Litchfield enquirer., 1880-09-16

given to talk nonsense, and there is q look in
! the quiet face which is not often seen. For
years he has loved Cicely Norreys, and just
now the happy surprise of seeing her has
thrown him off his guard.
You were a little quiet and dull when you
left us; but now, whether it is due to the
| summer sunshine or something deeper, you
are the embodiment of happiness, =" he goes on,
letting his eyes rest gladly on her fair face. r.
II mean to be happy at any cost, she says
quickly seMr.. Percival, I mean to do all
can to gather every reese which comes in my
way There's a1sconfession foryoul j am
twenty one and, if, nothing dreadful carries
me off from my loving Kindred. may live to
be seventy -one, for 1--WE the appetite of a
horse, and nothing hurts mel To make up
fsr-for a7mistake / made once, III am giving
myself up entirely TO find happiness "tgd -i,5'
He is panied at her bitter tone, and great
longing comes over his faithful heart. ! az
1'sYeu are very young, my child, TO be seek
ing happiness; it is, generally natural to girls
Of your age. Will, you tell me what your
mistake was? Perhaps may help you to set
it right -g'f' DIV eraT2"'4-'& NH, - ' ''''
She shakes her head ysLj $50 1oi'a1yup
81 ought not, to have said, anything sosfool-
| ish, Mr.. Percival; but somehow to you lam
the real Cicely Norreys, while often to others
Pm afraid FIN somebody else"
He cannot help saying the words which
have so often trembled on his lips -tao.
dearest, will you let me try to make your
happiness :? love you more dearly than
can ever make you understand. Will you be
my wife, ,Cicely p rs a.. ST
There is silence. In the next field they can
hear the monotonous whirring of moving
machine at work the scent of the fragrant
hay is waited toward them there is q gentle
whispering breeze in the leafy boughs over
head. Why should she think of that other
day, when the sky was thick with snow
clouds-the day when she said good bye to the
man whose image had blotted out all other
hopes? He had been weighed in the balance
and found wanting; and here is good man
and true, in whose care she would regain her
faith in goodness, who would help her to find
something higher in life than pleasure and ex-
element. He loved her. and the poor bruised
heart ionged to rest once more in tenderness,
for she said to herself, ale is not a very
young man, and he. will be like kind elder
brother to me. He won't want to- make love
at all and | think we should manage"
John Percival waits for his answer Calm
and quiet he looks, in spite of the passionate
hope that is surging within him. In few
minutes Cicely turns to him. INF -, ..
81 am not good enough to marry you, Mr..
Percival," she says, looking wistfully into his
face II am quite sure you will be disap-
pointed in me; but will you try to make me
as wise as you are?' ... .-... ..a......
He takes her two little hands and carries
them to his lips.
''Heaven grant this days decision may be a
good one for you, my darling! For me this
is a happier moment than | have ever
knows"
Cicely cannot tell him of the past now; she
will xuh cho Hn0 inn
better She will never for one moment dwell
On her short-lived happiness and quickly fol
lowing misery: and in her busy life as q cler-
gyman's wife surely there will be no place for
idle regrets9 i' .'.'" ''. 800.
''Soup wanted for three more cottages? I
declare John, you would make me into soup
If it were possible !" says Mrs. Percival, look
ing delightfully."- important.
''Not quite little woman. How should
go on without you ?"
''As you did before you took me in hand at
all. John, 1t is three months to-day since we
were married"
eyes, my DEAR Are you going to propose
a celebration la John Gllpin?"
"No; but We'll 60 across and have chat
with mamma; and then we'll have quiet
evening at home. You sha'n't touch pen;
but you shall listen while talk to you"
''Any complaints to make, darling There's
ferocious expression in your eyes which
looks like danger signal" laughs MI Per-
cival, looking proudly at the winsome face Of
his wife.
mo; all the complaints ought to come from
you, she says, with sudden gravity. She
has resolved to tell him of her one little ro-
nance tonight for he is so good and tender
to her that she cannot any longer keep it to
herself. More than she can say she admires
and respects her husband. She feels that she
has drifted into very harbor of rest; here at
least, if there is no longer passionate joy,
there is peace, and that is very sweet to
her. ,ut.hs . .' ~
So, after dinner, they 60 into the library,
where there is no lamp, only bright flicker
of freight
''The idea of your even glancing at that
writing table after my tempting program!"
and Cicely slips her hand under Mr.. Percival's
arm and settles him in his big leather chair,
while she deposits herself on a footstool
near. sea. ~ --.e f-' -''
sis this cosey? Does your wife understand
your. comforts9'' ...-.,. ...sy #, 1872
'Too we'll by half. She is spelling me-"
Cicely rests her head against the arm of the
big chair, and gazes into the red embers. 1t
is not easy to begin raking among the ashes OF
the past ...6 ,.t r... ts.u
'sDo you remember one day last June ?"
she says presently. " ID.
'sDoes one ever forget day of days? I'm
not demonstrative man, as you know, but
tell you, my child, you have brought such
happiness into my sober life that tremble at
it sometime fear it is all too good to last. "
He pauses, and lays gentle hand on her fair
head, ''Cicely, you are dearer to me that the
whole world; you are the very core, of my
heart" His deep voice trembles little with
strong feeling. '''" ''
5t'Oh john I'm not worth caring for so
much.''' cries Cicely, ina spasn of Temorse,
''for I did not love You!", ,.,5s. a,,a..3 j...,
/ At this moment a'servant comesin hurried
.93s'Oh, sir, please comet They've brought q,
gentleman to the door; and he's dead slr,
Mr. Perclval strides past her, followed by
Cicely. Two men carrying lfeless burden
are standing just inside the hall. i ttiisi' .
Carriage accident sir Gentleman tipped
out of the shay from The Lion and fell on
his head Me and my mate teok the liberty
of bringing him on to you. "'}is'i &'ii't'D1'S ~
y s'Quite right Just carry him into that
first room Cicely send for Doctor Dales
says Mr. Percival standing in front OF the
wounded man thatihis wife may not see his
blood stained face; then. dear. you canbripg
some water and SPONGE. ri. ii ~.
The men deposited their burden on d sofa.
Mr.. Percisal sends them down into the kitch.
en- to have some supper, and in minute or
two Cicely comes to the door.
''Thanks--thatisall I want, Rhe says, meet
ing her. ,|''.Wben you have seen that bed
room is ready for .the.poor ,fellsw, you shall
come aud help me with him.
YHe isn't dead John q Wholisihe Pm 90 ooo'
"a stranger to. me.s1No = slheis only tn!
fconcious Don't be, frightened i" and " Mr.,
Petcival goes back and endeavors to, bring
some life into the still, white face. Ha asi1A4 L
u HE is moving his eyelids a littleyihe says
a few minutes afterward, Just ~ Cicelys en-,
tered, The room. Here, dear; come and hold
his head while Iraisei him q fittle. n't'' lAsD4
Then for the first time she sees his face,
and knows that it lis none other than Hamer
Dare living like dead man before her. .