Litchfield enquirer., 1881-04-07

table silver and linen, the glittering glass and 1ne ola WedgwOod service, that will all be hers if matters go on as she and Mrs. Ainslie, together with the gossip of the neighborhood, have arranged that they shall t ,s7"''1f'fa
 The girl does not notice that Dick is sus- piciously silent during dinner. It is the habit of her father and brothers. stolid farmers of a heavier type than Dick, to be silent during meals. Nor does it wound the vanity she has not, to find that Dick is alive and astir to get out over the farm after dinner. There is al- ways lot to do on the land, and it pleases her well that the man who is to be her master and keeper should be on the alert in looking after his own interests. But it does pain her a little, when his mother leaves them alone for few minutes before he goes out, that Dick prefers to study one of the Plymouth dailies instead of talking to her. ss.s
 'ls there much news in the papers, Dick ?' she asks. Poor soul,. if he answered her that the Kimberly Horse had joined issue with the Home Rulers. and that the whole party had taken tourists ticket to Rome via Afghan istan, she would not be much the wiser But he is very literal. t .s
 "There's nothing that you would care to hear, Janie."
 ''I like to hear the news" she says, perking herself up. ''One feels so silly if one never hears of anything that is going on away from our own place. What lot Miss Belle must hear, to be sure! all those gentlemen in the regiments and ships in Plymouth go out to the squire's to dine, some of them every day" -......... -.
 Dick has been relgiously brought up, there fore he tries not to inwardly curse both ser vices. .,.. .. -.H IT'D .r.'.
 ''Well. I'm off, he shouts, f1inging the help less paper away on his mothers work basket ''The. land won't look after itself, worse luck :; goodbye, Jamie, you'll be gone before come in, dare say" -.-...rT .s .a T
 ''Not if you're in to tea," she says, modest ly.
 "Ill say goodbye at any rate. never know what may keep me when get on to the farm," he says, little awkwardly. for her eyes are bent upon him with such look of entreaty that he can hardly bear to refuse her outspoken request And she is obliged to say goodbye, and to see him go away without his having given one word of the promise her heart is teaching her to hope from him.
 She stays to tea with her old friend; but the hours of the afternoon drag slowly, and the tea, to which Dick does not come in, is a dull meal. The brightness that had been about everything in the morning in Janes eyes has vanished, and she almost feels dis posed to quarrel with fate for having made Miss Ffoletts lot so much more brilliant than herown.
 By and by. as the sweet Spring tide evening shades are gathering, the girl takes leave of Dicks mother, and starts on her hOmeward walk to her fathers farm
 Strange of Dick not to come and walk along with you the old lady says, as her favorite departs; "but men who never neglect their business, even when they're courting, make the best husbands"
 And with these comforting words ringing in her ears, Jamie is fain to leave without get. ting another glimpse Of Dick.
 But he sees her pass out of the courtyard, and go on alone into the dying light, from his post of observation in the harness-r0om, whither he has retired to smoke and think
 ''Shes nice good girl, but can't go home with her tonight" he says to himself with a sigh. II couldn't say anything to her to night, not after seeing Miss Ffolett; and know mother thinks I ought to speak out tc Jamie, or have done with it."
 It is the day before Belle Ffolett's birth day and the Squire has his otter hounds out Everybody who knows anything of either ot ter hunting or the Ffoletts is here, for the pool to be drawn is the famous one at the Little Firs Farm property, down at the bot tom of the little home orchard, where the river winds among the apple trees in one oI it's most picturesque curves. ....4 g.
 It is one o'clock when they near this point the best for the purpose of luncheon that they will reach for the day. So the hampers are taken out from the wagonette in which Mrs Ffolett is driven discreetly to see the sport and the Squire's friends, and every stranger who likes to dc so, draw near to be regaled.
 Belle is here with her long otter-pole in hel hand, in dress and hat of gray serge which suit her to perfection, and by her side-al ways by her side-is Lord Charles Collingford whom she addresses openly now as Charlie, and to whom it is generally understood she iG engaged.
 "Where is Ainslie?" the Squire asks aloud as they settle to the serious work of the day and leaves couple of wise old hounds tc watch the hole from whence they know the otter will emerge by and by. Where ls Ainslie? It's the first time he has not been out with us for two years. He must come and drink my daughters health with the rest. His family are the oldest tenants on the property, he adds, in an explanatory tone, to the Mar qlls of Occington, who is down here to give his approval of his brothers choice in the most unmistakable way on the morrow. Bon nie pretty Belle is going to be very great lady; but she feels a heartier pleasure thii day in showing her fathers tenants and friends how her fathers daughter is appreciated, thar she will ever feel in her more dazzling tri- umphs in society by and by.
 ''One of you young fellows run up to the honse and bring Ainsie down." the Squire shouts; and good d-natured Charles Collingford julps up and declares he will fetch him out. .-
 ''And I'll come with you," Belle says. "And have look at the brown colt" she adds in whisper. And the handsome pair suit the action to the word, and walk away through the orchard to the house to fetch out Ainslie, and look at the colt. -........ ........-q.
 But Dick is not at home to-day. His mother thinks he had business in Plymouth At any rate, he went away early this morning on the brown colt.
 'tAnd is it settled with pretty Jamie Welbyn yet?" Belle asks, standing up proudly by the side of the young lord, her lover, who is so soon to take her away from her own peo- pie. E .r>s.. -.
 ''Yes, thank God!" his mother says rever- ently; Dick has made wise choice and will have one of the best and most prudent of girls for wife" f.,,.- aa:
 ''Tm so glad! and Lord Charles and will Fo w "CuoinSi "Ou WC, Suothc! Belle says buoyantly, and then whispers a few words to her betrothed, and he says: isf's 9
 Twill your son, Mrs. Ainslie, be kind enough to- send toe brown, colt up to the Squire's tomorrow morning ?" And then he laughs and adds gallanty: "He's to be tbe first present my future wife wilTdeign to &C., cept from me, Mrs. Ainslie, so I'm anxious to secure hlm at your sons price, of course , Mrs. Ainslie makes the handsome, iolly-look- ing young naval nobleman one Of her dainii- est mixtures of bow and curtesy and he goes back presently to the group by the riverside with Belle. declaring himself to be quite en- raptured with the Ainslies and their surround ings. aaa ht@ bs@ .la ~.
 ''If were girl, should fall in love with that fine young fellow and this old picture holm, he says jollils. Belle, why haven't you found pretty girl for him to marry i? You neglect your duty Upon my word, I shall have to brush you up. and make you keep your eyes open when take you to our place;" and then he calls his brother to his aid, and they both begin chaffing her charm- ingly about her future duties as queen re- gant of the house of Occington. ...
 "Mr. Ainslie has found A pretty O,rl for