The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-06-24
"Ellen, do you wish to displeaso mo; dc

you C'fc lloGHlIlS 1of lily loPC my Ciillu
said Mrs. Grey, as she glanced at tho book,
and took chair before the girl.
The heavy eyes lifted themselves to hers,
there was a slight quivering about the
parting lips, but no answer.
care you not well, Ellen? only tell mo
you are suffering, and will forgive you,
Us l have SO often done before"
There was spasmodic, choking az
am not SICK" and then tho pale lips rcso-
lutely closed.
81 cannot understand you, Ellen, you are
mystery to me. Oh, my child, why will
you not let ME love you why will you sad
den all of our hearts by this sullen course
of conduct, which you seem determined to
persist in. My heart ycarns over you, my
child, my only sisters daughter. Come to
me and tell me you love me, and that you
have some reason for thus acting"
She opened her arms, but Ellen shrank
away, and covered her face with her hands.
"Well, Ellen" said Mrs. Grey, rising,
after long and painful silence, off you
will it SO must submit. I have offered
you my love, asked your confidence, and
you refuse both. 1t now only remains for
mo to do my duty, and painful as it will be,
l shall endoavor to discharge it. Your
inattention, your idleness, your careless
ness, could forgive, but your dishonesty,
your detection from truth, must be met as
crimes which deserve punishment. My
admonitions, my reproofs, my warnings,
have failed of any effect, and now, when
you super-add to your misdemeanors a
sullenness, that hardens itself against the
voice of love, fear that stolidity will soon
deaden you to the voice of conscience
Ellen, you grieve me to the very heart,
may God forgive you, poor child, and teach
me to deal truly with you. Until 1 sec
some signs of change and repentance in
you, you will no longer sit with the family,
nor join in the sports of the children.
shall expect you to appear regularly at
prayers, at your meals, and in the school
room, and at time you wish to see mo, you
will find me in my dressing room, and may
God put in your heart to see me soon and
often" So saying, she turned and left the
room.
There was low wall as the door closed,
Ellen sprang to her feet, and extended her
arms as if she would have detained her;
then suddenly clasping her head, she sank
again on the sofa, crying, ooh that l
could die, oh that could die ~ soon ex-
haustins herself, she lay still and motion
less, the only sign Of consciousness being
quick, convulsive shivers, following each
other at short intervals. She had been
lying thus perhaps half an hour, when a
quiet step was heard in the passage, and a
hearty voice exclaimed: "Whero is
Ellen? '
Tho next instant the door was flung
open and bright, beautiful boy, of about
fourteen, entered. The girl Immediately
sprang to her feet, and hurriedly attempted
to smooth the tangled hair from her face.
az am here, Eddie ~ she said, warm
flush mounting her check. "Have you
got back?'
eyes" he cried, boisterously, eve had a
splendid time, and got lots of fish, but sec
here, Ellen, lost the watch"
Ellen staggered, and turned deadly pale,
she sat down on the sofa, to prevent herself
from falling. "You didn't, Eddie p
"Oh, but 1 did, though, see, here is the
chain," he said drawing the broken links
from his pocket. "You see the COMPOUNDED
thing caught in my line some way, and
chain, and down to the bottom of the river
went my watch, and that's the last of the
hateful, old thing"
eddie our fathers watch p
"Well, can't help it if it was, what did
you give it to me for?''
"Oh, Eddie" again faltcringly entreatcd
the trembling voice, "you said you aooutd
have it, and if 1 didn't get it for you, you
would know I mover did caro- anything
about you. That my love was all pretence
if could not do that much for you. You
know, Eddie, how you urged me to do it.
and how begged you not to make me do
it,
"Well, it's no use to 60 over all that rig
marole now. remember devilish well how
like ghost you looked the night you slip
ped into aunt's room and got it for me out
of her drawer, while l watched on the
stairs to whistle when any one was coming.
could not help giving little squeak
when saw you got it hard and fast, and
by Jing how you did run"' he said break
ing out into boisterous laugh.
ooh Eddie, hush why do you say such
vulgar, wicked words, what would our
uncle, what would our own dear father say
if he could hear your
"Tom Jones says thcm," said Eddie,
sulkily "and l don't see any harm in them
l don't SEQ why uncle Grey should be SO
dcucedly particular.
"Hush, Eddie" replied Ellen, striving
to cover his lips with her hand.
"Uncle Grey is SO kind and good to us
poor orphans, and dear, dear Aunt Lucy,
it breaks my heart when think of her, y
and too weak for passionate outbreak, the
| tears trlckleu SllcIltly uoWu Inc Iaic cileehs
of the child.
"Aunt Lucy is good fellow mean
a clever woman," replied Eddie, warmly,
"but see here Ellen, how are you going tc
fix up this devil of a bad jobs he said,
throwing the remnant of the chain into
her lap.
81 will not fix it, as you call it, at all
if You do not stop using those vile words, .
replied Ellen. 81 never heard you speak
so recklessly before. Were you not with
cousin Roland ?"
"No," replied Eddie, again boisterously
laughing. "Joncs and l were too smart
for him to-day. Jones calls him conceit
ed pig, and we managed to get boat tt
ourselves, and had royal time. wouldn'
have been homo now, but Mr. Davy came
by, and broke up our party You see
Nellie, the boys had a jug of sweetenet
cider, with just enough brandy in it t.
make it go well, and the old skunk had tt
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