Litchfield enquirer., 1879-09-25

would have died natural death. With less Quickness of perception, it would have never occurred to her to be jealous of so distant 8 rival with more, she would have realized that Idalia was but a shadow on his imagination that she could have effaced by pouring upon him love that was all sunshine. But when she established grievance, her good sense failed her; and grievance in woman IS about as attractive to a man as scarecrow in d field to flying bird. She talked "Idalia" with ''damnable iteration" She made MT. Balingall tell over and over again the incidents of his meeting with the poor girl. She re- peated the story to all of her intimate friends, and to many who were not intimate. She turned it into ridicule, and being clever with her pencil, drew an absurd caricature of the scene under the street lamp in which it's hero inc was represented as tall and gaunt, drag ging two young men after her, while tears the size of billiard balls tumbled from her eyes on their heads. To be frank, Miss Fanny re- vealed herself as a vulgar little soul ; and MT. Balingall had to shut his teeth tight together to keep the very silence that iFritated her so
 much.
 ''I have thought of something for you to
 lo," said her con6dante, one day, with de- lightful vivacity.
 Fanny was in a dejected mood, and looked only listless interest.
 ''It is sure way for you to find out if he really cares anything for Idalia," proceeded her friend, triumphantly.
 "What how IS it possible ?"
 "You say that he still has the scarf-pin that she dropped in the carriage?"
 "Yes,' said Fanny, with a shrug ''he keeps the tarnished old thing done up in cot ton wool as carefully as if it were black pearl or baby"
 s'Now listen you are going to the fancy ball for the benefit of the yellow fever suffer- CTS ?"
 ''You know that am," said Fanny, ''and that am to dress as a vivandiere."
 "Wel borrow Idalia's scarf-pin to wear in your cap.'
 Miss Vancourt started.
 "Don't you see," cried her friend, ''that if he gives it to you readily, it will prove that he doesn't attach much importance to the whole affair. Once in your possession, you might easily manage to lose it."
 "And what good would that do ?" ''Oh, it would snap link, as It were. As
 long as he has the scarf-pin he will think of | the girl who wore it. And it may be in his
 mlnd that he ought to look her up to return it. Fancy him running over the South tracing her by that pretty name of hers, as Becket's sweet heart did, you know, speaking only two En- gish words, Gilbert and London Really
 
 Fanny, and the sweetest thing in the whole
 world, and MT. Balingall did not know so well on which side his bread was buttered, 1 do not see how he could resist the romance of the
 thing"
 If Miss Fanny had been man she would
 have slapped her dear friend in the face. As it was she colord high with resentment, and
 said, ''Very well if he prefers the romance ot
 the thing, as you call it, to Fanny Vancourt, ls olDo o1l
 may bring him."
 ssKeep up that spirit, my dear," said her | friend soothingly, land you will bring him l to terms. You must make him let you have | the pin"
 Fanny lost not much time in following the advice that had been given her, and, as she
 had more than half expected her request met
 with decided refusal from Mir. Balingall ':I will get you any ornament you like for | your cap, my dear" he said; ''but can not have no right-to give you that scarf-pin." ''Have you any right to keep it yourself p "All in the world, until 1 shall restore it tG some member of her family" "Why do you not say to her?" cried Fan | ny, whose mind ln some directions was as acute as a fox's nose. "Have you heard any | thing from her?"
 "Yes. I heard that she had died of the | fever"
 "Died Poor girl l!" and Fanny was sober ed and shocked for moment. But soon her jealous suspicion was again aroused ''Why did you not tell me sooner, George? You know how interested l have been. How strange to keep It from me !"
 ''I've only known it myself for a little
 while. Now do let the subject drop, Fanny"
 "Well, will, since it IS too sacred to be talked about, if you will only let me have the pin. I won't wear it to the ball, of course,
 But just let me keep it for you. I'm sure it will be a great deal safer in my jewel-boX than in knocking about among your things"
 He moved his head as if gnat were buz- zing about his ears, and began to talk of some | thing else. Fanny brought him back to the | subject with an expression of irritation. To follow lovers quarrel when it is not
 meant that the lovers should "kiss again with tears," is reckless waste ,of narration. The end of it all was that when Mir. Balingall left Miss Vancourt, he had sort of feeling that | the world had tumbled about his ears, and he rather liked the sensation. In his hand he | held the engagement ring that he had fitted to | Miss Fanny's finger some months before. l Idalia from her grave had parted them. One never knows what to do just after a | great crisis in life. Mr. Balingall found him. 1 self thrown into confusion in more ways than one. Dr. Vancourt's dismissal of the young
 man had followed his daughters, and a seas )r l of involuntary idleness more clearly than any
 thing else marked the change in his affairs. l He could not even apply himself to study with
 the old vigor, and the hours hung as heavy on | his hands as if fate had thrust them there as | forfeits that no one would redeem. At this juncture he met one day an olC | friend of his, who owned and commanded
 steamer that piled between Cincinnati anC | New Orleans. Captain Masterson, who was
 man extremely hospltable, and fond of having people about him, had often urged him t( make the river trip on the L0dy Gay to New | Orleans and back. It had, in fact, become a
 matter of habit for the captain to press the in vitation on his friend.
 You had better come with us this trip, | Balingall," he said. ''Tbe L0dy Gag is in 1 tip-top order-frst trip of the season, you 1 know. You'll enjoy New Orleans. It's a | city you can do in three days-just the time we stop. There's nothing much to see but the
 lake and the jolly old houses It will do you
 good. You're little off your color, can tell | you-look as if you've been going through the I mill. Haven't killed any of your patients. have you, experimenting on them? I know | you doctors. You've lost flesh too. If you could sit on stump and catch shrimps for a | week, it would make new man of you. | Come with us, won't your" The invitation was opportune. It chimed
 with MT. Balingalls vagrant humor. He felt | the need ot something vivid and distinct dur ing this pale interlude in his life, and without
 making any words he gave the captain his hand and an acceptance.
 It was snowy and cold day when the LGdy 1 Gay left Cincinnati, but soon warm airs blow | ing from the Gulf met them with soft well
 come. It grew pleasant enough to sit all day
 on deck, watching with constant interest the
 woods changing from scarlet and gold to green
 the lazy, negroes fishihing sleepiy, the low
 swamp lands with their clotted growth and
 serpent winding vines, the plantations and
 their tributary fields. The boat moved slowly
 through the thick waters of the Mississippi
 It seemed to drift rather than to be propelled,
 and each turn of her wheel was like great
 sobbing breath. Stoppages were frequent at
 the plantation landings and small towns along
 the river, and it was one such chance as this
 that brought to climax the revolution in the