The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-10-28

. staring at the barn instead of streetward
r and she was quite sure
. Some ein sprite
On mischief bent
:, had turned them. Wonderful visions wer
t. related at the table, in which hobgoblin
and knights seemed to have an even chanc
,, of it, while kitty's demands on my coffee
!. pot betrayed her brny condition. Christ
was still trifle pale and preoccupied.
And thus ended, or seemed to end, tn
Halloween Frolic.
AS the last blue veil whsked out of sigh
down the road, heartily wished them al
back. But the sunlight and laughter lin
; gered long in the old house, cheering nj
until the Thanksgiving preparations com
menced, when Kitty was with me again
and while l was engaged in preparing
"divers and sundries" of sweets and past
es, flesh and fowl. her nimble, tasteful fin
gers were identifying the rooms with fes
toons and garlands and bright bouquets
Her blithe young friends hunted through
highway and woodland for leaves and moss
grasses and pines, and came in laden. Fol
several days the great hall was piled with
beautiful confusion of dark evergreens
trailing Princess Pine, smoky wreaths o.
graceful clematis great clusters of the scar
let and orange bitter-sweet, and the daz
zling globes of the snowberry. Baskets Of
ferny moss too, and sprays of wild cram
berry! Wasn't it a lovely frame for beau
tiful faces and graceful forms? Can you
wonder the old home was TRANSPORTED un.
der the magic of such influences, and that
proud hostess greeted the new comers,
rs by twos and tens they all gathered UNI,
der the roof tree? Every nook was filled,
from the great "spare- chamber
bedded for the occasion-to the old mahog-
any crib for Baby Maud
| Well, all went on finely, till Just as we
were about to march in grand procession
to the Thanksgiving-f feast, the door burst
open, and to our great surprise, merry Rol-
lie Hayden, my young nephew, in all the
pride and promise of a nearly attained ma
jority, walked in, with
How are you all, good kinsfolk, and
| my blessed Auntie? | was determined to
come, if it took leg and though it was
hard to get off, l did it; and here's my
chum, Mr.. Richard Delamore, whom 1
insisted upon bringing to see genuine
Thanksgiving. He protested, but knew
you'd give me hearty welcome, and we
could find shake-down somewhere, in
barn or cellar. So make yourself at home,
Dick" Whereat the audacious youth pir-
ouetted across the room and demanded a
Cousins right from all the feminines pre-
sent, young and old; in the midst of which
confusion l went to greet and welcome our
new guest, who was self-possessed, hand
some fellow, with singularly attractive
expression.
He was soon on an easy footing with all,
and we were delighted at the pleasant &C
cession to our numbers. His conversation
al powers were brought into exercise at
table, and very merry feast we had for
our young people were many, and the ell
ders were rejuvenated by the spirit of the
day and hour. Rolle and Mr.. Delamore
were studying law in the same office land
seemed to feel greater zest for merriment
after season of Blackstone and Barbour.
There was no end of jokes and repartee;
and when all arose from the table, Rollie
caught blushing Miss Kitty about the waist
and waltzed down the long dining room
into the parlor. Dick looked very much
as though he would like to follow, but con-
tented himself with offering his arm to
fair neighbor and walking rapidly after
them.
81 say, let's have walk said Rollie.
"Come, girls, get your wraps, and let us
We gentlemen can't smoke here, and we
don't care to lose your charming society,
SO it's out fair you should join us Aunt
Jeanette, speak for you and Kitty for
my escorts; who'll follow my lead ?' The
proposition was met by genera stampede
for wraps, which was evidence plain that it
received approval; and after keeping my
nose so long in the kitchen fire, was glad
enough to sniff the crisp, clear air. So we
strolled off by twos and threes, whereso-
ever we listed. Rollie ahead, with Kitty
in bewitching little turban, with it's saucy
red wing perked on one side and the most
jaunty jacket of glossy seal-skin, while
sober | hung on for ballast to this giddy
young couple.
"Oh, Aunt Jean, this is perfectly jolly !"
and the dear, daft fellow evidently thought
fancied it an all-abroad remark, referring
to earth and sky, when knew very we'll it
was solely stimulated by the bright brown
eyes, the glowing check, and dainty mouth
of the charmer beside him. All ! did not
see the soft little hand that nestled on his
arm drawn closer as the frosty breezes blew
the heecy chestnut curlS against his coat,
and for one look at me Kitty had three
score and ten. But l enjoyed it all, and
wondered if the trio behind us were get
ting on as well, for Dick had lady fair on
each arm, and was skimming on after US.
AS we turned sharp corner | heard a sup
pressed exclamation ahead ofme, and look
ing up beheld Chrissie Marstone uis-a-ois,
looking straight through me, apparently,
at some one in the rear. Her dilated eyes
and flushed cheeks astonished ME; but she
quickly rallied, and after greeting us, said
hurriedly, in response to kitty's invitation
to join us, 81 can't, Pm going to grand
fathers with message. D" But, dearie,
l was just going to stop at your gate and
ask you to come up this evening. We are
going to have lots of fun; say you will"
After a moments hesitation she consented,
and left us. l was somewhat surprised to
see her frequent glances at Mr.. Delamore
while Kitty was speaking, and almost fear
ed, from the conscious blush and dropping
eyelids, that our sweet Chris was an Incl
pient tiirt. ROllie, too seemed struck with
it, for as she disappeared he said, "Dick,
my boy, fear you've smitten that beauty,
whoever she is.'-" Exactly my querry,'
responded Dick, ignoring the first clause.
"May ask who your beautiful friend is,
Miss Coles??''
Certainly; she is my dearest friend,
and I'm glad you like her, for she is looely,"
was Kitty's enthusiastic answer
"Well, | must say that either black is
very becoming to her, Or she is an uncom-
monty handsome girl, though l am not so
partial to blondes as my friend there"
affirmed Rollie.
"My friend !" seemed lost in thought,
and fancied his ladies fair we're rather
disguised at the turn things had taken,
and were ready enough to face homeward.
Most had arrived before us, and the re-
naming hours of the afternoon were spent
in chatting and music. After tea, Rollie
and Kitty started off for Christibel, and
was rather amused to hear Mr.. Delamore's
offer in the hall to accompany them ''just
to even matters coming home, chum-'' he
explained. I smiled when they had gone,
thinking he would prove Monsieur de Trop,
ard fell to specializing over Chrissie's odd
manner in the afternoon. She was a favor
lite with me and after the death of her
mother-some years back-I took the child
close to my heart, tor she had very little
sympathy in the cold, still house where,
being the only child, she had no companion
but her father who was absorbed in his
books, and her grim aunt, who hadn't a
thought beyond her housekeeping. Chris
labels nature was as quaint and sweet as