Litchfield enquirer., 1878-02-07

llace to sit down. So we found tree big l enough for both our backs to lean against; and than he said as we had become such great l frinds, he would tell me all about himself and his plans Then the real cause of his in- difference flashed upon me suddenly, and fel sure that he was married; so I said i'm pusively, ''Oh don't."
 Don't what" he asked. Don't tell me about her; where is she?" aked.
 s'Either in Utah or New Mexico" he said; I don't know exactly which but it does not l much matter. can easily find the ones want dlt vest a4s,fs. rsa Hssa8 sy.stsa. s,s s e- It was too awful. My widest imagination had never pictured such fearful catastrophe. 1t was all explained now; Mir, Tompkins was s Mormon. He had been afraid to break it Q me before, because he had not been sure of
 he extent of my passion but now that had been unable to conceal it, he was evidently going to propose to take me to Salt Lake City;
 md from there we should go on and join his
 ofler wives about whom he apparently cared
 8 little that he did not know whether the par
 tcular ones he wanted were in Utah or New
 Hexico. The willy and artful way in which
 le had lured me into his tolls, his wonderful
 devotion to science, had all been snare by which to entrap my young affections. All the hearts 1 had tried to break, all the affections had deliberately blighted of youths whom 1 had wantonly encouraged to propose, rose up in judgment againstwne. How fearful was this retribution. In what a cruel form had my Nemesis overtaken me '" sitting on the grassy hillside, just above that well-known vil- lage called, with a ghastly sort of fappositeness, Tompkinsville. Mir. : Tompkins paused as if he had nothing more for the moment to say; and felt that he was purposely giving me time to make up my mind. Twas too fond of him to decide hastily in the in the negative know this seems very horrible to some of my readers, but they really make allowance for the vehemence of my feelings. 1 knew that if did not marry him should never wed. It was impossible for me ever to feel for another what felt for him, and it became serious question whether 1 should blightmy whole ex- istence in consequence of a mere prejudice against custom practiced by patriarchs the most eminent for piety, and by the inspired prophets of the Bible. 1 thought it would all depend upon the share should be likely to have of Obadiah but then, how could l ask him how many he had got He evidently did not care about them all for had only spo- ken of the ''ones he wanted" Now they might possibly be only two, in which case 1 should have third of him and besides, 1 could trust to my own wit for establishing my self in the first place, and 1 had little doubt of forcing them both into the position of ''ones he did not want" in time. Still, if instead of being two, there were six or eight whom he wanted, the case would be entirely altered. It was evidently of the first importance, before making up my mind, to find this out accurate ly internally decided that would go if he could offer me one fourth share of himself or more; but that for anything less than that 1 should refuse positively. AS he maintained persistent silence, when had fully made up my mind to this had nothing for it but to try and obtain the desired information.
 'Are you very fond of those you want ?" 1 asked, timidly.
 q am fond of every object in natureswhich helps to produce the desired results, he said, with smile.
 z II was not surprised that he alluded to his wives in this Platonic sort of way, as he was so absorbed in science that l had ceased to ex- pect anything in the shape of sentiment from him. but I did not like his allusion to the de- sired results.
 "Have you many ?" I asked with some hesi- tstion.
 ''Many what?'
 "Alany results"
 Obadiah looked for the first time during our acquaintance, thoroughly puzzled, and, I thought, little confused.
 ''Very few" he replied, land these are, so far, very imperfect" ''Ah, The went on, with his eye kindling with enthusiasm, and yet with 8 certain sadness, ''how delightful it would be if you could come with me ', to help me to dis cover the reason of the abnormal formation of their skulls!"
 1 was inexpressibly shocked. So this was all he wanted me to go west with him for and this was his way of proposing to me
 Never" exclaimed, with passionate cry; the very idea of such thingfllls me with dis gust and indignation"
 He seemed surprised and pained at my ve- hemence.
 You compel me to explain myself in my own justification" " he said in more agitated tone than he had yet used. ''I am aware I was to blame for inadvertently allowing an expres- sion of desire for your company to escape me, which may have betrayed sentiment have hitherto striven to conceal. lrene," he went on, 'syou do not know how much have suffered during the past month, and how diff cult it has been for me to conceal my feelings If have refrained from telling you how dear you are to me, it is because 1 felt had noth- ing to offer you" Nothing to offer me, indeed. 1 thought, savagely. Does he call his wives and his results nothing? But it was pleasant even to hear him confess his love, SO 1 was si- lent.
 "YOu force me to what had determin- ed to conceal" for cannot bear to leave you under the impression that 1 am cold or insensi- ble to your attractions but, situated as I am, felt that it would be dishonorable to take ad- vantage of our intimacy, and allow it to ripen into any warmer feeling"
 We'll thought, he seems to have some feel ings of decency left in him after all and yet confess to tinge of anxiety at the notion that he might prove too honorable to take me with him, though had not quite made up my mind to go.
 ~At one time, confess, he added, sI had almost determined to make clean breast of it to Mir, Macgillicuddy, and throw myself on his mercy"
 '.Mercy!" exclaimed by way rather of an oath than an echo "What madness! Why, how could you expect that either he or mann ma would even listen to such proposal Un- der no circumstances must you ever breathe to them what you have told me-"
 "Ah, "he said ,mournfully, ''then was right, and should only have put myself in a false position; so there is no hope"
 'It seems to me, " said I, sharply, ''that you are in rather afalse position already"
 Irene" he replied, pleadingly, 'show cruel of you to taunt me with it, when you yourself have forced from me an avowal that had re- solved should be for ever buried in the most secret recesses of my heart!"
 A bright thought struck me perhaps he lov- ed me so much that he would abandon all his other wives and their wretched little results, and his peculiar views conceal the whole sto- ", and agree that we should be married like people, and go and live decently in Europe, instead of in Utah.
 looked tenderly and tearfully into his face His large expressive eyes seemed melting with the glow of his ardent love as he returned my gaze.
 Darling" he murmured
 It gave me courage; would frankly tell him my thought. This was not moment to stand upon ceremony; so I said, and 1 found myself blushing and stammering painfully
 ttDon't you think you could give up your pe-pe-peculiar views?"
 My peculiar views!" he replied; 'Swhy, what can they have to do with it? 1 know l have somewhat different theory from Darwin and Huxley, and perhaps,it is not altogether orthodox theologically, but surely that need not be barrier
 ''Oh, don't mean those;" said, pettishly, and perhaps little incoheently; but Thought he was trifling or trying to deceive me. Y rnn .,,r rv~H T v,Io cfin