Litchfield enquirer., 1878-04-25

l house in town, and gave us all most pressing invitation to come and stay there; he says he's particularly fond of Americans, and has often l had them stay with him when in town"
 'fVery kind of him indeed, dear," murmur- 1 ed Mrs. Hall; ]; tssbHt--ought we to accept such an invitation? Jack dear, what do you think ?"
 ''You may go if you please" said Jack, with all the majesty of despair. ''I certainly l shall not.''
 i At this rebuff Mrs. Hall immediately col l lapsed, and Clara became even more inaccessi- bly, naughty than before. An unusual mum Der of emotions were at work in her heart this evening Away down at the bottom there was soft place for Jack but fear this re- lenting was partly due to the fact that she real 1 ly felt herself more than little captivated by the flashing young nobleman. His beauty, address, winning manners and last, but, inn 1 agine, not quite least, his high rank, combined to render him paragon in her eyes. And then Jack was 80 cross aad sulky, so different from-from what he used to be!
 Jack meanwhile felt that the time had come | for final explanation with Clara. He had no doubt now of his sentiments toward her, but he had the greatest-or, more correctly, very | little aS regarded hers toward him. This
 very night it should be settled one way or the other.
 Clara" said he, in low voice, as soon as their carriage was on it's was homeward, ''do you mean to accept this-man's invit atiOn"
 "Why not ? retorted Clara, all the more boldly from secret sense of weakness.
 'You know your father left you in my charge" continuedJack, land told me to keep you out of danger"
 ''And who was it, inquired Clara, demure- ly, ''who proposed coming here?"
 Jack had no parry ready for this thrust. In 1 hia oonfI1qOn ho said tho ODlv other entirely
 wrong thing that remained to be said.
 'I should have thought, at least you would know better than to be on such terms with a foreign nobleman. You must know they are all either adventures or scoun-"
 Please to remember" interrupted Clara, quietly, ''that you yourself told me they were
 a jolly set of fellows, and just the kind for me to be acquainted with. I've only follow ed your advice, you see." .....
 Poor Jack! he hadn't leg to stand on.
 'I've been a selfish fool" said he; 'I see it now |; but try to forgive me, Clara"-his voice became little husky-'for 1 care more for your safety and happiness than any thing else in this world"'
 Now, when he said this, he had unwittingly struck the strongest possible blow in his own behalf. Clara, though she had made out such a good case, was far from feeling blameless. She knew we'll enough that her conduct re- quired forgiveness quite as much as Jacks. l Indeed, her suspicious about him had entirely lacked confirmation; her imagined rival turn ed out imaginary, in fact. So, when Jack | took this tone towards her. she could not help feeling rather mean and small and longing to l jump into his arms and kiss him. But Jack, the dolt was far too stupid to see his advan- tage, much less profit by it. Instead of that, he spoiled it all by blundering out, ''1t isn't often ask forgiveness Clara"
 Really, Jack" replied Clara, brusquely, | ''you needn't trouble yourself to do it now. There's no use being so tragical. Of course shan't do any thing papa would disapprove of. | We've always been good friends why shouldn't we remain so."
 And this is all you have to say ?" asked l Jack, in very forlorn tone.
 ''What more do you want?" returned she, very much provoked at having been allowed to get the better of him.
 "Nothing," he replied gloomily; and they drove the rest of the way in silence but for | the weak snores of Mrs. Hall
 | On entering their hotel, the first object that | met their view was MT. Hall as stately, and l imposing, and serene as ever. Upon which | there were great rejoicings, and much general conversation upon all subjects, past, present, and to come. But when MT. Hall inquired how they had enjoyed Dresden, there was an impressive silence on the part of the young people. So Mrs. Hall proceeded to fill up the gap, saying they had enjoyed themselves thor oughly, and had made some very pleasant ac quaintances. 'And one of them," she con- | tinued, with weak-minded-ed smile at Clara, l advised us to change our residence, and" "Ah we'll" interposed Mr. Hall q have already attended to that Tomorrow we | leave this place. don't consider the situation healthy-and remove to the 'Stadt Moskau.' That, I understand, is the best hotel in town | and the proprietor understands English, and | pays great attention to the comfort of his l guests" So nothing further was advanced | concerning the ''princely" offer that night. l Next morning at breakfast in burst Fred 1 Wilmore, grinning from ear to ear. At sight of Mir. Hall he sobered down somewhat, and being soon after engaged in conversation of the solidest description by that gentleman, he was temporarily preserved from the effects of ! Jacks wrath
 "And now" said MT. Hall, five will sum- mon the landlord, settle the bill, and take a conveyance to the Stadt Moskau.' A very | fine establishment l understand, MT. Will more"
 MT. Wilmore here behaved in very strange manner. He appeared to be unaccountably | impressed with the idea that some huge joke | was under way. Could it be suppressed laugh ter which nearly prevented his replying? ''Oh! that's where you're going! Yes, prime, by love! l say!" he added to Jack, It'll save | my explaining something to you and Miss Clara" ''It will not save my demanding an explana- ton from you; Sir" replied Jack, with severe dignity. But Fred didn't seem at all impress sed and chuckled away in the most outrageous fashion. ~ The bill was settled, and the conveyance waited at the door. In they all got. Fred, saying he was ''beund in that direction" mounted on the box with the driver, and they rattled off. Arrived at the entrance of the ''Stadt Moskau," he appeared at the door, grinning wider than ever, and assisted them all out-except Jack, who was in no mood for frivolity.
 Scarcely had Mir. Hall had time to open his mouth in censllre to the driver for demanding such an exorbitant fare, when handsome and distinguis looking individual appeared, hast ening bare headed from the interior, lowing and smiling with the utmost grace and cordial ity. But how is this? It can not be-and yet it is-the Russian Prince of the evening before
 "Oh!" exclaimed Clara, in a tone wherein surprise, pleasure and consternation were present in equal parts.
 "Ah!" broke in accents of mingled amaze ment, anger, and menace from Jack. Mr. Hall, advancing unconscious, demand ed, Are you the proprietor of this hotel?"
 ''Oh, papa!" began Clara, coloring ''Sir, you mistake" interposed Jack.
 '1 have de honneur," replied the ''prince," with profound smirk. "Ah, mademoiselle, so glad you come! de chambers are all ready. Vill mosieur in privat chamber breakfast, or at 1 tG6e O. hOtes" G Clara turned very pale, and felt a strong de- l sire to sit down. There is no telling what might have happened had not Mir. Wilmore 1 discovered at this moment that he couldn't stand it any longer, anyhow" and forthwith burst out into most uproarious and conta- gious fit of laughter. It was irresistible, and l first one and then another joined in from the sonorous bass of Mr. Hall to the cracked cackle of his wife (neither of them had the faintest I idea what the joke was), until such an uproar was created as never had been heard in the l "Stadt Moskau" before.
 'Jolly, pleasant fellow, old Daumen," re- | mo o6 Mr. Frod Wilmoro ehort1u