Litchfield enquirer., 1881-09-22
fed out, 'sa complete mistake;'' and drove lfscl1irn r,d nrrrr1 A}ltl lit .

x was astonished, but my amazement was greater still when found the Deans wife re. pudiating all she had, and declaring the knew nothing more of the Marquis than having met him at u friends house. For so gentle per I son, the Deans wife seemed quite annoyed, aud inclined to vent her annoyance on me.
 1T cannot imagine what induce you, dear
 Miss Barstowe, to set such story golng <; it
 might give rise to serious complications.
 Where there are young people, one must be careful" &c. ls .- ha7aH55 s,ed .aS-, a4sa
 At this Miss Jones looked at me, and we
 both knew that Mrs. Blacker had been talk
 ing. I said nothing: there was no use fend-
 ing and proving, as Miss Jones said although
 1 could have taken n.y. oath in any court in the Kingdom that the Deans wife had used
 the words enormously rich, and looking out
 We got away after this (for we did not like
 to run the carriage into the second hour). could have cried all the way home, I felt so
 vexed and mortified; only I would not let J Miss Jones see it. And was sorry for the
 Marquis, too his downfall was certain, for every one would know now that the Deans
 wife was no guarantee for his responsibility.
 We met him on our way home coming toward
 the Crescent; and declare my heart bled for
 him, he looked so handsome and interesting as he raised his hat but Miss Jones said he
 looked like singer! And she used to be one of his great admirers! 'o
 The next day there was large picnic to some caves in the neighborhOod, ending with a tea-dinner at the Hackers. I saw them start from our window, Colonel Poddleton driving his own drag, and Agnes DaIrympie sitting beside him. The Marquis went too, but in fly by himself. lie looked up at our
 windows as he passed, and his face was very sad. In the evening mother and Miss Jones persuaded me to go in they said it would look as if felt myself in disgrace, and as Mrs. | Blacker had sent in for the loan of our teapot and spoons, mother said 1 might go stiff. own 1 felt little curious to see how things were going on, but nervous also, and grew more nervous when, after few minutes, during which l saw the Marquis was not there, Colonel Poddleton attacked me in his brusque haw- haw sort of matter: I'd
 Well, Miss Barstowe, so your foreign 1 friend has been blown-shown up regularly, and now means to cut and to try the business 1 in Donkon. But that wont do! We don't stand swaggerers there. A regular cad, that's what he is!'' ,...... ....--
 We oweit to you that he was found out in time," said Mrs. Blacker, with an air of in- tense thankfulness, and as if she had escaped some great danger; whereas, as we all knew, she had been running down the Marquiss throat.
 l Il confess 1 was taken in," she added, with charming frankness, and so was every one except you, Agnes dear. think you never liked the Marquis although. indeed"
 ''He like her!' struck in the refined Colo nel with loud laugh. ''Just like his inpu- dence. And then he whispered something to her, and she craned her long neck toward him, and they comported themselves much as engag- ed lovers do. +~- '''.
 . 1t is all settled" whispered Miss Jones to me. ''He proposed to-day after lunch in the | Nuns Cave and Mrs. Blacker took us all aside and told us half an hour after. You never 1 saw any one so cut up as the Marquis was. Either that or the treatment he got from every one gave him the headache, and he went home to rest bit. No one asked him to come back except me; and really could not help | it, although, dare say, It was wrong." "Wrong!" cried I, indignantly. "Why, what has be done? Suppose he is not rich surely that's not a crime His worst folly is l looking after that cold statue of woman, | Agnes Dalrymple" ss h. s>-a lsaF } I.'Hush, my dear don't say any more; here he iss!'' Poor man, he was looking very pale and ill. l thought, as he came in, under volley of cold looks from his hostess and every ene:s was the only one who gave him kindly look | or word. And what was l, poor insignif. cant spinster? Colonel Poddleton continued his. whispering in most offensive manner But think Agnes seemed a little uneasy, and inclined to draw away from her overpowering lovcr Presently move was made to the piano, and, under cover of the noise and con- fusion, heard the Marquis say to her:
 ''You will play to me once more; you will let me stand next you; you will let me hold your gloves, your handkerchief. for the last time-the last time! Oh Agnes ?"
 The depth of sorrow in his voice must have 1 touched eveL her cold heart, for she answered gently enough, although she looked aronnd suneasily as if afraid of her tyrant But she went to the piano at once, and was quicker than usual in the little tricks we all knew by heart The Marquis, standing beside her, was in possession of her gloves her rings, and her handkercheifs, when, all of sudden, Colonel Poddleton came striding toward him.
 Il can relieve you of these, Y" he said, m rough voice. "Lady Dalrymple would prefer my holding them-eh, Agnes?" And, without waiting for an answer, he snatched the gloves and the fan from the astopished Marquis and scattered the rings on the floor. There was a little stir among us, picking them up.
 The Blackers always kept their floors pol ished and carpetless, ready for dancing, when any foolish young men were caught to waltz with them and therefore it was easy enough to see the stones gleaming on the boards. went in search of one truant when, looking round saw the Marquis at little distance on all-fours under table, He picked up something quickly that glittered like dia- mond, and to my amazenent, slowed it away in his pocket. The next minute he left the room, unnoticed in the general confusion. There was a great deal of talking and laugh. ing. and then Lady Dalrymple began playing again. Miss Jones came and whispered to me that the Marquis had slipped away without saying good night to any one.
 Mark my words, |" she said. "we sballhave duel between him and the Colonel. He was furious at the way Poddleton treated him. An, Lady Dalrymple has deal to answer for, that she has! I saw him going out, and he was ghastlys white "s g-f.A1 Z v f-lH Ne F could hardly answer her, Twas so upset, at the same time so curious to know what would happen next. As Agnes had missed nothing perhaps it was all right; but how could doubt the evidence of my own senses ? And the more thought of it the more sure 1 was that it was a ring the Marquis had put away. And if 1t was so, and It was missed, what was to do? sg}t r-t.erf <e All this time Agnes kept playing on in 8 dreamy, wandering fashion, while the Colnnel sat behind her holdind the much coveted fan and the recovered rings, which he occasional ly looked at with an air of proprietorship which would, have irritated me had I been his affanced wife. But she did not seem to mind him; her thoughts were evidently far away and as she kept on playing the Marquis's ia. vorite airs, I presume she thought him still in the room, saw her eye wandering round searching every corner, and. when she at last stopped it was with a very listless manner that she turned to the Colonel and took her fan and her rings He gave them to her one by one, remarking on each as he did SO. When he had done she still held out her hand
 Don't be anticipating, he said significant lY. "You have no more at present. ' '' She smiled, pretending to be embarrassed, but persisted, saying 2 little pettishly,. za Don't teaze me, Colonel Poddeton. Give me my circle ring of diamond and rubies-a gem the jewellers call-''s,i4 -asiH5la Y | Gem or no gem. it is not here. .r he answe er