Litchfield enquirer., 1880-04-01
a From Harpers Monthlyl lids MIR. WITHERTON'S ROMANCE.

1 m0. w II uGhAON D hOmdNOG.
 What pretty, very pretty girl she seemed,
 as l looked at her, seated in front of me, over
 on the right side of the car, with her face turn 1 ed at an angle which gave me the contour of i her delicate oval chin and regular brow How i clear and pure her temples were, and how very
 neatly the hair grew back from them 1 A long time did watch her, that very cold
 day near Christmas, when we travelled the
 whole way on the same read, and found so
 much to attract ill the changes of her face that noticed nothing else without or within. She
 was alone, and appeared to be keeping sl arp i lookout upon her fellow travellers more from l tiniidty, think, than from any curiosity as 1 regarded them. Every man who rose to go to l the end of the car to get drink of water. or
 to leave 1t for the pleasure of "a little smoke, or to lounge up to the stove from pure restless ness, immediately influenced her expression of countenance. At the first movement he would
 make she would start, look apprehensive as he rose, alarmed as he advanced toward her seat, l terrified as he came close, and relieved in pro-
 portion as he heightened the distance between l them. 1 noticed as time passed on, with in- | creasing interest," every new alarm, and the 1 expression each elicited depicted upon her 1 speaking countenance, and was almost lost in
 conjecture as to where could be her destina- tlon, what her position in life, and antecedents when was suddenly startled by my wife's 1 voice at my side, saying l Theodore, what in the world do you see l in that girls face, that you have been watch tug her so intently for the last honr 2" ,zs My dear," answered, ''she is very pretty
 She reminds me most forcibly of you when 1 hrst met you uat-a-a-NcWport." a'G a Il never went to Newport until had been almost ten years married," said Mrs. Wither- | ton. (My name is Theodore Witherton.
 s'Well, said, Il mean at that time" ''" 'Ihen why did you not Say ten years after our marriage? don't think that people can be too particular in their statements" said
 Mrs. w. "lf every one observe thls rule, fewer quarres would occur in families and society also, and less mischief be made"
 Yes my dear; was only thinking at the moment of the likeness
 ''Likeness?" she said, sharply. "What like ness could any one possibly see between dark girl with brown hair and eyes, and the long thin face that she has, and round fair one, with blue eyes and light hair like mine at least" in answer to my glance, Like what mine aoas. However, if you are amused or in- terested in what you have been gazing at, am quite satisfied"
 She was so we'll satisfied that she turn ed squarely round, with her face to the win dow, and four blocks of black and red plaid shawl alone given me for prospect for my wife was of comfortable dimensions. and quite filled up three quarters of the seat we mutu- ally occupied, and the whole of the window besides.
 Mrs. Witherton had married me many years ago. through the suggestions of mutual friends and to the great qualification of my parents. There had been so much difficulty in finding anything in the way of business that could manage, that the effort at last had to be abandoned. l think that, as is often the case in large families, my capacity has been under ated Untll 1 married Mrs. Witherton had been under my mothers care, and then my wife had assumed the charge of me, and we have been as happy, think, as people gener- ally are. Mrs. Witherton was not handsome, but my mother said that beauty was great snare and she was, perhaps, not very clever, but preferred her not being so for many req sons that l would rather not tell. She had nice little fortune she had inherited, and when my mother told me in our days of courtship to express certain correct views to her touching marriage settlements, she had interrupted me quickly with a beautiful sentiment Do Yon think Theodore. that should be afraid to trust my money to man to whom am not afraid to trust myself ?" Mother told me not to say anything more on the subject, and we found after the marriage that everything had been tied up as tightly as law could tie it. am compelled to tell you this, to make you understand my story. Mrs. Witherton, though, always paid my bills, when she thought them reasoable, and also allowed me some pocket money; and 1t was natural that should be deierentiai to her, for she was great deal older than was. 4n g .a..
 Now 1 had often heard the men around me talk of romances and adventures, and all that sort of thing, and though envied them still I knew that was married, and therefore never could have any such experience; but those recitals were of intense interest to me, and as long as they would recount them, I would listen, until there happened to me the advent ure that am going to tell you. Since that day have thought that have more in me than people imag inc. But to go on with my story.
 We were due at New York at eight o'clock that night, and the short winter day closed in earlier than usual as we sped on, breasting the most terrible snow-storm ever encountered. was afraid to look again at that solitary girl but when, picking up my wife's huff, took advantage of my position to steal glance at her, saw that her face was pressed closely againgt the window-pane and that she had tinidly stopped the conductor and asked some question, which, on being answered, seemed to alarm her still further, for she covered down deeper in the seat. l wanted to follow him out to question him, but dared not leaye Mrs. w. on the plea of small smoke, for she never allowed smoking when traveiing-in- deed, very seldom at any other time; but af- ter some cogitation lmuttered something con- corning her trunk strap having been loosened by the porters. Mrs. w. is very strong mind ed on most points. but she never could attait therefore peculiarly alive to their deln- quencies. saf
 ''Go, Theodore" she instantly said ''and see about my trunk. My opinion is that those porters throw the trunks deliberately about, in the hope that some of them will break and so give them chance of pillage."
 l rose quickly, and sought neither baggage master nor trunk, but the conductor, and had short conversation with him.
 "That young lady who is travelling alone seems very nervous and timid," remarked, as politely as could, for conductors are sometimes of contrary temperament II feel quite anxious about her."
 ''Oh, those kind get on very well, he an. swered, carelessly. ''They have a way of looking that will soon induce any soft disen- gagged chap to take care of them, and no harm done, either"
 But she is entirely alone ?' -.'
 ''Ies, 1 believe so. Lots of them run all around the country at this season on their own hook. Tell you, sir, the American female is some' ....... ...'
 crushed my disgust at the fellows vulgar slang. i- H~ ter .h'"
 Do you know to where she is bound? Is her ticket farther than New York ?"
 He eyed me very unpleasantly
 ''1ou just let that girl alone" he said. tssWhat have you to do with her? You look as if you could hardly take care of yourself"
 My wife is with me, sad, with dignity; "and thought that if the young lady was alone and in need of protection we could offer it to her when we arrived at New York"
 ''All right, sir," he sald more cvilly. Il guess she will need some one to see after her, for she is bound for Baldon, in Maine, and we shall miss the connection tonight. There's an awful storm blowing
 went back to my wife, with many useless