The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-01-13

with the generosity OF woman, sought tt
put them well with one another withou
regard to herself.
f.! g It was selfish of me to say wonldn'
spare you, for it must be dull for you here
but the fact is, Theo has spoilt me, just as
my brothers do, and have fallen into the
way of ordering him about as | do them
forgetting he isn't brother. What lovely
piece of turf! Shall we canter?'
She went Off as she spoke, and they FOL,
lowed. Theo squirting his horse rather
recklessly by way of a diversion, and Mr.
Bligh bewildering himself with his en-
deavors to distinguish which would be tbs
right course for him to pursue. IN put
it to her plainly" he determined at last
and if her heart has turned to him, Goo
| bless her, she shall never suffer for it.
Fate seemed to be against things right
| ing themselves in the original way. They
rode fast and far, and when they thought
of turning homeward, Miss Dnndee's horse
had lost shoe, and they were obliged to
wait in the first village they could find,
while blacksmith was sent for to put it
on again.
1t was terribly trying work for them all,
that sitting in the room at an inn. weighted
with the discoveries they had recently
made about each other. 1t became insup
portable to Mr.. Bligh after short time,
and so he sauntered out into the garden,
and Theo M,dge were alone.
Her spirit rose with her sense of danger.
as does that of all finely organized natures,
and she turned to him bright and brave at
once. though he had grown to be very dear
to her. and though she knew that he was
suffering horribly on her account. at
seems to me, she said" L" that we're all
very weak and wrong to let a shadow set
tie over the last ride you'll have with us,
until am IN old married woman, with
household cares on my shoulders, that will
crush down my love of horses
'This will be my last ride with you,
Miss Dundee
"Theo!'' she threw such world of
lnproachful tenderness into the tone in
which she uttered that one word, that the
man she addressed trembled visibly. His
resolve when spoken coldly and harshly,
shocked and surprised her out of the bright
ly prude utial tone she had fully intended
to adopt Why had Mr.. Bligh gone away,
leaving them the prey Of this mischievous
opportunity?
eyes; for Heavens sake don't speak to
HE in that way, or QUILL drive me mad ~
and then he got up nd went to the win
dow; and poor Madge raw that his face
had grown very pale, and that an express
sion Of hopelessness had settled upon it.
She could not bear it. He had been so
thoughtful for her always-so gentle. and
devoted, and sympathetic-that she felt as
if she must comfort him, let what might
come of it.
"Theo,' she said again, with that same
pathetic cadence in her voice, "you have
been so kind to me always; l can't bear to
see you SO. Can't l make you happier,
Theo"
He turned round quickly and caught her
hands. as she was standing near to him.
Madge, do you love my uncle ~
Half frightened, she drew back from him
and I" am engaged to him." she STAN
mered
eyes, but you have made me love you
you knew your chance, and you have used
it. If you love me, let me go without an
other of those appeals that you know how
to make so maddening; if not-Madse
Madge-'
He had taken her hands again, and was
looking down into her face with CLEAN of
such intense pleading affection that for a
moment he was the world to her.
"1f l had knowd you first she sobbed,
''but didn't, you see; and we Dundces
never break our word. And-oh you had
better go after all; but forgive me y
Forgive her. 1t way easy enough to say
he would, and to make an end of this mis-
cradle scene, but it was very hard to do it.
Had she not spoken his name with all her
heart in her voice only minute ago, lead
ing him on by the tone she used to tell his
secret to her in the hope that she would be
brave, and avert eventual misery from them
all And now she vas telling him that if
she had known him first she would ha, e
loved him best, and that she could not for
her names sake break her word to his
uncle
It was CHASTITY state of affairs, and as
soon as he could, Thee Bligh made an end
of it by going away. The two men had no
verbal explanation on ave-taking, but
they parted as comrades who had been
wounded i'll the same fight might part
And ther Theo found that, though exis
tence was not embitter.d to him, the SAVIOR
had gone from the old pleasures.
1t was decidedly not worth while nc W,
he felt. to try and do anything good oi
definite; for he could never find 4 woman
to share his glory or smile upon his sue
cess, who could put Bonnie Dundee out of
his mind; after her other woman did and
would always appear to be wanting in
something. She had the trick of making
others appear tame and pale, and INSULT
cient, and-well, the man who has been
shone upon by q star, never feels that there
is much warmth in ia per.
lie banished himself. so effectually that
he heard no tidinSs fir ON the Chase for six
months, and then he ventured to send his
address to his b3nlle', and to have letters
forwarded to Fin; but before those letters
are read, a retrospective glance at the Bon
ME Dundee must be given.
She bore his departure very bravely.-
Remember how many other interests were
claiming her attention at the time, and
remember the ardent, impress sionable
chan geable nature of the girl. There was
goofi deal of the chameleon in Bonnie Dun
dee, and a dash OF the peacock, and Al,
Immense deal of the woman She had the
faculty of feeling intensely for tho time,
and of getting over things. Is no, that
last characteristic the secret of many wo
men keeping right anil of ma ny Others
going wrong? .
1t brushed the hloom ftha peacll rough