Litchfield enquirer., 1879-08-21

que in her hand, and together the forsaken trio of bachelors gloomily watched Smith hand her into the carriage, and drive away to the opera. They all resented what they felt to be shabby, underhanded behavior on his part, and had ,hey been Englishnen, they would have joined in voting him. a ,cad.' But being merely good citizens of Chicago, they content ed themselves with theren1ark that Smith was sometimes little tricky on Change, which fact really had no bearing upon the case in hand, as his present behavior was certainly straightforward and above-board. He had asked Miss Rloomer that moruing if he might have the pleasure of her company to the opera; she had readily accepted; and it had never once crossed his mind that it was duty he owed to his fellow -boarders to acquaint them with his intentions. But it was tacitly agreed that Smiths conduct was such that 1t could not be overlooked nor meekly borne. If he could whisk Miss Boomer away to the opera, why, so could tsey, and then and there each to himself vowed VOW, the carrying out of which rolled gold-or rather good greenbacks-into the coffers of that prilna donna, and into the pockets of florists and hackmen. And never before did little village maiden have such feast of opera, or accumulate bouquets and librettos at such a rate. This opera business was but the beginning of her disspations Thele were drives out to Lincoln Park; Cor don's skittish beasts flew along ''the Boule- yard with the brave little belle sitting beside their owner; an excursion was arranged off hand for herself, Mrs. Morin, and one of her admirers out to Hyde Park, when she was heard to express wish to go there and gather fringed gentians; and as for bonbons they fil- ed up to her room in a perfect procession of costly satin, gilt, and inlaid boxes. So alto. gether Hiss Boomer was having, as she wrote to friend at home, "a perfectly lovely time.'" S.. kT1oFr, ~f v4,,fr came a time when she had to cease revolving in this round of gayety One soft autumn evening. as she was driving beside MT. Strong along the lake shore, there came a Hull in the conversation, and they silently watched the full moon as it began to burnish the tranquil
 waters of Lake Michigan. The carriage rolled softly along, and the horses stepped evenly over tle damp drive, and every thing coulbn- ed to enhance the quiet of the hour. Finally Miss Boomer spoke, and there was tone of l regret m her voice which her statement scarce | ly seemed to warrant. She said '1 had letter from mamma today" IrSMr. Strong was puzzled by the woe of her
 manner but hoped her mamma was well. + ''Yes thank you, she is quite we'll but" s="Yoqr papa is not i'll, I hope? ?"
 "No, papa is very we'll too; but" ler"Yes?' IT i.'..sa n s-aG II have to go home" ..a......
 e''Go home! Oh no. Why, you've only just cone"
 Ia'Oh, MT. Strong, I've been here ten weeks
 next Saturday" a1
 'Ten weeks! It doesn't seem that many
 days"
 l only wish bad just come then I'd still have my visit to make" ......
 But why need you go home Write and ask your mother to let you stay all winter" | 'ns'.It would be of no use and what is worse, don't expect ever-to see dear, lovely Chicago again. You know Jack IS going to live in St. Louis after this" and there was the sug- gestion of sob m Miss Jessie's voice as she finished her sentence. ~" "
 MT. Strong unused, and at last said, 'That's too bad" -.,.--..,ft .... a.,.. ~.sl ,.,+. ...
 It was some time before either spoke again, and during the interval the gentleman was
 feeling sincere regret that the lively little girl
 was going away. He would probably never know another as well; indeed, he never would have known her if she had not walked right into his hoIne and, as It were. forced him to make her @sa<,ea,,aintannn a4 Never before had he asked lady to drive with him or go to the opera, and although he had found it pleasant experience he had not the faintest idea that he would ever repeat it, for, as hinted be- fore, he was bashful man, and he trembled at the thought of presenting himself before any lady through the usual avenues of society The result of all this retrospection was merely a repetition of his first avowal, that it was too bad. a# E sst '" .tt
 ''Do you mean it is too bad for you, or for me?' - ...
 ''Why, for-for me, of course" MT. Strong had really up to that instant not known which side his sympathies were on.
 H''Oh, now, MT. Strong, don't tell fibs; you kany ynIl Hnn3f y,,t th,,1 or stay; you'll forget that ever existed after am gone a month ;" and the big eyes looked a merry reproach up into his tfI .....
 You are too hard upon fellow, Miss Jes- sie-indeed you are ;'' and after Mr. Strong had commenced his protest it was easy to go on ~ ou can't guess how much we'll miss you all of f.us-and especially, you may be sure, l'U be lonely enough when you are gone"
 You are very kind to say so." 2a1
 "Kind How could fellow help missing such a-a-" (Be careful, MT. Strong Miss Jessie looks very sweet in the moonlight, as she sits waiting for you to finish your sen- tence.)
 1' 6 Such a-a-' what ?" asked saucy, mocking voice. #t F.. -.,-..t... . r.;
 Such lovable little thing as you are;" and before he realized what he was doing, he had bent down and taken kiss from the smiling lips. E. ls~i s... i,a.-.s ..
 "Oh, Mir. Strongi" drawing back. .... ...... =, " You are not angry are you, Miss Jessie Please forgive me. Indeed couldn't help it."
 'I am very, cery angry, and you could have helped it if you had wanted to-" .f-..... Perhaps could if hxd wanted to- " The young lady preserved severe and si- lent demeanor, and the culprit grew uneasy.
 You will forgive me, won't you, Miss Jes- sic? Ii we h0oe to part, let us part friends" in contrite tone.
 t No answer. What was he to say to make his peace? What would Gordon probably have said under similar circumstances .g A sob from Miss Jessie. .- 'I'm just as un- happy as can be, MT. Strong, and I'm very sorry told you was going away. I never thought It would make-make you kiss me- is This was encouraging, and her companions spirits grew lighter, and he became fluent in expressions of regret for his conduct and it's remote cause. He at last succeeded in gain-s ing forgiveness for the first, and in assuaging her grief at leaving "dear, darling Chicago; ;'' for so perfect was the reconciliation that when their dr1ve was ended, Miss Bloomer was the promised wife of Mr. Strong.
 as Now well-conducted romance ought to have gone on smoothly from this point but. instead this one sought out the toughest paths through which to wander In the1f1rst place, Mr Strong found awaiting him telegram which called him to Pennsylvania, and while lhewas away the father of Miss Boomer made an unexpected appearance in Chicago; got very home-sick, after the manner of old gen. tlemen unaccustoined to leaving home, and spirited that young person away to the farthest corner of Minnesota, only the day before her lover returned. Had she known of his near ness, she might have persuaded her father to wait twenty-four hours but I am forced to- confess with shame that my hero had never once written to his little faiacee dur ing the ten dayso of their separation. He would have done SO, and had even dated numerous sheets of paper, but after the date, was once written he was at, a loss how to continue. The address was the stumbling block if he could have settled that to his satisfaction he might have gone on, but he could not. Since Miss Jessie was not present his engagement became so vague thing that lie was only half certain that he had not dreamed it that night in the sleeping-ear, When he had started upon that eventful drive, nc idea that he would return from it her promised husband had ever crossed his mind. Then, in less than two hours after he had said 8 hurried farewell in the hall. had