The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-01-13
LIKE A WOMAN.
IN TWO CHAPTERs-CHAPTER l.

"What is she likeo A difficult question
that to answer, my dear boy. She's like
nothing on earth except a woman
"That strikes me as being a rather
vague account to render of person you re
going to stick to for better or for worse, so
long as you live" The last speaker both
looked and spoke in an ill-used tone, but
he was in the golden age still, and an ex-
preston of dissatisfaction did not become
him. The man he addressed was sufficient
ly like him for tie fact of the relationship
that existed between them to be apparent.
But he was past middle age, and though
he carried his forty-ive years boldly and
well, it was evident that he and all claims
to youthfulness had shaken hands and parted
company forever.
They were sitting now on the top of
gate that opened from turnip-tield into a
plantation, with their guns under their
arms, and setter and brace of pointers at
their feet. And the sentences that open
this story were spoken by them just after
the brief announcement that the elder man
had brought himself to make, that in about
six weeks he was going to be married.
81 am too old to indulge in the luxury
of rhapsodies," he said with laugh,
"but I'll tell you this, Theo I am very
fond of the girl, and very we'll satisfied
that you'll approve of my CHOICE
"Uncles don't generally submit their
choices in such matters to their nephews
Judgments Theo Bligh said, recovering
his normal expression of benignant indif-
ference to the majority of things he spoke
well, l hope the lady won't object to
my hanging out at the Chase at uncertain
intervals, and-I hope with all my heart
that you'll be happy" And then the two
oped greater degree of callousness at
once, in order to conceal the genuine emo
ton they were feeling.
The cover they were going to shoot was
in the very heart Of the Chase property,
and the pointers and the setter, and the
property altogether, belonged. as may have
been surmised, to the elder Mr.. Bligh. 1t
was rather hard thing for the somewhat
extravagant and extremely impecunious
Theo to hear that this uncle, whose hand
had always been open, and whose eyes had
always seemed to regard Theo as the heir
was going to be married. In quiet cor
her of his own heart the young man did,
in the first hour of his surprise and disap-
pointment, suffer himself to say that the
future Mrs. Bligh must be a played OIL:
flirt, woman eager to secure any chance
| that is offered. "Otherwise she wouldn't
have accepted him after a three week S
acquaintanceship," he argued; "and if he
had picked her up in any other place than
| Portsmouth, there would have been bet,
ter atmosphere about the affair; but
know that those officers daughters are
always lurking about the corners of the
streets, seeking whom they may devour."
"You will meet her to night at dinner,
Mr.. Bligh had said to Theo. "She is COM
| ing with her brothers and some friends CT
theirs to see her future home" And in
| consequence of this information received
| Theo Bligh went home to dinner in rather
a dark mood.
| But this state of feeling lasted only 4
short time; for the young fellow was gen
erous hearted, and quite capable of seeing
the other side Of things when reason strove
to show it to him. As he dressed he came
| to the conclusion, quite honestly, and with
out much effort, that after all his uncle
was only doing wisely and well in marry
ing, since he had found a woman he could
love. And when he. had come to this con-
| clusion, he found himself rather eager for
the introduction that had seemed such an
odius thing to him in the morning.
The drawing-room was full when he
entered, and his eyes went round in rapid
search for the lady who had brought his
uncle to bay. "That must be Miss Dun
dee," he thought, as he caught sight Of
lady who was talking rather earnestly to
Mr.. Bligh, GAS I expected, she's by way
of being an old girl-has seen the vanity
of most things, especially the vanity of
hesitating, when to hesitate may be to lose"
Then he went up to the pair, and asked
for an introduction to Miss Dundee, and
found himself turned round by the shout
der by Mr.. Bligh, and brought face to face
with girl whom he had not seen before.
oct is is my nephew Theo, Madge." he
said, looking down into the girls face with
a proud, admring gaze; and she put out
her hand frankly at once. and Theo took it.
and told himself that here was the real
"Bonnie Dundee" and all that had gone
before her were impostors.
81 think Mr.. Bligh has been rather ner-
vous about introducing me, the interoper,
to you," Miss Dundee said, quickly max