Litchfield enquirer., 1881-08-11

ina, you are very uLCle cnangeQ. 1nQe00, l might say" he continued, with growing cour agq "You are not changed at all"
 Selina sighed anew, but she put her hand kerchief aside. ys 'lAflselj- ,ls.u .i5's q a.
 "Now, am changed, he went on, 'sgreat. ly changed. Changed in my physical frame. l only weigh nine stone. Great change that from eleven, you know, Selina! Then I am changed in my mind. l used to read Lord Byron, but of late years I have taken a fancy to Mrs. Hemans. That, venture to think, dear Selina, is not disqualification for do- nestle happiness Lord Byron was sad dog, after all. Indeed, am afraid that 1 was sad dog myself-once That is all over now"
 Something in Selina's eye, as she glanced at him, seemed to say that if little of this par ticular Byronic sadness had been left she would not have made it an insuperable ob- stacle. But the eyes of Selina Villiers can ex- press two feelings at a time she IS thinking of the hour when she call him selfish goose and boxed his Car. Revenge is sweet. and she means to taste it. Meanwhile, he begins his proposal of marriage. He goes through their joint biographies from infancy until now, with pious reflections appended to the salient passages, such as measles and whOop ing cough. Then he comes to the present hour. Theobald has grown an eloquent speak, CT, and now. in offering himself to Selina for life, he expatiates over his feelings aud prin- ciples. He is now, as ever, consistent Bap- tist. Now, as ever, he is member of the great Liberal Party. He has become 8 teeto- taler, and IS giving his days and nights to that sacred movement. This is the being who gets down on one knee as his oration draws to an end, and says, ...a I.Il..,- ...tE.s ..-...a.
 ''Now, Selina, dear Selina, dearest Selina, breathe the one short syllable which shall seal you forever mine." "t t '' .4 la.-
 She breathed, but not that syllable. Stead fast and hostile was the look she fixed upon him, and in his surprise he nearly overbalanc- ed. and had to steady himself again on his now unsteady knee. .- .....-
 ''Theobald, she cried severely, ''you have grown miserably thinl Do you know, am afraid whe shall look ratEer laGghable side ty side. Just stand close to me here"
 She caused her stout, spherical figure to re- fleet itself in Il mirror, while Theobald stood on her right hand.
 "Just look, Theobald," she said. ''I am like capital O beside capital 1. It is very pro- voking."
 TheobaId Podger murmured something about ''farinaceous diet" and ''cod-liver oil three times a day." but Mrs. Villers would not catch at the suggestion.
 Another thing strikes me, Theobald, she said, taking her seat again, while he stood be- fore her humblY. "You spoke of the great temperance cause and fighting under the tee total banner. Now. Theobald, like my two glasses of sherry at lunch and my two glasses at dinner"
 That my love, can be met :" Theobald remarked with great complacency. 'You can take wine incidentally. There will be no trou. ble about it. We never interfere when it is taken incidentally"
 Excuse me, Theobaid," replied Selina with an accent of scorn which frightened him. 'I am not going to be made an invalid of, for your crochets."
 Theobald Podger was silent for fear, ex- cept that the word ''crotchets' escaped him in low, horror struck tone, such as might issue from the lips of one who suddenly sees spectre.
 "There is another thing" she continued "A third ]" he exclaimed, in most unfeigned alarm.
 She smiled bitterly, but the secret of the bit. terness he could not know.
 ''You spoke about being still Baptist, Theobald. have become High Church, very high. 1 approve of vestments. I don't ob- ject to incense. Now, you are Baptist and have serious doubts-very serious doubts whether you are Christian at all ]" -.
 Theobald jumped as If some one had pinch ed his leg.
 "Before could marry you, you must be. come sound Churchman," she continued firmly. ''I don't exactly know what that will involve, but something will have to be done to you.'
 He stood before her, terror in his eyes, but he said neither "Yes" nor ''No.' After gaz- ing at him for moment, she began again:
 ''There is another thing
 ''Selina," he cried, with groan. taking out his pocket-book and tearing a leaf from it, ''don't you thing you had better make mem- orandum of them?"
 Il shall not forget" she sternly rejoined; ''and you shall not forget; she added this with appalling significance ''I say there IS something more You spoke just now of the great Liberal Party. Theobald, there isn't such thing. am Conservative l" .t 2
 After this disclosure there was long pause, which the paralyzed sniter did net dare to break. Mrs. Villers rose from her sofa and walked majestically to the window, and there, turning round upon him, she asked:
 ''Have you nothing to say ?" .......
 "A great deal," he replied submissively. "But truly, Selma, I don't know where to be- gin. Let me see; which was number one ?" ''Theobald," she cried, ''do you want to marry me? ?" ....,I.... ''Yes, Selina," he answered, q do."
 Every well, then" she replied, in tones more terrible than ever; ''you must do what l bid you. Are you ready? Will you obey me?"
 '''I will," he answered, as if it were the marriage VOW.
 First. in respect of your size Youmust manage somehow to alter your present appear ance, which is, to be quite plain with you, nothing less than absurd. You must grow stout. You must take De Barry's Revalenta three times day. and whatever else will get you in flesh. 1could never marry lath-a living lath."
 II hope the Revalenta isn't very like phys ic said Theobald despairingly. ..l .!t
 ''Never mind what it is like" she answered; ''you have got to take it you take me- Sec ondly, with regard to your total abstinence. You must drink an imperial pint of Guiness's stout every day at lunch, three glasses of old port at your dinner, and tumbler of brandy and water gong to bed."
 But have taken the pledge" Theobald muttered
 ''Then you must untakc it," retorted the lady. Her English might be donbtful, but her meaning was not. Next she said, touching her third finger. As to your relig- ious opinions. You must attend matins every morning at eight o'clock, and go to church three times every Sunday. You must prom ise never to set your foot inside chapel again and you must become a Churchman. What ever the Vicar considers necessary to finish you off you must do. Do you understand ?'
 t'But am deacon in our chapel :" pIead- ed Theobald. ''It is an important office, and very honorable. Don't ask me to give that up, Selma I should rather compromise the matter by taking little stimulant extra, if that would meet your views, love. You see" he repeated, II am a deacon!"
 "Deacon indeed l" she retorted, with inf> mite scorn. "As if dlssenter could be dea- con Deacops are always very nice young men-fresh and modest and pleasant to look at-not the least like yon Theobald. Now. church or chapel; which do you choose 1 shall never ask you twice. f ''Church, he groaned "But just consid- err" f3 fe st @9f 5 sflt5a 4- q sstfH-is
 ''l have considered" she answered, in voice that bereft him of all hope. Then, checking off her fourth finger, she sald, ''Now for the last thing; you must become Con-