The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-03-17

the west, 10 JON ner husband.
Minncs ruom appeared to be the easiest
Of access Of any off the chambers in the
house, and she offered it instantly for the
use Of the injured women; and in thousand
ways showed her desire to serve the sufferer
| She took the entire charge of the terrified
little one, and had marvellous faculty in
keeping the little creature quiet that it should
| not disturb the mother.
| Ono night Mimic had offered 10 sit up
with the sick woman The handsome Young
doctor also had volunteered the same service
every kind Of her indeed, very kind. 1t
is not every one who would care to be broken
| of her rest for an utter stranger. OF course
the doctor has nothing TO do with her kind
| Offer
"Of course not, replied Laura Reed, the
landlady's daughter.
| cit will not be correct, Lorry," continued
Mrs. Ranncy. "To save the credit of the
house you had better stay in the room: you
get tired"
The hint was not lost. Much to the young
Doctors disappointment, who had fallen dcs-
pcratcly in love with the fair Minnie, Laura
Reed also stationed herself in the room.
10 Minnie it mattcrcd little: she was too
innocent herself to suspect the motive of
Laura's offer TO assist her; she only felt
troubled to see her broken of her rest when
all that was necessary to he done for the in
valid she could do herself.
| 1t had grown to be near midnight: the sick
woman was sleeping quietly; Laura Reed was
also to all appearances asleep, lying upon the
sofa.
The doctor WAS setting over by the win
dow, convcrsing in a voice SO low as to be al
most inaudiblc with Minnie. lie was talk
ing very earnestly, speaking Of his plans for
the future, his hopes, his wishes and Ills
fears.
| Minnie with her sweet manner took dccp
interest in his remarks, but in her artless
way revealed enough of her own feelings to
let him see that his regard for her was not
returned in the way he would have had it.
|
learned that her heart was already prc-oc
| pied.
Poor Minnie: the next morning the storm
burst over her head.
"To thiuk of making love in 4 sick room,"
exclaimed Mrs, Ranney with holy horror.
"Ics. and he put his arms around her and
kissed her Depend upon it, she is not the
right stripe. This uncle Of hers is entirely
| too attcntivc.''
| All at once il was discovered thr oughout
the village that Mr. Staplcfeld was not Min
nci's uncle. His attentions to her were en-
tircIy too marked and lover-lko and, their
rides too frequent. 1t was discovered that
ho had II wife and family and that they did
not even know Of tho existence Of this so cal.
led niece.
81 thuoght all along that it was very strange
| hat her aunt did not come to visit her as
we'll as her uncle" said Mrs. Ranncy, with
significant nodding of hor head.
Mimic found herscfso stared at in going
to and from school, and so avoided by all the
scholars and persons in the village who had
protested much fricndship-espccally by
Mrs. Ranney, that she wrote TO her uncle to
come and take her away. On the morning he
was expected, Mrs. Reed, tho landlady, told
her with very long face that her conduct
was such that she could no longer accommo-
dnte her.
Poor Minnie, what had she done; she flew
to me in passion Of tears, but at the time
mingling so little with the gossip lovers Of
| the place | knew no cause for her dismissal,
! but consolcd her as best could.
| Mr.. Staplcfiold came and if Laura Reed
and her crony had doubted the stripe Of littlo
| Minnie they could not say her uncle was not
the right stripe" He investigated the mat
| ter to the bottom, root and branch. He
questioned the young Doctor, took the affair
into the court, and the husband of Mrs. Ran
ncy and the father of Laura Reed were COM
PEELED to repent of the length and rancor Of
tongue appcrtainng to the wife and the
| daughter, to tho tune of several hundreds
| each.
When l left the oTcmpcrance House"
it had been discovered that Mr. StapcGeld
| Iidu WIG ui'i lNlHS bIlCou
miles distant, but that his wife was an invalid
unable to leave her room, and that his family
consisted at son who was away at school
andVa daughter that novor left her mothers
sick room longer than for a short walk-and
| that the long rides taken by Mimic with her
nncle terminated in q visit to her aunt.
This discovery was, however, made too
late to save the unwilling pockets of Mcssrs.
| Ranney and Reed, or to save the disgrace
! that fell on the sanctimonious Mrs. Ranney
and her confederate laura Reed in their
slanderous attack on the innocent young
girl.
Several years after this saw in tho papers
the announcement ofthc marriage of Minnie
staplcield and young &, the painter. A
clause following the announcement, adding
that the artist and his young bride had left
this country for Italy, where he WAS going to
perfect ms studies and to paint a series of
historical pictures for a man of wealth in this
couHtry.
o.
,r-J"A certain member Of Congress from
one Of the Eastern States was speaking, one
l.ly on ;cn,,n i,n,,ortaOt DIlust,,n on,I ln