The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-12-14

| VI
green. Hence her desire for exercise. Sh
would look upon it as a wilful disregard {
a providential opportunity if she did nc
go out now.
my dear Minnie, just consider that
am only just back from Balsingham, an
that Pm rather tired. Do let me have nj
tea first
"Why did you go9 What could Undue
you to 60 rushing off in the heat of thi
afternoon?" Minnie feels disappointed
and so speaks Grossly.
81 went to get butter and fruit" point
ing to those delicacies.
Clutter and fruit.' Minnie shrugs he
supple shoulders. "I'd rather 60 without
any day; why didn't you send that grun
pus, Bridget? If she walked more sh
wouldn't puff me out of my mind nearl
every time she comes into the room, wit
her hard breathing.
Miss Paulett laughs. "Bridget had he
work to do. And what has put you out
my little lady9 Have some tea, dear?'
Ono, thank you, aunt" When Mimi
first came, the still young aunt had re
quested that her niece would could cal
her "Kate,' but Minnie very decided.
refused to do it. "There shall be no mis-
take about my being the niece, and year
the younger of the two," she sagaciousl.
determined.
"No, thank you, aunt; there's some
thing unholy in tea at this time of day
unless you dine after it. I'll go out on thu
green, you can join me by-and-by." Ther
she half repents herself of her rudeuess, ant
adds, 81 shall like some of that nice cream
cheese for supper, if may have it."
"You may have what you like, dear
yes, I will join you by-and-by," the aunt
says, contemporary.
So Minnie's conscience feels clear, and
she rings for Bridget to bring her hat and
blue lama shawl, the ends of which she
shall presently toss over her shoulder, in a
jaunty way that has neither the merit OF
being pretty nor uncommon, but that is
immensely popular with young ladies.
Minnie walks on, perfectly satisfied with
herself, her head wobbling up and down
occasionally in little futtering paroxysms
of conceit. The color deepens in the face
that she holds very much up and little
on one side as she steps on to the green,
and the well-opened blue eyes dance. For
there, hundred yards ahead of her, is the
manly form, reclining on one of the seats.
Unluckily, the manly nose is turned away
from her that it may sniff in so much of
breeze as there is. Minnie has come to
Binham on an acknowledged mission. 1t
is her bounden duty to herself she feels,
to do something definite during this cam
paign. The only something definite ="
that girl of Minnie's calibre cares to
achieve is matrimony.
Her object is we'll before her now, but it
would hardly do for her to go up and sit
down by him, and let him see that she has
followed him on purpose. She turns
slightly, therefore, and saunters along skirt
ing the green until she is on the other side,
of it, quite in his line of vision.
And now she knows that her work is
done.
In few minutes she hears footsteps be-
hind her. Another minute and the manly
form is by her side, taking off his hat, and
looking ridiculously pleased. 1t is Mr..
Boughton, the curate in charge of Binham
"a good-looking man of one or two and
thirty.
Up to within the last twelvemonth, Mr..
Boughton had steadily advocated the cell
bacy of the priesthood. But since that time
he had modified his views, and this change
has been attributed in great measure to
his increasing intimacy with Miss Paulett.
Now Binham did not grudge him his par
ticular attentions to the handsome, fresh
hearted, clear-headed, unaffected woman.
On the contrary, Binham declared that
they would be a delightful pair. But it
was intolerant to the daring of the stran-
ger within the gates who tlirted at him
with such effrontery.
He is quite conscious that she is flirting
with him. He sees that she puts herself at
her best as soon as he approaches her; that
she makes her eyes sparkle, and looks ad-
miringly at his eyes, and he likes it.
1t is useless to deny it. He does like it.
He has INDUCED in many powerfully-word-
ed Jermiads against Jezebels generally; he
has cautioned the young men of his flock
against Gree in all her forms. But now,
when Minnie Ward put a feather in her
hat at him, and wraps blue shawl mys-
teriously about her lithesome shoulders at
him, and gazes with look that only miss
es being look of love by one hairs bredth
of intervening modesty at him, he likes it.
His eyes are very fine, and his appear
ance and manners very gentlemanly and
refined, and his prospects are very good,
and she is sick to death of teaching. Civ
en- such conditions in such situation, and
it is not difficult to guess what will ensue.
SIS Miss Paulett not coming out this
evening? % he asks, when they have taken
a turn round the green, to the dismay and
disgust of the occupants of the villas.
"Aunt Catharine? No; couldn't drag
her out, SO l braved a solitary stroll. l
shan't have many more walks on the
green.'
"Why not?" he asks with a qualm.
"I'm going away next week. Mamma
will have me home again."
She has morbid horror of it's being
known here that she is out as a governness;
and she has made her Aunt VOW silence on
the point. To "Mamma," therefore, it
becomes necessary to impute greed for
her child's society which amounts to sell
fshnes
They are on the verge of the green now,
at the farthest end of the village. The
ruins of AN old abbey are in sight Beyond
the abbey there is a wood. She losses her
head in the direction of the wood, and
says:
How sweet it would be of me to take
dear lazy old Aunt Catharine boquet of
wild flowers!'
A faint spark of loyalty to charming