Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-15

Baron and Baroness attaches to the Corps Diplomatique. Dora, bewildered by his flu ency and awed by the general splendor of his projects, when she had once given her prom lse, had not the courage to withdrawit. Nev- ertheless the tears she shed on bidding adieu to him, when he went to pack his trunks and take leave of the Straceys, had their source Tar less in any emotion connected with him than In genuine relnorse and terror The thought Of abandoning her aunt in sickness positively wrung the girls heart. She passed miserable night, and when her sister arrived next day. went forward to greet her with eyes SO heavy and cheeks so wan, that Mrs. Cor bett gave cry of cons sternation. .,., .,. !
 Good Heavens! child" sad the bonny. bright woman, taking her sister into her arms, you are the person I should have been sent for to nurse, it appears to me- But suppose your malady is only sentimental" s,.....,','.,r
 Mrs. Corbett, with all a happy married woman's interest in love affair, was fun of curiosity in regard to Starolyia tortured Do- ra with questions about him ;.s andqwas never tired of lamenting that she had arrived just one day too late to see him. "He might have waited to make the acquaintance of his future sister-ln-law. Of course I shall' work with you. Dolly, to overcome Aunt Dancers ob- jections and hope that one day you will present me at the Court of Vienna as a reward for my services" laughlngly said Di, whom Mrs. Damer had not yet let into the secret of Arthur Lestrange's hints, or her own suspi- cions.
 In the course of the afternoon came Clarice Ferrers to inquire after Mrs. Damer, call upon Mrs. Corbett, and-talk about the Count.
 ''Such a dreadful loss We were SO sorry to hear that he had to go. But of course the Emperor needs his services, We shall all miss him-even you, Dora, for I think he used to oeme here occasionally" said the brunette. ''He used to come here every day." an- swered Dora, with more asperity than pru- dence.
 "Dear me ]" remarked Clarice, and looked considerably taken aback. ''To inquire after Mrs Damer, Isuppose? He always said he liked her so much"
 ''Did he ?'' said Dora, rather astonished in her turn.
 :'He appears to have concealed his feelings with great success, observed Di, maliciously Clarice surveyed them with a complacent smile. ''He was very reserved. I fancy | foreigners often are. But he became latterly su intimate with-ah-us, that he confided to us all his feelings and all his plans''
 Mot all fancy" said Mrs. Corbett, in, stinctively ranging herself on her sisters side ''For instance, you did not apparently know that he was gong until he was gone"
 Miss Ferrers deigned to make no reply to this, and with an elaborate air of indifference, began to talk of something else. But when she was leaving, she dropped a few more hints to Dora on her way from the hall-door to the garden-gate.
 1t is nice weather now, is it not Are you 1 thinking of going soon to the seaside I've ! 1 Oh really do not know yet what my | 1,tNfh ov,I fl,n oh; l., H., probably go abroad"
 With frlends?" questioned Dora, in some amazement People in Farnleigh-unlike the rest of the werld-still considered 'sgeing abroad" in the light of great event.
 ''With friends ?" repeated Clarce "Um well {! with friend at any rate. What lovely Cape jessamine ?" and she pluolSed a spray. ........-.-,..s ,-;-.
 ''Put this geranium with 1t. May one ask 1 the name of this mysterious friend ?" asked Dora, p!ayfully enough. But her fingers l t:embed little as she held out the scare, 1 blossom.
 "All Tn good time, my dear. At present l am bound to secrecy" And with light laugh of triumph, Miss Ferrers brushed her friends soft cheek with her lips and darted into the road. The shadows danced up and down Clarice's slight figure as she. walked,
 
 of her linen sunshade, now on the flounces of her muslin dress. Dora stood there, her heart full of heavy doubt. She was fool, she told herself, to pay any attention 10 Clarice's words. The brunette was always limiting at her con- quests. Max had naturally said that he hoped to meet her again, and on this slender toun- dation she had built up some brilliant future Dora felt angry And this anger supplied the filip that was needed to her resolution. Star olyi had never appeared so indispensable to her happiness as now, when, for moment, she had questioned his allegiance.
 She looked at her watch It was past 5, In another half-hour the express left; she must be quick if she wished to accomplish her purpose. Her heart was beating higher now with defiance than even with excitement she hast fly gained her room, and began her prepara- tions. They were brief She took from her writing case the letter which she had already composed to Di, with the intention of sending it by messenger from the station; thrust few things into bag and with only one sharp pang on passing her aunt's closed door, she slipped down stairs, through the open door, into the garden, and then set off running along the lonely road, at the pace of Orestes pursued by the Fures. The down-express from Lon don arrived about 5, and, as the finer folk of Farnleigh were not much in the habit of trav- elling by night, the fugitive hoped to find the station nearly deserted. On arriving there, however, and taking her ticket, a few words addressed by the station master to one of his subordinates revealed to her that something was amiss on the line. She presently received an explanation. ~. <. ..
 You must have few minutes patience Miss The down-express is not yet in, and the up-train twill consequently be little late eta rtir hoo hao. I~oE1 Swindon-nothing serious, I think"
 This was very unwelcome news to Dora Her courage, born of excitement, was fast ebbing, and she feared to meet, among the passengers from London. some acquaintance who would be much astonished to find her starting at such an hour and alone. When, at last, the train steamed Tn and the tramp of feet along the platform followed. she covered in in her corner like hunted hare Finally the steps ceased and Dora hoped that all the passengers had vanished. The bell for the departure of the up-train rang, and she. was feeling that, whatever was to happen now, she must make rush for safety, when suddenly she recollected that she had not sent her letter of explanation to Di ... ...--
 'Bristol -Swindon-change for Lendon. Look sharp, Miss! You'll be late," exclaimed guard to the scared and Hurried girl :'''- a''Oh, please ]" cried Dora in great distress, ''you must wait a minute, please I want a messenger. See here is a letter. It must be taken to Vine Lodge, directly. and given into Mrs. Corbett's own hands. Not Mrs. Damer's, mind, for the werld.'
 Gan l do your commission for your" sud- denly asked voice winch could not have terri fled Dora more if it had been the trump of doom. And there at her elbow, puzzled and! profoundly astonished, stood Arthur Lestrange "Where are you going ?" he asked, as the girl mechanically put out her hand to him. g.
 ''To-to London" said Dora, laundering helplessly into the exact truth. .-4
 ''rhen-?" began Arthur, but broke of and glanced at the letter which she still held He felt that he had no right to question her. + Times up,miss. We can't wait any longer, even for Miss Morlon," at this moment inter posed the station-lnaster Dora gave gasp of despair, thrust the letter into the hand of the perplexed guard, and selzed her bag Lestranges steady glance incensed her. She turned from him impatlently, made dash for