Litchfield enquirer., 1880-09-16
WHOLE NO. 1856, q Z
urtain, and he sees kindly face bent toward

curtain, and he sees kindly face bent toward
him.
''Yeu areIall right; my dear sir" says John
Percival, taking in his long thin hand, land
getting on fsmously. This is Moofeld recl
| tory, and my name is Percival. There was
an accident, You know; you shall hear all
particulars afterward. Don't talk much but
l want to ask one question. Will you, tell ma,
where to write to your people and your wifeI"
''Oh, I'm not blessed with wife, and
haven't soul in England to write toll NV
mother has gone back to India with my only
brother. How can thank you, Mr., PERCH
val?"
HE'S very weak, for his eyes fill with tears
as he speaks John 1Perclval looks the other
way. f-,7,.,.a3 81; .,,,..,,s..,,.f ali b, III
tits all right, Mr.. Dare. u We're too glad to
Ibe of any use. ,r4 3 si1 10 sips5r obi 10 SD
"How did you find , 9ut my ,name2. Oh, by
eyes; and my wife has seen yeu,, she says.
But l must be all, or snail be late forchurch.
iii send Ciceiy to you. 81 n''"- -" %.
-'.Cicely Its q pretty name, %. he says,
flushing little. ~ knew Cicely oace." Ie..
John PerciYal finds his wife dressed for
church when be goes down .gg 4 sRa sipGi.l
VIII You run up and speak to young
Dare !? He'll feel neglected If no one looks him
up" '@'~ 9'.- t3'" 'st-
'No; shall only tire him if do" r
"I'm sure you wouldn't"
."Please don't tease, John. am going to
church," said Cicely, pettishly. 1910, ..f
She was willing enough to nurse him while
he knew no one; but how can she face him
now9 A cloud has fallen between Cicely and
her husband since her half-fnished confession,
which was so strangely interruption by the
subject of it. He has brooded miserably over
| those few words. II did not love you," and
has concluded that she never will love him:
Too proud to say anything about it until she
mentions it again, the ''little rift" is daily
growing wider. Every hour makes it harder
for Cicely to break the ice, and her position is
doubly trying now that Hamer is their
guest ... .-y ...t ........- s; u
II must never tell now. He is so good that
my deceit will be quite objectionable When
| blamed Hamer for his want of moral cour-
age, little thought should be ten times
worse myself" she thinks as she endeavors to
keep up with Johns long strides on their way
to church. y.. ...., =.
'Tm quite out of breath. have to trot all
the time; and l don't look half dignifed
enough for my position" says Cicely, laugh
ing" "Do walk little slower"
81 beg your pardon l fear we areunequally
yoked in everything" is his gloomy rejoin-
der, but he sackened his pace nevertheless.
1t is the first really cold word he has given
her since their marriage, and she is surprised
to find how it hurts her. There is sudden
rush of tears to her eyes.
Il was afraid you would be discovering
your mistake" she answers. 4 'hAD.t
Good heaven, how utterly we are mis-
understanding each other My darling, let
us put an end somehow to this state Of things.
Tell me if you have anything on, your mind
which would be better said out openly, and
let us have a fresh beginning What is so
bad as any reserve between man and wife?p
What indeed If she only dare make a clean
breast of it all-how she once loved the man
who is even now under his roof But then she
had pretended that he was only, an acquaint-
ance. There lay The error. So instead of
Selling the golden opportunity, she let it pass,
and turns the whole thing off with a laugh.
'Why, John, one would think l had Nur-
dered somebody at least The weightiest bur-
den on my mind just now is that it's collec-
ton, and | came away without my purse,
Please remedy that evil at once;" and she
holds out a gloved hand toward him.
He gives her half crown, and they finish
their walk in silence,
The evil day can be delayed no longer. Mr..
Dare has begged for an interview with his
kind hostess.
II shall never get through all | want TO say.
Percival, must have been cast away entirely
if it hadn't been for your very great goodness,
Would it be troubling Mrs Percival too much
to come and see me?"
cpl see if she is in. She's rather afraid of
firing you, or she would have been up BEFORE"
says John, feeling that he is driven into cor
ner. e.. s.- , .at .s ... o.
He has wondered why Cicely has found so
many excuses continually. Down he goes,
and discovers her in the garden,
dare wants to see. you very much. Will
you go now, Cicely?" .....
She blsshes scarlet and bends down to gath
er some primrOSes. ..-.c sA" 80 'i''
docs he know who, ! am 2" she asks
quickly. CT mean" :.,.s..r
2"Of course be knows you are my wife"
She does not speak for q minute and then
she says very meekly: Ia. .,,t...-;
''I'll 60, John. Pm arranging button hole
for you. You used to say made such pretty
ones" .ls asa. t. ill.,. ...ituur vr.s ms - b.
His eyes light up with their. old look Of.
love.
$50 you did Why, you've crushed the
flowers! Never mind I'll be sentimental for
once, and keep them in my pocket. How
your hand trembles, darling! Are oyouOVer.
tired ?" ....., ,s. ..ta,..,, III; is,:agg l,7.l
She is holding his arm FAST clinging to him
and looking up into his face with strange
expression in her lovely eyes. ''1oh Vo9 .-iT 80
'John." she Whispers kiss me once, and
say Heaven bless YOU cicely, as you usedto
say it." ........ f,,..t,iu.,t ,yae b: iu.la is %
. He draws her to him, and his lips, meet
hers -N'' = s'..i
Heaven bless my darling for ever and
ever, and grant me her love some day" he
says, passionately and then che leaves him.
+ Hamer Dare is awaiting his visitor in his
.s'room of rosebuds. He is dressed. and is
sitting, in low chair byrths FIRE. His fore -
head is still bandaged, and he aeeks iyeaEsrold-.
er; but he IS very handsome, s.-g, .t,.,,u,se
/. 'Coine H." he calls out, on hearing low
tap at the door,! isdi biGs "on 81 il ''o'i'
But, as no-one eaters, he thinks he Ia mis-
taken. Y
'ne"Odd thing that Mrs. Percival never sp-
pears" be muses., for, about the tenth time
that day and yet I could have sworn
lady nursed me- wien - Come In, ~ he says
again. ls93, 2dI II bJa1i Il o1fdi 1shi 30 %
This time the door opens yery gently, and
a slender figure approaches him. He - dream
ing, Of course, for Cicely NorFeYs never wore
a cap, and he knows MIR! Perclvallhas no visit"
comes in her soft trailing gown; he sees Cice-
ly's violet eyes, sCicely's exquisite face The
truth dawns slowly upon him. This 10 Mrs.
Percival, whose non.appearance he thought 30
odd-2lthis the Cice1y Of whom he has often
heard from his host T. He struggles out Of his
chair and stands up, holding omtoithemantles
piece. What is be TO- sayid HamerI knows
that this is bis hosts wife. "a -. -. TO-,
They shake hatIdS, and be begihs coufte!!
ously- .TIlnb03 aia' 9AiFH9
is"This is indeed an unexpected pleasure,
your debt ifof soenuch blindness suRlease AeL
cept my most, sincere thanksgili Jsnla2a yIiVs
/ D11-I-weoW were very glad, Do. sit. down, I
Mr.. Dare Indeed you must not stand now.
You are faint! KNOW noDiI loi Dsi0F eos
So she fetehes a1smellibg- bSttle, add some
eat de Cologne then they speak, OF the, wealth.
eF, and the bouquet which Is on the table, and
other safe subjects.
81 hope, i shall not trespass on yepr hOspi-
tality much longer, Mrs. Percival; i am
| hi trr tool