Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1880-10-28
LOIS: "A SKETCH.
CHAPTER I. Z.
Eyes so tristfal. "

SOUND In the pauSeS between, tnaL tcH OF n
coming storm. Every gust detaches fresh
| leaves from the avenue of chestnuts, that all
the Summer has formed the glorious approach
| to Auderton House. But now the ground is
thickly carpeted with their golden brown
! treasures, and beneath their overarching
| boughs PAGES, with slow steps, the figure Of a
girl. -,
| Twice, notwithstanding the chill dampness,
| the rising wind, and rapidly increasing twi-
| light, she walks up and down the avenue,
with bent head and clasped hands; then, with
long sigh, she opens the gate that leads into
| trim garden. and from thence to a wide
i stone terrace and pausing there, prepares to
| let herself In through French window intb a
cheerful, fre-lit room. They key is turned
| reluctantly, almost as if the warm interior
were not a temptation to her; and with ling
ering look behind her. she hesitated, her foot
on the threshold, as if half contemplating
another walk. and even as she stood thus, a
mans low voice fell upon her cara tall mans
Figure stood beside he. ID, ~s~
Lois" a
''You here |" she. said, with start, bring
| ing her eyes back from the far away darken-
| ing sky, and her voice trembling little as she
spoke. + l-.r .-- ~
Il have come to see you," the voice re-
piled; there is no harm in that, is there? l
saw you in the avenue, and followed you
through the garden almost Involuntary at
any rate without thinking it might be liber-
ty. But you must forgive me. as am here,
and let me in this way" u at- -e1
! In perfect silence they entered the room,
and moved into the circle of freight. and in.
its Pickering light you can see them we'll.
A young uian, and younger woman. He,
a big broad-shouldered man, dark-haired
| dark keyed, with short brown beard with
| CLEANS of gold about it, that shone in the fire.
| light she, tall, slender girl with white
face, out of which two dark-gray eyes Looked
gray eyes that at another time might have
attracted by their beauty, but to night were
only rendered remarkable by their passionate
despair. and the black rings surrounding
| them. -.. -G
! 1t was the girl who at length broke the ST.
lence. Taking off her hat with slim white
hands that trembled in the freight, and push
ing back the wavy-brown hair from low
| forehead, she turned toward her companion
questioningly, but as no answer came to the
unspoken words, she steaded her trembling
voice, and said slowly, as if it were lesson
learned by heart, "My uncle is not in.
For minute the man made no reply He
was standing with his back to the fireplace,
| watching her with an intentness that might
| have made her nervous; but there are mo
ments when all the little things that at another
| time might abash us are forgotten, or over
looked in the immensely of the present mo-
nent. Sc it seemed was the case now. Un-
der those searching eyes, those of Lois did
| not fall her c1asped hanus no longer temb-
| led; she stood quite still indeed, but as if un-
der the power of a meslnerist. $50 the up
shot of it all is. that you are going to marry
| Sydney Dering?" That was how he broke
the silence at length. At his words, thought
and life seemed to return to the gray eyes, and
= I1r lofor tod III; FOO
dream. She lifted her hand-a hand on which
| flashed and sparkled in the fireglow great
damond-and pushed the HAIR off her fore
head. t..- &c.,.
Eyes" she made answer then, in low,
very clear voice; Ito morrow is my wedding
| day" r-....-..
There might have been interpreted tinge
Of warning or of ropreof in thetones of her
voice. g .
''Why?" - 7'f
She hesitated a moment, and then, with
sudden passion, that was sad 10 hear in SO
younga voice. ''Do you forget that when
last" And then changing her senteHce-
that you promised you would never come
| back % - = -.g.,..s-
81 remember. and admit that 1 have
broken my promise Scold as much as you
| like, do what you like, but" with sudden
| break in his voice. ''for heavens sake, don't
LOOK az ME ike that :. FL y - -,.
ri am sorry" she said, gently but whether
| the apology was for her looks of her words, it
were difficult to say. II would like you to
60, Mr.. MoretonI am tired very tired. And
Il am happier alone" - f.
Frank, at any rate; but | am not going
yet. Hitherto you have had it all your way,
but it shall be no longer SO; now you must
listen to me. ! have tried to live without you
Il cannot SO have come to take you away
On my honor, as she would have interrupted
him, Il would have tried to bear it, l would
have left it all alone, if you had been happy,
but you are not Why, good heavens!" with
known you if had met you 10 the street All
child what did you do it for?" -' F.. g..
''It was right then il is more than ever
right now" she replied, in a low voice that
struggled to appear calm. ''She loved you,
and you were engaged to her, and be-
sides" ..a,t 5n5 -s-...
"They told you about the money, did they?
And how l should have nothing if / married
you, and riches with her. Oh, I've no doubt
you heard all the particulars before you made
up your mind No man living is worth pov.
erty to woman. Well, you have got what
you wanted then-Dering is rich enough in all
conscience, and" +t az -'.-5 7es=
He paused but whether from lack of words
or in compunction at the agonized face raised
to bis, it would be hard to say. r- s-:af ,.s
'tAh, don't-don't" she cried, clasping her
hands together, ''if you do not in truth wish
to drive me mad Have some pity on me.
Everything and everybody is cruel and hare ;;
and the right has grown so'dim that scarcely
can tell it from the wrong, s'Telfnfe," stretch
ing out two. slender hal DIS, ''what am to
do 2" s1a III =; a.,vo. l-rfstz. So y sHF i
ITO ?" he repeated moving step nearer.
arc tn mo n w nan.t n
you understand? / have friends with whom i
you can stay tonight and tomorrow, before
the world shall have discovered your absence.
you will have become my wife, 10 s1T
She looked up half bewildered, as if scarce
ly comprehending his words. And then, as
if to break the silence, and so remove the
spell NO. mn" she said, hastily, moving
back step as she spoke; mo. no; not that
that is all over, You must not tempt melt
is not kind. Only you must never say those
cruel things again. can bear all the rest.
Have not been learning to bear il these three
monthsf You must have pity now"
She spoke so low that Robert Moreton had
to lean down to hear what she was saying 1
Even his doubts were hushed to rest looking
at the white, hollow cheeks, and dark-rimmed
eyes. a. Sc ssTas 50 ,sasse>1 ia
II cannot Co." pacing up and down the
room sit is useless to tell me to do so. You
love met is unnecessary for you to denyiti
and love you-how much you will never
guess or know" T7 ~ ht &
At his words a slight tiage of color passed
over her cheeks saw teaasa3.ss fB q.
Hush, please, she interposed, pleading
ly. I'D - =
sit is madness, therefore, for us to part
he went on, unheeding her Interruption
Come" - =
He paused in his walk, and held out his
arms as he spoke. aza gSi>} ~
mo, mo-" she cried, shrinking away;
''your words are an insult-to her-and to
me !"a~a - S~-A~~ 4
II think, Lois, be cried, ayou are the cold
est, cruelest womanI ever metl Lowell Why,
the very meaning of the word is incompre-,r
hensible to you. Marry whom you will. an
angry flush dyeing his cheeks; cit is nothing
to me-" And then, with sudden change of