Litchfield enquirer., 1879-12-25

ana general applduS6. FIG OlS SCutlCAota stepped out snlirking and jaunty, and turned up his weary eyes with the conventional re- spect for the gallery.
 III.
 For a long while l saw nothing of the old gentleman. His name vanished from the ad- veftisemientsi of the theatre, where "Faust" had been only a stop gap. The winter season passed away, and spring was passing, the season in which the fancy of the young man turns So easily love- ward But to what love ? In those days had little to do, save toobserye the tricks and oddities oflmy neighbors. l was an amateur of unconsidered gestures, a deli cate discriminator of the tendencies and twists of noses. Twas quick in the recognition of people even in crowd. For such a student there is no field so delightful as the Park. To the Park at noon in early summer, flock lazily, the fashionable, the beautiful, the eccentric. Suddenly, after month of east wind the folk of London awoke with anazement to the fact that the chimney -cowls had been turned com pletely round They rubbed their dull eyes, but could not rub out the marvel. With what creaking and grooming must those monotonous and depressing monsters that had stared all one way until mankind had forgotten that there were four quarters of the heavens-with what jerking and metallic wailing must they have accomplished that momentOus revolution under the silent and astonished stars! Morn ing saw them turn toward the northeast; a soft air blew from the southwest, lisping of Africa waiting swallows homeward, fragrant of violet banks; all colors were stralghtway deepened and softened; men forgot the sky's hard blue, infrequent amid hail storms, and looked up gratefully at a soft, deep bright heaven, where little 1eeces were a-drying after a storm. They saw, too, with newly awaken
 o1 fhoft ho hnpon phocfplttc anh thorn bushes were lightly clad in fresh raiment, and that the elms were touched with green. There is nothing more beautiful under heaven than the first green on smoke begrimed London trees when the west wind is blowing. It is
 like the singing of "Ophelia'' amid murders and murderous thoughts, or the smile of Victor Hugo for child. But these are of those way ward fancies, against which am warned by more rational persons. They belong to that idle period of my life in which was no better than fanciful observer of human quaintness, land before 1 obtained that post of inspector of infant samplers, which 1 am assured will be the making of me. But enough of myself. l was but one of those who foated westward to the park and felt the new sweet wind caress my eyes. The day was delightful, and even
 the most elevated persons seemed pleased to see each other. Very exquisitely dressed men almost smiled as they nodded. As looked up the row it seemed full of dark masses of cavalry, while hither and thither between the slow-moving, stately squadrons fitted light hoseman, or a girl on bright chestnut came bounding. All the chairs beside the way were filled. and before them crowd were moving,
 pausing, staring. They were so busy looking at each other, and holding themselves for in- spection so occupied with recurring thoughts, one of the sit of her bonnet, another on the hon of b;o foi1c. ftrl of u a celebrated parsonage or being missed by a desirable acquaintance; so eager to sec the
 last new beauty-that the sky need not have
 made haste to he softly blue, nor the trees to
 put on their new livery. Yet nature fulfilled her modest task of breathing everywhere and through all shriveled hearts bountiful peace and the stirring of vivid joy. -'~ As for me, walked on air, pleased with the gay throng and with my observation of their manners and the little lines on passing faces was on the left of the Row, and close to the ponies of the beautiful Lady Man nel, who had stopped her little carriage that she might speak to Captain Milvane. I was respectfully interested in the droop of the la dy's head, as she bent toward the gallant gen. tleman, when my eye was diverted by the movement, half -jaunty, half nervous of which have spoken. stopped, and instantly rec ognized the back of the old gentleman. The back was very tightly buttoned into smart coat, and had stiff, almost boarded appear ance, about the waist. The glossy hat above it was set a little on one side; the trousers showed a sharp line descending straight to the bright heel and eloquent of early days. ltwas well-made-up and prosperous back, a back which would increase the hopelessness of the unfortunate. As was noting it's characteris- tics, the glossy hat came off with flourish. A handsome pheton was passing quickly up the Park. instantly recognized the driver,
 who was sitting up with an expression of pro- found indifference, and allowing his beasts to travel as they would It was my neighor of the playhouse He seemed unconscious of the old gentleman's salute, but beyond him a bonnet was visible for moment; I inferred that woman has nodded. The old gentle man looked after the carnage as if he were not unwilling to advertise his connection with so irreproachable vehicle. He had replaced his hat at an angle a little more jaunty; he patted his collar, touched his cravat with his fnger-tips. and swung round to continue his his stroll. As he moved he caught sight of me. l was sure that he saw me, for the color came with suddenness most unusual in an old cheek, and there was an unnatural stiffness about the head and neck as he stared intently far away toward the Knghtsbridge Barracks. had moved toward him, but l stopped ab- ruptly. It was clear that my study of the old gentleman was to be strictly confined to that smart but unsympathetic back, rigidly artistic, but lamentably deficient in human nature. 1 was hurt. 1 crossed the Row and inserted myself into the denser crowd on the other side. had not moved far, when glancing across the green on my right saw the ph8ton as it was coming down by the serpentine. The speed had sunk almost to walk the driver coo,naI acua llv xuo1l rloacad Ap i6lo ty induced me to turn back, and reached the end of the Row before the carriage, It was clear that the placid oharioteer had no inten- tia,,- of stopping where some great ladies had pulled up their ponies by the way. He drop- ped his whip across the animals; they sprang forward, and as they sprang saw for a mo- ment the face of the lady. It was the face of the whilom Margaret" and the daughter of the old gentleman. l was tired. out of humor with the unrecognized loveliness of the day. found that one of my boots hurt me; re- stupid call which I was bound to make. l held up my stick to hanson, got myself well into a corner for fear of draughts, >after all this early summer weather is treach- erous-perhaps all weather is istreacherous; per haps all things are treacherous, andall people, and so went home. %
 For some years past the duties of that office which is to be the making of me, and which some travel, have taken up so much of my time that have made little use of my power of Dice observation. Noses have passed me unobserved.. Perhaps for that reason the images of traits noted in my idle period remain no jot less clear in my memory. Ioften con jured up the figure of the old gentleman, with nls tricks of hand, his stiff but trernulous aver sion. of the head and eyes, the conflicting lines 1f his face. Of the man I saw nothing for years. I was busy with my new duties, went put little to any club, and never to the Park at } fashionable hour, lest should be still writ n the list of the unemployed. once asked Tom Bolivar if he knew anythingof our con- non friend. Tom instantly became dendncia- ;ory, but mysterious. He exploded into hot md angry words, which quickly descended into nutterings am never sure how much Tom knows. He seems to know everything-h 'eems never to admit the possibility of incom- olete knowledge of anything and yet at times find myself doubting.if, he be anything bet er than blatant and a buffle headed fellow.