Litchfield enquirer., 1878-03-07
WHOLE NO. 27Ot

white muslin, and some elderly ones, attired in somewhat worn-out fnery, completed the cir cle in which, needless to say, there was not Russian uniform to be seen. .s
 While tea and sweetmeats were being hand ed round, Paulina, who was an active hostess, organized the card tables, where the old noble men sat down to play whist ct two kopecks the point Casimir had not yet come, but as the clock struck nine, the major -dOmo opened the door and announced Count Barinski."
 lAl eyes converged towards the threshold, and by 8 common movement of sympathy and respect every one of the guests, men and wo- men, stood up. Like my old servant Elizabeth, they were disposed to look upon the young ex- ile as returned from the grave. IrreproachAble dressed, and looking quite the well-bred noble man that he was, Casimir advanced to greet our hostess, but she with an impulse which would have been charming in any other per son, put her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him on both cheeks. Many of the other wo- men did the same, and so did the men. As for the young ladies, hearing that Casimir was only thirty-three, though his hair and beard were grey, they began to cry, and peeped at him out of the corners of their eyes, while dry ing them with their handkerchief.
 ai l. forget whether Panlina cried or not if my memory serves me, she was all of flush, and led Casimir to sofa, where she sat down beside him;s while the rest of the company clustered around to hear the sound0f his voice At all events everybody was so enwrapped in the hero that no attention was. paid to my do- ings, and this suited me very we'll for com menced proving about the rooms to seek for the countess's copy of the ''Snowfakes."
 found it at last behind bookshelf in her boudoir, where it had evidently been thrust out of sight. This boudoir was wondrous chamber, furnished with yellow satin and it had fireplace after the French fashion, with pine-llogs burning i-si s0 sat down oy the the pages of the volume. '' . VI '..
 The first poem on which my ey&alikeWaskhis little ode, which have translated into prose
 fs ,i .,ai .y-~.,o To ,P,AULINA, y, si., ,- . The snowfakes, fall and, cloak the ground Winter than the feathers of the holy dove Winter than bridal veil or virginas shroud But not whiter than thy snowy breast Paulina! .dl r LEI. .;.: al '.5iI ro.
 Soft they fall over land and sea-Their touch could not wake a sleeping child-Softer than the balm of Mays mild breeze-But not more soft than thy kiss-Paulina!
 Cold is the earth where the snowfakes fall Cold as the hand that rests in death-Colder than marble which hides the grave-But not more cold than thy heart-Paulina
 It is not possible to render in any other tongue-not even in our Polish-the dreamy beauty of these verses written in the Lthuan- an dialect. There were many others like them addressed to the countess, and from what could conjecture, they must have been indited before Casimir went into exile,' whilst he was completely under the thraldom of his danger ouS charmer, and he must have kept them in his collection after his love had grown cold merely from the vanity usual to young poets However, as l cOnned over one amOrous sonnet after another was at no loss to account for the reason which must have impeled Paulina to sue for Casimirs pardon: beyond doubt she was in love with him. She was a widow, and nearing the age when the adoration of men was likely to cease, but she had yet several years of beauty before her, and what more likely than that, finding Gas she must have supposed) the heart of the noble young exile still faithful to her, gratifed self-love, mixed with remorse may have induced her to dream of devoting the remainder of her life to one whom she had so fearfully wronged? Paulina Marienha was quite capable of forming plan of this sort, for in her. good was curiously wrought up with evil, as in the ciay-fOoted beast of the apocalyptical vision. l sat so long by the fire in the boudoir, reading the pretty poems, that midnight struck before Twas aware
  ears to hearken, it seemed to me that all the company had gone. However, two persons were still conversing inthe adjoining room, and upon my walking to the door, which was clos ed by silk hanging, l saw through the lace work of the fringe Paulina and Casimir wish ing each other goodnight,
 They were alone. Her face was tinted with a bright glow and her eyes glistened. Cas- mir maintained the deeply respectful attitude oFn n AoI; boi ;,l of saint upon earth.
 ''Good-night, Casimir Barinski," said the countess, in voice soft as music, though il quavered slightly. "Mind you must come of- ten to see me, for 1 wish to hear you relate all your sorrowful adventures"
 Dear lady, those sorrows are half forgotten now that you shed such akindly compassion on them"
 '1 have constantly thought about you," she said. "And may hope that you did not quite forget me, judgingb by the verses in your charm ing book of poems ??
 ''You have read those verses, then ?' he re- joined, with little surprise. Dear lady. my poems conveyed homage scarcely worthy of your acceptance. It remains for me to offer with my lips the expressions of worship which your grace, beauty, and virtues call for"
 ''I like the homage in the book very welr' she remarked, with quiet archness. Good night again you have come back upon me like a vision of my youth"
 'You have made me feel that it was but yesterday last saw you," he replied, and with an exquisite gallantry that was not of love, but of simple worldly courtesy, he stopped to kiss the hand she extended, then made a low bow and retired.
 For few minutes after he was gone Paulina stood motionless, pensively gazing after him; then she gided to the window and lifted the curtain, apparently to see him once more as he crossed the square outside. When he was out of view she dropped the curtain, thrilled from head to foot, and walked off with slow step to her private apartments without coming into the boudoir where was ensconced.
 Glad at not having been detected spying, hastened down stairs and left the house, just as the porter, who thought that all guests were gone; was barring the door; but in my hurry left the volume of Casimirs 'snowflakes' open on the boudoir table, and the shagreen case of my spectacles inside it.
 CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.