The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-03-25
SARA'S SWEETHEART.

seat opposite my mother.
"This is the last opportunity 1 shall
have of talking to you, my dear, and there
is something must say before you co.
| There was an expression of troubled per-
plexity on my mothers face as she drew
her face nearer the fire.
1t was very late, past eleven o'clock
| but early next morning l was going from
home to spend a few weeks at Prong smere
Manor, the seat of our wealthy uncle,
Charles Blamford, Esq, who, being at all
other times much too grand to show us the
light Of his countenance, thought proper
this particular autumn to invite ME and
my sister Flora to spend a short time at
the Manor.
The Blamfords of Frog 'smere were my
fathers relations and very unpleasant
ones we had hitherto found them, inasmuch
as, considering my father to have done the
family a great wrong by marrying my
mother, they turned their backs upon him
from that day.
My father had been dead four years at
this time, and a hard four years they had
been to us. Not that we had ever been
rich, for my father belonged to that most
unhappy class of men, a younger son of 4
poor but noble house, who cannot work,
and to beg are ashamed. To give mul-
tum in parco description of ourselves,
should tell you we were poor and proud :;
that is, our father was, and we girls, fol-
lowing in his steps, were proud too. Our
mother, who was the daughter of coun-
try curate, and my only brother, who fol-
lowed ia her steps, were quite different
and am afraid we led her a sad life before
our father died. We were too proud to
walk three miles to church every Sunday,
and too poor to keep any kind of carriage,
so we stopped at home. This was only
one of many such affections in our domes-
tic affairs. But about a year before our
father died my brother George took upon
himself to express very decided opinions
| concerning his future and, after good
deal of skirmishing with my father he
obtained reluctant consent to 90 and try
his fortunes in Australia. | don't think
he succeeded very well, for the few letters
we received from him were rather vague
and unsatisfactory. Poor George found
his fortune long in coming, it would seem.
Of late years we had fewer letters than
ever, and these only contained affectionate
inquiries and remembrances, not touching
upon himself or his affairs.
My mother and l kept little day school
between us, and let half our house. In
my leisure hours drew water color sketches
| which was often fortunate enough to dis
| pose of at an artists repository. We
might have done very well but for some
| heavy bills incurred before my father died
| The payment of these drained our purse of
all our earnings. My fathers little income
ceased with his life.
Flora was still at school, where, by Civ
ing part of her time as governess to the
younger pupils, she received finishing les
sons in numerous accomplishments. Flora
was very clever, and her whole soul was
bound up in study. Lately she had been
| grieying because we could not afford to
give her year at a first-class German
academy, whittier one of her classmates
intended going in the spring. But this
anticipated visit has put the German acad-
envy quite out of Flora's head for time.
She had been sitting on the rug all the
evening with the kit ten in her lap, and
chattering so theoretically that my mother
had not been able to get word into the
conversation, though 1 guessed there was
something on her mind. I was not, there
fore, at all surprised when she asked me to
sit a little longer after Flora had wished us
goodnight.
| "Sara," said my mother, solemnly, as l
resumed my seat, "you are all have, my
dear, in the shape of companion; for
dear Flo is such child, and poor George
is scarcely like one of us at ALL
Here my mother paused, and sighed
deeply. remained silent.
81 don't know how to begin what 1 want
to say, Sara" she continued, looking up at
me- Its about Flo
"Well, mammal said, rather aston.
ished.
"Don't you think it would be good
thing if we could get her married, Sara %
| could only look at my mother, but |
suppose she saw the astonishment in my
eyes, for she resumed, speaking hastily and
sadly. ooh, Sara, such thought would
never have entered my head if we had moi
been SO poor, and File is such a shiftless
girl. All the learning she Graves for will
not bring her bread and salt; besides, only
consider the indignities governess mus
always be subject to. l think my heart
would break to see her in such position
yet that is what she must come to if
Oh, Sara, I can't bear to tell you wha
came into my mind; but | must, and
dear, don't be cross, or laugh,-I thought
that if your Cousin Guy sees Flora, he
might
"Fall in love with here" I said. "Ol
mamma -
In spite of my mothers entreates,
laughed heartily. The idea of our grant
cousin at Frog smere falling in love will
his humble little cousin, whom his father
had condescended to invite for a week
holiday, quite overpowered me.
Mamma" said l., & forgive me it il
so improbable"
"Not at all, Sara" said she. ssFlora i
as wcll-born as Guy, and remarkably
pretty girl besides. AS to money, he ha.
enough and to spare. 1t would be quite
a likely thing" And viewed thus, it dit
seem more feasible.
l sat thinking about it a little while, ant
then l said it certainly was Just possible.
"But, mamma | said, cit is not
81 ba oonnfa1 ,pop II b,t