The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-10-10
HOW Ut CAMN TO PISS.

/ ioHSef tHe iecllis IS hdu Deen struggling
to repress all day must have their vent a,
last; and springing mp. flew like startled
hare out through the front door, down the
long avenue, past the flower garden, across
. the orchard till l reached my own little
arbor, which from earliest childhood had
been my hiding place and refuge in every
trouble and vexaton, and there finging my
selfupen the soft green grass, gave way to
q passionate burst oftears.
1t was so hard-so hard" 1 sobbed,
while my slight frame shook like leaf
81 did want mother to go. | didn't want
to be selfish and ugly, and hateful. But in
deed, indeed could not help it had
wanted to 90 so badly-had thought about
it so much. Oh, dear! oh, dear! oh,
dear!''
And-I cried till, worn out by the violence
of my grief, could only lie and sob, with
now and then long drawn, themulous
sigh.
just then I heard, just at my side, the
sound ofan approaching step. Before |
could spring up-berore could even arise
my head-I felt myself lifted up by pair
of strong arms, and seated-of all strange
places in the world on gentleman knee.
The next moment, after a startled glance q!
my face, the stranger-for he was a stranger
suddenly looscned his hold, and, spring
ing to my feet, We stood facing each other.
"Pray, pardon me-" he said, his hand
some face flushing crimson. "You seemed
in such distress ; you looked so very small
and dainty eurled up among the leaves, l
took you for a gricved child
His confusion was so very evident, his
dismay so apparently genuine. that, forget
ing my own embarrassment, could only
blush, and say with a smile:
81 am not much more"
:" 1t was very foolish of me-" he contin-
ued, "but always feel great dislike to
letting people alone when they seem in
trouble. Can you tell me whether l am
trespassing or not? am looking for Mr.
Devinc's house, and having a natural pro-
pensity for short cuts, was making, | i'm,
agined, Decline for the chimneys of the
mansion pointed out to me. Have | lost
my bearings ?''
"No, you were right. You are upon Mr.
Devine's grounds now. I am his daughter"
He bowed in acknowledgment of the in
PRODUCTION.
"My visit IS more especially to Mrs. De-
Of tho,
friends, and have heard so much of her
that love her already, without ever having
seen her.
/" She is the dearest, best mother in the
world ; no one can help loving her, re-
piled warmly.
He smiled quiet little smile.
81 couldn't get it from better authority
Are you the only chiId?'
! laughed at the idea.
"Indeed, MOI there are seven ofus, and
| am third upon the list. They tell me,
though, that am the only Weston among
them. | have my mothers hair and eyes.
You might almost know her by me. But"
| said abruptly, struck by sudden thought,
off you have never seen her, and yet know
her so well by report, you must be-
g Harry Lis;on," he interrupted, with a
smile. Harry Liston, of New York, at
your service. At present on my way to the
renowned Captain Cross, where am sadly
afraid | was expected this morning; but,
being shockingly lazy individual. did
not arrive at the village till this afternoon,
and finding, upon inquiry, that your moth
RS lay between me and my destination
could not resist the temptation to linger by
the way"
"0h then you have missed the pic
nic!" | cried, in dismay.
In some way. had entirely forgotten the
awe that expected to feel in the presence
of that most terrible of q lions real live
author, and looked up into his face 9nite
fearless as | announced this-in my eyes
extraordinary misfortune.
"And they counted upon You, too, so
much! I'm very sorry"
THE picnic? What picnic? Oh yes,
to be suse! l did hear something of grand
Fourth of July celebration; but don par
tcularly care for that sort Of thing as gen.
eral rule, and, to tell the truth, | am just a
little pleased at escaping it. Have missed
any great pleasure ?"
"Indeed you have! They have been
planning it here for weeks, and the arrange
ments were all admirable. Every one has
roro :, tho no;rb h,rbood o,o,r $40 CO.,
our house except grandma and I. So you
see you have made your visit at an unfor-
tunate time
"Not at ALL he said, gravely. "But,
as they are all gone away, there is no need
of our adjourning to the house just yet, is
there p he queried, quietly seating himself
upon the bench of the arbor cit is SO
pleasant out here, especially to way worn
traveller. You have no duties calling you,
Miss Divine?' he added, hastily, seeing
shade of embarrassment on my face.
"No oh, no not just now, at all events.
Grandma's nap will last at least for an hour
longer; but you will think me very rude
hadn't you better go on to the grove? 1t is
only two miles further on, and you will be
in time for the pleasant part of the enter
tainment. They will like it so, too.''
"Nay, excuse me. Two miles seem an
interminable distance to one so worn out
already as l am" And he threw back his
head with ludicrous attempt at an air of
complete exhaustation. 81 don't believe
could walk two steps without suffering from
the excrtion. And please, Miss Divine, be
seated, it fatigues me just to see you looking
so ready for notion
And l complied with his request, he went
on:
"But, may ask, as this pic mic was to be
SO splendid an affair, and as everybody was
going, why Miss Divine stayed away? 1t
can't be possible that she takes no interest
in such vanities; no, she spoke with too
much enthusiasm just now. What then keeps
her at home-might know?'
l blushed, and looked down in confusion.
1t seemed so foolish not to tell him the
plain truth. But, then, to do so, would
look like praising ones self; so l faltered