Litchfield enquirer., 1881-03-10
GOV. VIM. BRADFORD'S LOVE
 LIFE.
A Story Pounded on Fact.
I.-ALICR CARPENTER.

"Alice, will you give me your answer? I have travelled many leagues and run no little risk to ask this question"
 '.And after all may get no answer at all, :" interposed Alice Carpenter, pouting her pretty lips, and glancing mutinously into the grave face bent toward her.
 May, child, be not froward, nor trile with what is or should be solemn earnest to both of us. 1 have already told you that this is the only hour l can call my own while remain in England. It is true, accepted the mission with the full intention of seeing you while here but, having accepted, must fulfill it, and to-night's sunset n,ust see me far on the road to London" B.
 Why wait for sunset, Master Bradford2 If your London business is so pressing .lar- vel that you should delay it for the sake of a silly maiden, who in truth knows not her own mind as yet"
 And the spoiled little beauty turned to chase the tiny greyhound who leaped in sport upon William Brandford stood moodily watching the game of play which followed, and mak- ing for himself, all unconsciously. picture of the scene never to be forgotten amidst all the vicissitudes of stormy life.
 It was the garden of an old English manor house dating from the reign of Elizabeth-a date proven no less by the formal architecture Of the latter than the quaint ordering of the former, with it's yew trees sedulously clipped in shape of towers and ships, falcons, pea cocks, and rampant lions, with it's great bed of roses, cultivated not only for their beauty, but as material for conserves, rose water, and scent jars trailing honey suckles and sweet brier ran riot among clumps of heart's-ease, garden lilies love-lies-bleediDg, princes father, marigolds and hollyhocks The northern limit of the garden, near which William Bradford stood, was defined by high wall built of the same hard red bricks as the house, and upon the southern face of this was nailed long range of espalier fruit-black heart cherries peaches, pears, and great golden plums, cele- brated throughout the country for their size and flavor. They were ripe just now, and the hot sun brought out a musky odor from rich clusters, filling the air, and mingling for ever in William Bradford's memory with the hum of the bees, the ringing laughter of the girl, and the glowing crimson of the roses at his feet.
 Many and many day, in the dark years that were to come, that garden bloomed and rIpened, those rich scepts filled the air, and the hum of bees and peals of laughter flied his ears, among the black soltudes of tEe New England forests, or the cold desolation oi the rockbound coast and yet, looking upon the scene to-day, he saw it not, needed it not thought only of the merry girl, who, suddenly deserting her playmate, stood beside him, and mockingly exclaimed "What not gone yet Master Bradford! Truly the elders of your church did ill to intrust their mission to such dreamer and laggard as yourself"
 But her testing drew no responsive smile to the face Of the young man, as laying hand lightly upon her arm, he gravely answer- ed:
 "You have had your jest, fair Mistress Alice, and you have taken your time. Now 1 will pray you to give me a serious answer to my most serious question. Will you be my wife, and fare with me to Holland, or it may be farther still-for our people are minded to remove to some country over seas where shall be room for all and opportunity for all to thrive by honest labor? It is no life of luxury, no certain prospect of any sort that can offer Alice; and yet dare to urge you, for know that the great love 1 bear toward you, and the earnest will that find growing within my heart, will give me power to make you happy, and shield you from all suffering but such as God appoints. Alice, will you be my wife?"
 For moment the girl stood with downcast eyes and blushing cheeks, her answer tremb- ling upon her smiling lips, and shining from
 
 it. and suddenly clasped her to hls breast.
 ''Yes, sweet one, you confess it at last you confess it even without word and thus l take the answer you have been so long in giving"
 He pressed his lips upon her own, but hard ly had tasted their honey when he was star. tied by smart blow upon the cheek, while Alice. tearing herself from his embrace, cried angriy: ,
 "Not so fast, good Sir. never have said that would even give you any answer, and here you pretend to read it in my face, and proceed to take it unspoken from my lips. I'll give you no answer at all tonight, no, nor tomorrow morning either, unless the humor takes me to do so."
 Then, Alice, you will never give It," replied the young man, not angrily, but reso- luteIy. When that sun, lost in the fir tops, sinks behind the horizon, shall say goed-by; what comes between now and then It is for you to decide. The petulant blow and the froward words forgive, but farther trif1ing with an honest heart and mans life shall ind it hard to pass over. Your answer, Alice"
 ''I have told you once, fair Sir, that have no answe CT for you before to morrow morning. 1 have will as we'll as you, and if you do pot care enough for me to abide my pleasure, why, u.
 ''Goed-by, Alice. since you will it, and yet, pray you, pause once more. This is no idle play, Alice, but saddest earnest. 1 solemnly assure you that must be gone at sunset, and l cannot leave London again before we return to Leyden. If you areqhy betrothed yeurfa- ther will bring you to me, and we will be mar ried-''
 "Agsin not so fast, good master" interpos- ed Alice. Suppose 1 refuse to be brought to you in London? Suppose I demand longer woolng and somewhat more ceremony in my wedding? And, in good sooth I fancy your style is altogether too masterfu for me al- ready. l know not what might chance if you were indeed my lord, so think I will say you nay-for to night at least; it may be that in the morning l shall have changed my mind, but now-fare you we'll, Sir
 "And fare you well, Alice have your answer. and have told you more than once that can wait for no other. And yet1Alce, shall be three days longer in London-if you Will come to me, you and your father"
 Marry come up! 1 go after you to Lon- don, saying, Kind Sir, will you of your good ness take me to wife?' A long day it will be before do that, Master Bradford, a very. very long day"
 And half in anger, half in mockery, she flung the handful of roses that she held full into the grave face of him whom she address ed, and ran, light and swift as fawn, up the path toward the house.
 One of the roses lodged upon the young mans folded arms. and smiling bitterly, he caught it, looked for moment into its glow ing heart, then put it inside his doablet.
 "A fair ensample of her love-as sweet. as short lived, and as thorny," muttered he and leaving the garden by the postern gate, he mounted the sturdy horse awaiting him in the green lane beyond, aud rode away just as the sinking sun touched the horizon.
 "He win come to morrow" whispered Alice Carpenter, watching the sunset, and listening to the horses retreating feet, while her bright cheek grew pale and her eyes filled with tears.
 But the morrow came, and brought neither lover nor message, and still another and another morrow, until grave friend of her fathers. down from London for a day. set the girls mind at rest by mentioning that the deputies from the dissenting folk at Leyden