pOrtieres and endless mirrors. There find the three others assembled !; Mrs. Colquhoun gorgeous in crimson and gold. It is long drive to our destination, and dare say should weary but for the happy chance that has placed Dick at my side, and the delightfully."- cloudy condition of the sky, which obscures the moon, and al- lows my hand to lie snugly in his without fear of detection.
 This my first experience of society" and I am quite dazzled by the glare of light and the crowd of people. am presented to the hostess, little fat woman, who greets Mrs. Colquhoun with gushing fervor and then Dick and 1 wander away together through the suite of drawing rooms. As we are entering the third-a small octagonal room, luxuriantly furnished as a ladys bondoir, and lighted by hanging lamp-Dick stops suddenly, and as l look up at him 1 see, to my great terror, that all trace of color has left his cheek, and that his eyes are fixed in silent wonder, and with something in them that is half fear, half joy, upon woman who is standing just where the light falls full upon her lovely naughty face and graceful form. She too is strangely mov- ed, and grows as white as the pearls that wreath her raven hair and clasp her milk white throat, while the same mingling of pas. sionate gladness and nervous dread dawns in her eyes as they meet his A moment or two and she bends low, yet with the dignity of a queen and Dick-my DIck-trembles as he returns her greeting, while l feel that his moustache hides lip that quivers with some thotf fho cinht of thot NUO has evoked.
 Then Dick and pass on in silence. 1 am choking, and could not speak though my life de- pended on my eloquence. It is as thOugha gulf had suddenly yawned at my feet and across it's dark abyss I gazed at the man love, forever and forever parted from me-
 Il have been locking for you everywhere" says an even, quiet voice at my shoulder, and there is Dicks sister see a meaning look pass between them, pleading as it seems to me on his side almost threatening on hers; and then find myself drifted to couch, while Mrs. Colquhoun subsidies gracefully into place by my side, and know that 1 shall never get rid of her again the whole evening.
 And never do.
 People come and go, and make clever re- l marks and imbecile remarks, and comment on the weather, and the harvest, and the birds that are the yield of that seasons shooting and the various ailments, and misfortunes, and good fortunes of their friendsand relatives; but Mrs. COlquhoun never leaves my side, and Dick has vanished. and am ''a-weary," like that mournful maid in her moated grange h. deed begin to think shall see Dick no more that evening, when all at once 1 catch a glimpse of him, towering above his fellows, and looking earnestly -yearningly-and as if spellbound against his will, at something. A moment more enlightens me as to the Ob- feet of his gaze, for through the archway that leads into the further room we have view of the piano; and there slowly drawing off the gloves from her slender white hands, stands the lady of the raven locks and gleaming pearls. She takes her place upon the music-chair, strikes few plaintive chords, and then soft, full, low, vibrating notes of melody rise and fall, and every voice is hushed under the spell of their surpassing sweetness: ''Weve journey d together so long, sweetheart. | Tat it's sad to be parted now."
 How distinctly each word thrills to the | hearts of the hearers with what passionate 1 longing is each tremulous tone laden If a man loved that woman, how could he look I and listen and forget?
 l As we drive home through the still, dark night Dicks hand does not seek mine. Once | hear him softly hum the refrain of the song that her lips had uttered, and as we pass through the dimly-lighted streets of country | town see a self f-complacent smile on Mrs | ColquhOunS lips.
 When we reach Merlewood it is Mir. Col | quhoun, not Dick, that hands me from the | carriage. The little mans face wears troubl- | ed look, and his hand presses mine ina squeeze | that know is meant to be comforting and re- 1 assuring. In some way or other l have long since intuitively recognized the story of the mans life-learned that Harriet Ferris, in the zenith of her youth and beauty, married him for his possessions married him to be the mis- 1 tress of Merlewood and the sharer of his ample | rent-roll that she had never had even the fee blest love for him, and let him know this | quickly enough once theadvantage that alone | made him desirable as husband in her eyes were secured All this knowledge had come to me intuitively, and created link of sym pathy between me and the lonely little man who led life of isolotion as complete as l though he were the inhabitant of some desert 1 island; and now, in the hour of my bitter trial l there was comfort in the mute expression of his pity think he was going to offer me the support of his arm up the steps but be this as it may, peremptory call from his liege lady | causes him to hurry to her side and l-cold, miserable, and weary, beyond all power of words to say-hurry into the house alone, fear. | ing nothing just then so much as the touch ot l meant to go up stairs but all at once my heart begins to beat heavily, and a glamour canes over my sight. and makes the feet falter; so | turn aside into the drawing room, and, crouch ing down upon sofa, hide my face upon my | hands. e 1 What is it that has come upon me ? What | is the story that forms link between Dick
 Ferris-the man whose promised wife am and that woman with the soft dark eyes anC maddening voice ? Bewildering thought
 gather themselves into inextricable knots 0
 confession in the mind, and all the. time g throbbing pain beats across my brow and there is singing sound in the ears.
 There is some other sound in my ears, too shortly, for Dick and his sister have come hur.
 riedly into the next room. Il is lighted up by | the faint disk of a reading lamp, while the one that am in has no light beyond the glow of a few dying embers in the grate, and the heavy l portieqcs are more than half closed.
 Harriet, did you know that Margaret Pow 1 CT was here-in Cornwall? Did yeu know that we should meet her tonight ?" says Dick, | in voice that is bereft of all its usual calm We all have our good points, l suppose, and apparently Mrs. Colquhoun's is truthful cour age, for she answers very quietly, yet with 8 certain triumphant defiance:
 tsYes, did know that we should meet Mar
 garet Power tonight; and the result of that
 meeting has, think, shown you the state o1 your own heart. Dick, you must not marry that girl-you must not marry Pansie Meri vale. I have never told you so yet, but now
 may say plainly that do not like her"
 "What has that to do with my marrying her ? f says Dick, and know by the sound of hi! | voice that he is white with rage, and has taken up arms in my defense
 '.Nothing, if you choose to count it so," she
 answers, still in the same measured tones.
 ''but am free to hold what opinions choose I andI say again that do not like her. She is insignificant in body and in mind, and l sec no quality about her that is any compensation for her being the pennless daughter of a. black-leg."
 I have never heard this term applied to my father before; I have assuredly no right tC hear it now am doing the meanest actior
 any one can be capable listening to conver
 sation that is not meant for my ear. But evil possesses me; my great agony dulls my sense of right and wrong-my perception of hono and dishnn0r I clinch my teeth as Mrs