The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1845-06-21
M S c E L L A N ECU S.
From the Ladies' National Magazine.
Won and Lost.
BY ELLEN ASHTON.

sat at the window with her elder sister.
Agnes was The very opposite of the
witty Kate, and she could scarcely COM
prehend how her sister could speak thus;
for she knew ka.e loved George Alcott,
if she loved any one. But Kate had a
reputation for wit, which she had won by
saying sarcastic things of her acquain-
lance; and, moreover, she enjoys secret
pleasure in concealing her real opinions
To use her own phrase: sit was nice to
quiz folksw
SHOW can you speak, thus Kate?" said
her sister. "Nlr. Alcott, though tall, is
not ungraeelul, and, Pm afraid, if you
were TO be criticised as severely as you
crlsiclse him, even your immaculate self
would suffer"
''lle dare not try it" said Kate, ponting
her pretty lip.
"IIc vould not" replied Agnes with
emphasis "'eally, dear Kate, you do
yourself injustice by the sarcastic things
you say: people think you much worse
tempered than you ale -"
Sand what if they do? am sure |
am perfectly Indifferent to their opinion"
$50 you may be now, but you'll find
by and bye, that these opinions have val
ne. Besides you do not usually mean
what you say. know that George AL
colt is your lavorite-nay! you cannot
deceive me-you need not pout and shake
| your head -"
"Well, then-whatif he is? Does not
that give me an especial right to abuse
him? 1t is one Of the privileges of our
sex to make fun of those we like bestn
"Ah! Kate, that is fatal apprehension.
If you would think twice you would see
how foolish a thing you had said; for if
you abuse him before those who know
your real opinion, they will laugh at
your vain attempt to blind them, while if
you make fun of him before strangers,
you lower him in their estimation"
"Pshaw! Now you would play the
logician," said Kate, jumping up aud run
ming to the door. "Y OH know, sister
mine, when you begin to lecture begin
to move-so good-bye, my dear llltle
preacher" and with these words the gay
girl skipped down the entry.
Kate was always the careless, rafting
creature we have described her. Gifted
with high animal spirits, good Eeart,
warm impulses, and considerable briIian-
cy of mind, she might have made an al
most faullless being but for the unhappy
faculty she had imbibed, of turning into
ridicule every person and thing she me,
with. Scarcely the members of her own
family escaped her witty tongue. We
have seen that even her favored lover
suffered under its lash. Indeed, as if to
take revenge for having lost her heart,
Kate was especially severe on him who
had won it. The fact is, she was so fond
of mystifying-or quiazing, as she called
it-lha! she made it point to say things
of George which no lady could be sus-
pected of saying against the man she low
ed.
"Dear Kate" said Agnes again to her,
a few days after the preceding CONVERSE
ton, ''you really must curb your propen-
sity to salire.-Did you notice how
George colored, last evening, when you
made such fun of him TO his face. and a(-
ter his back was turned you said things
| VI iiiHi iIldt toi ldlllS Will OuCllu lllll, II
they ever come to his ears"
"Let him get offended lhen.n said Kate,
tossing her head. "fIe is too sensitive
and ought to be cured"
"Yet you would not cure flesh wound
by irritating it where most sensitive,
would you2'
ooh! logic again. Why really, sis,
you are quite an Aristotle. But you ought
to know, by this time. that Pm a true wo-
man and can't he reasoned with
"Ifsho will, she WILL
| II she won't, she won't
And there's an end ont"
So, my sweet sister, keep your syllo-
gisms for some one else and leave me to
abuse George Alcolt, otherwise shall
take to quizzing you, and everybody else
mos, numerically. The fact is, he serves
as sort of safety valve to meas long
as have him to ridicule, you are all safe
but, forbid this, and there will be a
general explosion IN which every one will
suffer-
Kate accordingly went on as she had
begun. She was beautiful and accom-
plished, and had natters without number,
SO that she could do many things witt,
impuuily that would not have been over
looked in girls less admired.-She de-
ceived many as to her true sentiments for
George Acotl. Her lover cared little for
this; but he really was annoyed at the Sc.
we're things, which often came to his ears
as having been said of him by Kate. He
2 was t"" proud to remonstrate; but he
showed by his manner how much he was