Litchfield enquirer., 1879-04-10
WHOLE NO. 2757
CHAPTER III.

7. Mansfield showed no disposition to leave. Thansk giving was comfortably over, and Bet sey could alternately gossip with and scold PEuaenee over the kitchen fire. The Deacon had made up his mind to let things take their course.. Betsey kept Mrs, Norton's image be- fore Mary all she could, till the poor girl said, ssWhas do I care for Mrs. Norton? will not shelf change 1t soon, I guess" Mary left the room, and Betsey sighed heavily. "He's got her fast enough Wish Widder Norton was in Heaven long side of her husband, if he's thar"
 After New Year Mansfield told Mary he was going away soon and would probably sail for Europe to be gone more than year. She did not move or speak, but she felt he must hear her heart beat. He did notice how she droOp- ed even in her high backed chair, and moved his closer. Mot sorry tO have me go, Marry" She raised her heard, brushing her curls over her eyes to hide her tears. "Yes, lam sorry you have done much for me this winter"
 ''I shall miss you, Mary, more than you will me-"
 ''You have society to go to have no sne'' with a little gasp. ... Society Pve had enough of that" | ''But you must go into it when you are with your mother and sister,"
 s'Yes, to a certain extent. But I have al- ways craved something it could not give" He tried to see her face but those perverSe curls concealed it. He gently brushed them away. She flushed angrily. | ''Mrs. Norton, hope will more than sat- isfy you"
 s'Who told you that ?"
 "Only your sister,"
 "Who put her into Carolines head ?" ''Yeurself, probably"
 s'I would not marry Mrs. Norton if she would me and will never ask her. She links me to the past and I like her as Mrs. Norton, but | not as my wife l have fancied sometimes that 1 could be happy again with woman of simple tastes, who served her God, and who would love me love me always" His voice thrilled as the memory of his wrong swept over him. Mary's heart gave such bound she scarcely breathed. twill you let me try | with you-if you can love me ?" he asked, turning her face 80 that she must look at him.
 ''If can love you, George? I love you now"
 Sure it is not pity instead of love?" l T love you and will be true to you to my life's end'-letting him gently kiss her. She knew that he would never love her as she did l him. His passionate dream was over, but she knew she could make him happy, and by and by she would so grow into his life he would | Long they sat over the red embers he telling of the Old World to which he would soon take 1 her. Then he leaned ever Mir. Dawson's chair on the kitchen hearth and told him of the con- pact. Betsey heard him as she did everybody, dropped her knitting, Bible and spectacles as she started up saying, ''Now you hev done it., and bursG into loud weeping-uerhaps the first in her life. Prudence's shaky nerves were so much affected sine fell into the Deacon's arms. This tableau brought Bersey to hereslf, and she rushed at Prudence, pulling her away by main force You trollop! don't you see Deacon wants ter go to Mary and kept away on purpose; me that held her in my arms first of any one in the world?"
 'Its techin' ter think of sich things, but see- in hearts a-throbbn' in unison is movn."
 ''Yes, it is so you jist let Mir. Dawson git by you"
 Prudence dropped upon the old chintz lounge, burying her head under the pillows, till Betsey made a dive at her. Prudence 'Smith eff you don't stop that whimperin' you'll hev hysterikes, and eff you d. rn give you more picry than did when you went off last time" This threat steaded Prudence whosat up but caught her breath spasmodically enough to keep Betsey glaring at her through her own moist eyes
 So the Deacon's guest married his daughter, and Aunt Betsey remained queen regnant of | the Dawson farmhouse.