The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-12-30

her. ASKED pclniS. ion 10 20 villa her SiS'tl
for there was nothing that LILY enjoyed
mere han goin. 10 S. which snail a.
il was. seemed 10 her like another world
Paul NanderpIn, prophesicd that hrr"
would be a heavy fall of snow before night.
but Uncertainty did moi look like il then. !
was agreed, however, that in case he should
be right, the sisters were 10 secn al tn,
house Of distant relative who Resided il.
The town. and paHi was 70 come orerthe
next morning aud fetch them home. H.
would have been clad to have accomp,-
MED them. could he lave ioNnd time. out
if The truth mus. be told, even Corfu ie WAS
not sorry that lie did not for she hai as VIC
lave said, several hale Purchases TO make
and men are sadly i'll the way upon those
occasion!
Lily launched heartily as she stood warm
t. equipped Tor their long walk, and with
the etIy su}lh@ht g',ucring upon her bright
4oilcn HAIR ""e sure ,hai von bring jhc
%jel!e, paaI, size evelaimel 10, he snow
vii! certainly I've TOO deep to admit OF our
walking hack!'
ave slaII see,' replied Paul Vandcrpan'
simultaneously.
81 would lay You a wager, We are home
tonight persisted Lily.
81 hope so if 1t be without danger. Bu,
Gertrude, dcarcs, you will be careful for my
oake!'
Gertrude answered in low voice, and
joining her sister few momcnts Afterwards
they passed into the thick wood and were
soon out Of sight. although their merrr vol,
ces. anil LlIy,s clear, ringing laugh, in@er-
eA in the IT for several moments, and lilem
dIei gradually away.
notwithstanding that they are constantly to-
reihcr, it is astonishing how many things sisters
always hav" TO Tux ubon,--rSpccll'y when 1t
hnpP"ms, as the present case, that ono Is on the
eve Of marriage What bright plans were arrang
ed. What fG!v hapni ~ iiIturc happiness! How
HE real and ideal mingled together IN their
thoughts and words, which, wander as they
w"i.j, ever c0r"o back TO the one theme. ti"w
Lily taincd and nughrd, aud praised Paul Van
GnnanJ and how Gertrude hluahc' and listened,
"a. loved her for that praise The ;llnn passed
away 50 p.u.nIY, they could scarcely boiiCv'tilt
they had indeed come to the termination Of t!al
drcarr WOODS, and were entering jHtp the !jl''a
market t""U Of S.. Neither had they per
coyei hOw the D"au'Y oi the mggii.g had passed
away, and the atmosphere gradually Cu.yncI
and 'GInHnn". around theta.
Grrl'HIna simple purclasra were soon made
-."n"h snoonr t an i.i}y quite approved Of; f,r
*ae Iau "py'J nave fingered t~irca5 long. look
~. at tine smart ribbons aHd Iarcs, bat, a. Inr
sister ,nit. Of Hha; Use WIS IL, since ihog coal!
at @.."rG to buy ah!: They n'Nt went u visit
TIE relatives ic'ra mentioned, who received
them with e hearty welcome.
ii llIi"k we shall have some snow" snid size,
as they sat at dinicrn
-. does lock Ike it now, to be surf" ohsary-
ed Lily. "Iiow Paul Will triumph to fine that
he WIS right aicr all"
"Do you think the snow will be much" asked
Gertrude.
"Not till sunset "
"And we shall he homo by then"
"And ii'yuu wish to return to.nig.!t,' said their
hostess, 81 would advise your losing no time al
bout it,"
ale, us 90" exclaimed Lily, ffi is only to
tease Paul. 90 Mot believe it will snow--.al
least not before we reach home; wc'il walk fast
as we did this morning.
Gertrude was also DESTROYS Of returning, for
she well knew her mother would be Gucyinr all
sorts Of improbable things, and have mo rest, if
they did not come, although they tartiod at her
own request. hccordllgv, the sisters took
TASTY leave OF their kind relatives, and common
ccd their Journey hUmcward. The cold was in
tense, and sharp castcry wind came fall i'll
their faces, sometimes in violent gusts AS most
TO beat them back again, while the wilharcd
branches crcakcd and groancd as they bent be-
meath the bias.
"This is anything but pleasant" said Lily as
she paused a moment 20 recover breath and wrap
IL 4 = L. 4. l. }
at any rate there is no SNOW and we shall yet
laugh at Paul for a false prophet"
As she spoke, large white snowflake driftcd
nv her. Down and down came the flakes, until
at length she declared that she felt to" fired to 70
any nlthcf. 1t was in vain that Gertrude ell
dcavorrd TO cheer her: and fatal lctharny was
stealing over her
"Oh, Lily" exclaimed her sister, edo try and
get up 1t does not snow quite 50 heavy now.
and perhaps we may be able to find the path.
We cannot be far from home; at any rate we will
be warmer walking about"
NV hat were yoH saying about home, sister,
for your voice sounds great way of. and . feel
so sleepy. ! do not thi'k that Shall ever see
hone again.
''Eiush, dearest! only try and arouse yourself
Lily, speak to me! Lily! I.ily!n
There was no answer.
''lt she sleeps now" mnrmnrcd Gcrtrudc, she
will wake no more. O God, be marciiul! Save
her-save us both! My poor mother Ny dear
Phu!!' And the poor little gjIl lifted mp her
c!aspcd hands and vert. she took other warm
cloak and spread it over Lilv-Therc was moth
ing else she could do. God alone could help
them. al! will be done, said Gertrude. And
as she kncIt and prayed, strange calm came
over her. and her heart was filled with trust.
"lic knowcst best" thought she. lie will
comfort them. And yet, if ii were His will TO
spare usa little l"ngcr-we are too young to die;
but thy will, O God, not mine be donc!n
"Thc girls win not be home now,' said widow
Hoffman to her son, as she glanced at the clock,
aud then at the sIIowcovcred easement, as well
as she could in the darkness. 81 am glad that
| thought of their staying at S.. You can
20 TO bed, Eric, dear.n
He ohcyed her, and asleep in moment.
Bat lIIS mother could not resi- 50 she opened her
large blaspcd Bible and read plusing at intervals
to listen TO the whiSpcrngs Of tlH snow as il