The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-08-22


adding, in a cheerful, explanatory tone,
"She is going to be my little wife, Mrs
Davis, are you not, Polly?'
"There go two words to that bargain"
said Maggie, and laughed nervously. Polly
did not speak. but she made gentle decided
move to extrcate herself, her heart beating
with pang after pang, and her eyes turned
with pathetic eutreaty on Bob's face. Bob,
who loved her eyes, smiled at their helpless
sweetness, and thought they were like his
favoriteF settlers when she covered at his
feet, fearing punishment. He did not let
her 60 at once, and she did not struggle
dignity forbade, but she slipped away by
and by, aud contrived to say, that though it
might be vast honor to sit on Bob knee,
she greatly preferred a chair, at which Bob
laughed perhaps rather too incredulously.
The day but one after this was the day
fixed for Polly to go home. Mrs. Living
stone was very kind to her, and hoped she
would soon return for a longer stay: and
this she repeated SO frequently that Polly
quite understood that she had no doubt Of
it. Bob left her little peace, but he did not
put her out of her pain until the last morn
ing when she had began to think she was to
get away without mourning the worst test
1t was settled the night before that she should
go to the station with Maggie and Laura in
the pony carriage, which had front and
back seat apd when she had said good by
to Mrs. Livingstone and Fanny indoors, and
came out at the garden door in the morning
sunshine there was Bob, in light summer
suit, looking in the finest spirits, but excited
wihal.
( Are yo1 going, Bob? l have pat Oh my
driving goves,'' said Laura, who had already
taken the reins.
g You may drive and welcome; only
want to go to the turn Of Pickctt's Lane;
I'll sit behind with Polly said he. and put
her in, and followed himself Then Maggie
mounted by her sister, and off the Pony
west at a frisiy trot.
Po!iys parting glimpse of the Grange was
adorned by the figures of Mrs. Livingstone
and Fanny in the porch, Fanny waving her
hand and crying, Come back soon, Polly
come back soon!' The road was long and
perfectly level and s:rai sht, but it wavered
in capricious zigZags before Pollys eyes,
while roses and lilies contended for the do.
minion of her face. Bob was there, and
watching her, and her heart was all one
great swelling pang. She would have given
anythin. for leave to cry, bat this was neither
the time nor place for tears, and she had
forgotten her veil Bob was apparently oc-
cup;ed with the landscape, but he did not
lose one change of her sweet little face, and
presently he began to speak Of her return to
the Grange.
g Bat shall see yol before then, Polly
he went on; - an coming to Normnster
next week, and you will introduce me to
Jane and your mother. | am only rough
fellow, but love you dearly, Polly, and you
must speak for me. I'll promise to take all
the care in the world of you if you Il be my
precious little wife don you believe me,
Polly?"
- know you are very good, Bob, bnt |
made up my mind long since that | could
take care Of myself said Polly with sud
den, invncible. wicked qliet. thAt came to
her aid from no one coutu viz.
What ON earth do you mean, Polly"
demanded Bob, startled. out of his happy
complacency.
"What say. You are very kind, but
but don't intend to marry"
Bob was posed for moment, though no;
silenced. " Change your mind for me, Pol .
ly. Don't you think we could be happy to-
gether? have qutc set my heart on you;
| cannot live without YOU
"That is what all men say bcforehand
but have heard my mother talk. No, Bob: /
| shall make a better govcrncss than wife:
am not cut out for anyboly's WIFI
LET me judge of that, Polly: don shake
your head What has come over you to be /
such little savage all at once? You were
very nice yesterday; why did You let a fell !
low worship you, if you meant to be so hard .
to him at last? | don't understand it /
won't believe you can seriously mean to use /
fellow so badly. Is it true, then, that you
don't care for me? is it true that you can't /
be happy with me:-that you won't even
think of it ~
There was no sottening or promise in Pol /
ly countenance. She was feeling that she
had come through the dreaded ordeal won
derfully, and the pride and excitement of a
complete victory over the traitor in her bo- |
som sustained her. Bob was speeches. for /
a few minutes. They approached the turn /
of Pickett's Lane. At the supreme moment |
he looked at her once more with wrathful .
love, and said, in constrained voice, "Then ,
you'll have nothing to do with me, Polly?'' !
Her heart moved with cruel spasm, but
her, d" No, Bob" came out cold, curt and /
clear as a drop of iced water.
Bob stepped into the road as Laura check,
ed the pony the halt was not for half .
minute, and he had Disappeared and Polly .
was left to enjoy the triumph of principle .
over natural affection.
Maggie understood but too well what had .
happened and, doing by Polly as she would .
have been done by in similar circumstances,
she took no notice of her disappointing
friend until they arrived at the station
There were not two minutes to watt and the .
train dashed in. Laura stayed outside with |
the pony. Maggie took Poly's ticket, saw
her luggage safe and herself in a carriage .
alone; and then, just as the guard came /
along with his whistle and "All right" she /
kissed her, and said, with sob, 81 am aw-
fully sorry, Polly; but it is your own fault. /
You deserve to die an old maid, and believe /
you will :"
1t may, perhaps, be anticipated that Polly .
repented at once, for she was certainly fond .
of Bob; but it cannot confidently be aver
red that she did. When she arrived at .
home, her mother and Jane thought her .
looking remarkably rosy and well: nothing
was observed TO be the matter with her spir
its, and as she kept her own counsel about .
Bob's offer she had Mother praisa nor blame .