Litchfield enquirer., 1879-04-10

found haS pretty JeSsaca goue, but Qua6tlg foli4 ed up shis pictures and propitiAted Annk Retsey by begging her to clean his coat ia the morn ing.
 zH cfArRsR Ill., D d,1a, edT
 Mr Dawson tossed his mind and the bed clothes nearly all night, revolving whether he sfonid aSK MaAsElelEi in the muEning about his engagement, and remind him of Mary s youth and inexperience. Like most New England CTS of his type unto this day, he was hospita- ble, and while not averse to learning all about the business both public and private, of any guest, disliked to put direct questions. Be- sides it would fatter the fellow to suggest to him that his daughter could fall in love with him. He knew how trying Betseys sniffs were to himself when she thought she scented a new applicant for her thirds" as she terse- ly put it. He hated scenes, and it might make Mansfield angry. He wisely kept away from Betsey till she was safely seated behind the old pewter coffee pot at breakfast next morning. He knew that Mary had not seen through his maneuvre of the previous evening, and only re- gretted loosing her pleasant talk. Mansfield always breakfasted in his room, and when Betsey carried in his little tray she fidgeted more than usual. Finally she called his atten- tion to rip in his silk dressing gown. ''Guess when you git your wife she'll mend your clothes, as she's had experience with t'other one." Mansfield stared in utter amazement, and then laughed heartily as she added, ''Wid- der Norton, 1 mean" "Confeund Caroline she must have written that stuff. Mrs. Nor ton will no doubt get my things mended when ask her, he said, still laughing. Betsey looked hard at him, taking up the coat which had suffered the night before.
 ''S'pose you'll hev no dips then, or mebbe you'll set further off from Mis- Mansfield" /" He saw right into the kind creature's heart and knew that she was probing on Marys account, but he could not forbear smiling as he answered, II will be mere careful then"
 Good thing!'
 Mary waited for him every morning to go with her when she fed the poultry. He al- ways carried her corn basket, insisted that he could dispense the grain more egnitably, and many scuffie they had as she begged for a larger share for lame Dick or sick Betty. She often thought of her dream, and though Mansfield didn't wear his dress coat or yellow gloves, his bearing in the barnyard seemed as incongruous. ''How tiresome this work will be when he is gone, she thought, at the same time representing herself for speculating so much about Mrs. Norton. Is she nice enough for him who looked just then in his Russian cap handsome enough to marry a Roman off
 One sunny afternoon they walked further than usual, and Mansfield looked so pale that Mary urged him to rest in a warm nook be- hind the great rock by the brook which spark led and danced as only Yankee brook can Tn November, knowing what is before it. Mansfield grew paler and paler. II must tell you something, Mary. Pve put it off too long, and when you pity my loneliness you uncon- sclously allude to my wife"-speaking the words with great effort. This was the first time he had referred to her. Mary's heart beat fast. of it tires you, wait until you are stren- ger." No, will not allow you to think any longer that am grieving for my loss as most men might grieve." She turned her surprised eyes upon him, but did not speak. ''You know little about me, Mary, so will tell you something. My father died young, and came into his property before knew how to value or care for it. I did not waste it in riot ous living, but wanted everything about me to comport with my ideas of the beautiful and bought lavishly. After travelling a great deal, met, in Florence, Isabel Soyes She was of French descent but had been born and brought up in New York, where we had many mutual friends. She was the most beautiful and cultivated woman l ever saw, and to re- call how she made everything in that beautiful city more beautiful to me is needless. We "OiS Vos3SehSl SOhoO"h0IJ3 ohA !, o man of the world, fell madly in love with her. Others were striving to win her, and an En- glish Baronet was my most powerful rival. Isabel promised when she got home, if her mother consented(she was travelling with her father) that she would marry me but she still received attentions from the handsome English man. l remonstrated and we had bitter quar- rels, but loved her too much to risk losing her, and she always got the best of me. We came home together, and I never see dancing water(pointing to the brook) even that epitome of the ocean, but it makes me shiver as l re- call the hours we sat by the ships side looking into the waves, conjuring up future for our selves as bright as the sunlight playing over them, or soft and dreamy as the moonbeams cresting them with silver. 1 never thought then that the storm which nearly wrecked us as we neared home was forerunner of the one which soon passed over me. It lessens my an- guish now to feel that Isabel loved me then. How she clung to me in that fearful tempest" !" He started up, pulling his cap over his eyes, and Mary could only see the working of his white lips. 'Yes, she loved me then, and she threw over Sir Henry Markham for me, arich- CT man and of higher social position. We were married, and was the happiest of mor- tals, though had no home life for which pined. Isabel lived only for society. l was sated with it, and wanted to stay with her as in our own house, among the beautiful things 1 had collected abroad, but she was restless. and we took turns at all the southern cities. New Orleans was her favorite, and where she reigned queen We had been there only few weeks, the second year of our marriage, when servant brought me card bearing Sir Henry Markham's name. Before l could re- cover myself l saw the Baronet's elegant fig ure reflected in the mirror as he with his most nonchalant air, lounged towards me, congratu- lating me on my pleasant quarters. Not quite Florence, but charming; and where was Mrs. Mansfield? 1 lamentably failed in my well come, and looked around for Isabel but she was not there. She had been more restless and fitful than usual that evening. I will send for her, l said, ringing the bell for servant to summon her. Isabel came in with her face rigid and white. rose to lead her to the sofa, but Sir Henry foresralled me, eagerly pouring out his joy at seeing her again. Whether she expected him or not never knew, and itmat. ters little now. You are tired, Mary, of this rock and my story"
 ''Oh, no; go on, she said, quiverin with excitement.
 Cannot you help me with the rest Think what happened, and spare me telling it." The color rushed over her face as she whispered, ''She didn't love him ?"
 ''Yes, and i'll two weeks left me for him." ....
 s'Left you for any one else ?" He looked down at the wraught-up, innocent face beside him and her unconscious flattery touched him. ''Yes, little cousin, she did"
 'And where did she-when did you hear the rest?'
 "They stayed too late in New Orleans, and four months after she left me she was dead" His frame sheok with suppressed sobs. Mary wept unrestrainedly, not fer the guilty woman, but for the anguish she had caused. ''The shame, the horror of it comes back now" he said, covering his face. But death was more merciful to her than man. He-Markham- >grinding his heel into the gravel would have deserted her. '' You have forgiven her, George?" He hesitated ''Yes, 1 think so, now At first l was almost maniac, but for a friend who stayed by me till could get to my mothers home should have done some thing desperate. Let us go back now. Your father will worry about you" Mary saw that his lips were set with the determination to .ake up their every day life again. II will tell your father about this sometime. Please hold t sacred now'
 "Yes, but I am sorry for you." He put her ,l1S