The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-23

smoking COliee, luu UuttcIeu Ioiio, WliCli
she imagined were to be found in the
refreshment room of the depot. She watch
ed the stream of passengers fastening from
the cars, and half made up her mind to
follow them. But it was such jostling,
hurrying crowd, and she was such little
thing, that they might run over her. Then
she had nervous horror of pickpockets,
who abounded, she had been assured, in
such crowds. Besides, "breakfast would
cost dollar, and there was very little more
than that in her purse. So she laid her
head upon her little satchel again, and
prudently resolved to be satisfied with the
slender lunch of bread and smoked beef
the good natured housekeeper at the "In-
stitute" had given her.
"Addy, shall we go to breakfast" she
heard Emmie ask
"Why, no, believe not" said Addy,
languidly. 81 am sure we breakfasted
very comfortably before we started. am
not hungry yet. And then, my dear, l
never eat in such places if 1 can help it."
"Neither do l. but never can help it, -
said Tom Hardy, with a ridiculous grimace,
as he moved towards the door. The other
gentlemen followed, Addy graciously con-
senting to drink a cup of coffee if it could
be brought to her.
In a few moments waiter entered bear
ing tray with half dozen cups of smok-
ing hot coffee, which certainly had most
delightful aroma.
While Addie stirred and tasted her cof-
fee, Mr.. Winston, who had returned with
the waiter, was carrying on a whispering
conversation with Alice and Emmie, and
Margie, to her establishment, suddenly per-
ceived from their glances that they were
talking about her. She had scarcely time
to be surprised, however, before Emmie,
nodding smiling ascent apparently to a
proposition of Mr.. Winston's, came across
the narrow aisle with cup of coffee in
her hand, and paused by Margie's side.
"Won't you let me offer you some cof-
fee ?' she said, in tone which somehow
managed to be an entreaty, an apology,
and caress all at once. 81 am sure it
will do you good; you look tired. Please
take it,
Margie's pale cheeks had glowed at first
with little flame of wounded pride; but
Emmie thought it was only shyness, and
she went on to say, in her winning tones:
81 wouldn't have ventured to offer it,
but saw you were alone, and it's so disa-
greeable for a lady to go in crowd like
that"
So they didn't mean to be charitable, but
only corteous. Margie could stand that
With smile as bright as Emmie's, she
took the cup, and said, heartily: "Thank
you! You are very kind, indeed"
Then the waiter brought Emmie another
cup and she drank her coffee standing by
Margie's seat, and chatting pleasantly with
her.
"Won't you sit down here?' said Mar
gle, motioning to the seat beside her, and
Emmie slipped into the seat, stealing a
glance across the car to see what the move
ment would be thought of there.
Addy looked slightly surprised, Alice
rather uneasy, and Mr.. Winston's dark
eyes flashed an amused approval.
So Emmie kept her seat, not only while
the cars halted, but long afterwards. 1.-The
free-masonry of youth" drew the two
young girls together, and soon little conf
dences began to be exchanged, and merry
laughs to ring out as clearly from Margie' S
lips as from Emmie's.
Margie discovered that Emmie's party
were going to the same little town among
the mountains that she herself was jour
neying to. That Emmie knew her aunt,
Mrs. Delaney, and did not like her either.
That fact Margie guessed from the girls
tell-tale face, not from anything she said.
Emmie told her that Alice and herself
were going home from boarding school to
her sisters wedding. "She is to marry
Mr.. Brent, Addy's brother, and all of us
are to be bridesmaids and groomsmen. The
wedding is to be the day after Christmas
day, and there will be half dozen grand
parties in the neighborhood afterwards
1t will be perfectly jolly"'
So Margie thought, too, and with feel
ing of envy she could not quite control,
she contrasted the dreary prospect before
herself-the cold welcome to a strange
home, and hef life of loneliness and toll
with Emmie's glowing description of the
home love, and luxury, and gayety await
ing her. But in a moment she put away
the feeling, and answered cheerfully the
questions Emmie asked about herself
Her little history was soon told, and Emmie
ran on again with her overflow of happy
condolences. Meanwhile the party Emmie
had deserted wondered greatly over her
prolonged absence, and were very curious
about the little party with the blue eyes
Emmie had scared up, as Tom expressed
it.
The two girls were fast becoming friends,
for neither of them was troubled with reti-
cence, and before ten o'clock Emmie had
found half dozen little kindnesses to dc
for Margie. She had entreated her as as a
personal favor to eat some of the nice bis
cult and cold chicken her own pretty trav.
cling bag contained, had produced bottle
of cologne, and assured Margie it was
"better than water to wash the car dust
from your face. Just put some on YOU
handkerchief, and try it, and had watched
with much interest the color coming bright
ly into Margie's cheeks during this move
ablution. Then she brought over the lovely
Afghan Margie had admired, and proudly
exhibited it as her own work. In the midst
of the animated conversation that followed
concerning all manner of fancy work, the
train stopped at station, and Leslie and
George came in from another car to an
nounce in an excited way that it was snow
ing fast, and the down train had brought
news that quite heavy snow-storm hat
set in nearer the mountains. The news
seemed to create some uneasiness among
Emmies party, and she went back to he
seat to discuss the subject, leaving Margi'
to watch the snowfakes that went hurry
ing past the window, and to notice how
tho hr01un aorfh uoc GRADUALLY diSa