The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-08-15

ing stupidity. lie transgressed in the oppo-
site direction that day, and was as tcnIerly
assidnons as a lover. Polly did not appre-
ciate his kindness, but seeing that his re.
pentancc for his great ollense was deep and
unfeignel, she forgave him fully and freely
so fully that when he took his leave of her
at the Warden House, whittier he had driven
her and Maggie over in his dog cart, and
said humbly: We are friends again, Polly
are we not? And You will come again at
Eastern"
Polly, with rosy benclcent countenance
shining on him, replied: "Yes,--if may"
Polly's adventures at the Warden House
were passed chiefly in the school.room. The
children were reasonably good, and Mrs.
Stapylton was abundan,ly satisfied with her
new governess $ checrfuness, skill and in
dustry; but the first time she sounded her
praises to her husband, the Captain replied:
"Dont expect to keep the little woman
long, my dear. She is uncommonly pretty,
and am very much mistaken if Bob Liv.
ingstone is not sweet on her, he always in
quircs after her so amiably when we meet
at the market table,
"Oh!' said Mrs. Stapylton and the next
time the meet was at the Warden House, she
babe her husband invite Bob to ride over
the previous day, and sleep; and she con-
trived to have lady short at dinner, and
asked Polly to be so kind as to leave lessons
for once, and fill the gap; for she was an
amiablc woman, married after her own
heart, and would be glad, as she said to
give such nice little thing a chance.
Polly had the sagaciiy to leave her pro-
tession upstairs, and to come down charm
ing in her white dress and white ribbons,
but Bob felt it was not quite like having her
to himself at Blackburn Grange. Yet she
was much easier here, and talked, and was
as gay as any one. There was nothing in
Polly to provoke or invite an imperinence
The ladies made no difference with her, and
her face was enough to insure her kindness
at first sight from men. If Bob was Il per
son to be Influenced by other peoples opin-
ions, he heard many golden ones Of Polly at
the Warden House, and all casually express
ed without reference to him. Perhaps he
did carry away an idea or two of her more
meaning than any he broag Maggie GER
taihly believed it, and began to insinuate the
same in her letters to her FRIEND but Polly
was needless and Indifferent to Bob, and
her work and duty were much more in her
head than nonsense which sufficiently
accounted for her never responding to Mag
gies hints and queries.
Easter did not lngcr, but was soon come,
bringing with it Pollys second visit to the
Grange. 1t was lovely Easter that year,
warm, sunny, serene as May, with hedges
green, pear.trees and cherry .trees in bios.
som, and even roses in bud under the shell.
Ter of the caves on the south wall of the old
house. They made It quite gay season at
Blacktlorn Grange, and Polly, whose dig
mites had worn easier already, entered into
it with all the natural joyousncss Of her
temper and time of life. She was exceed.
ingly pleasant about the house, and the
many visitors, kinsloli, and neighbors who
came there during her stay were charmed,
and regarded her with significant interest
which none Of the family discouraged. Mrs.
Livingstone would walk her about the great
walled garden for an hour at a time, talking
to her no one but themselves knew what
about, but the two were excellent company
to each other, and often Bob made third.
Laura was rather quizzical on the subject of
Maggie's friend and her brother but that
was her disagreeable way, and Fanny and
Maggie made up to them for it by all sorts
of little consideratenesses, which they pro-
flied by without observing And every day
some excursion was planned which threw
them together. Now it was 10 Cranstown
Rocks, now to Haviland Priory, and one
day, the most memorable of all, to Beech
Grove, the Livingstones' ancestral manor,
Bobs inheritance, where Maggie informed
Polly that he would most likely go to live
when he married and settled. twas an old
place, though not so old as the Grange, and
it had fallen into some neglect from having
been let to careless tenant, whose lease
was, however, nearly run out; but as Polly
said, "With q little trouble and taste it
might be made beautiful" Bob asked how
she would go about to improve it, and, as
he trottcd her through the rooms and the
garden, he treasured up all her little views
and opinions, which she was perfectly free
with, not at all as if they were a matter of
personal concern. And perhaps they were
not Polly had faculty for planning and sug
costing, but she was not conscious of any
peculiar sentiment for the place as Bob's
future home, though everybody, himself in.
Guided, gave her credit for it.
And very happy Bob was in this illusion
Polly was quite kind enough to please him,
and her shy trick of blushing, and her sud,
den vivacties and caprices, soon charmed
his heart away entirely. And hers? She
was mystery to herself; she liked Bob
she liked to be near him once, when he
took her by surprise and kissed her, she was
not so furious but that he thought he might
some day venture again in fact, if she had
given way to nature, she would have loved
him very sweetly and tendery. But all her
principles were against givl.g way, and when
ever she felt inclined to lapse into weakness,
she would recite to herself all her mother $
litany of impediments, and pains, and pen.
alties in marriage. This sufficiently proved
her in danger, and set her on her guard
against it, poor little Polly
| The Easter visit was extended to a fort.