The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-09-20

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who believes there never was an angel like
our mother, or little angels like Kate and
me; or rock building its nest in the best
tree in the park, living merry life and
caring naught for the future.
Cd May.-Kate is looking forward to
| Thursday, l can sec. She is changed of
late, not bit like the half-vain pretty
creature | remember some months ago
! still as sweet us ever, lovelier | think, but
/ in her face there is a restless, unsettled
look, as though she were waiting for some
thing that never came; and yet who would
have thought of our beauty falling in love
with our brothers tutor, a man of two or
three and thirty, in that rank of life too ?
| Why, if she had married Duke no one
would have wondered, for our family being
as old as the hills, is fit to mate with the
| best of them. l wonder how it will all
! end, for end it must some time. Whom
will Kate marry, and what will happen to
Owen Vivian?
Charley made US both presents of such
lovely horses to-day. Kate had first
choice, and chose the chestnut, leaving me
the black mare; just what l have always
longed for, but l hope it won't throw my
detcstable color out into bold relief like
the red eyes Of an old owl cut out of bog
oak. We all go on Thursday; Charley,
Kate and l ride, and mamma and Brown
hobnob together in the carriage as usual.
wonder when / am forty if shall never
walk a yard, and in Summer go about
rolled up in furs-what charming pros,
pect, to be sure
5M May.-If l had anything to do it
with, would make white cross against
this day, the 5th of May. Ruby Daven-
port, look at yourself again, and behold
the engaged bride of George Lord Mont
ford.-Let me see, nothing different; no,
my hair is of the same color, and don't
look day more than twenty. What's
this? A diamond ring, large and brilliant
enough to light the room, and yet "not
half so bright, Ruby, as your brown eyes !"
at least SO MILFORD says. Yes, of course
I'm dreadfully happy all engaged girls
are, and yet feel stunned and dead, as if
some one were walking over my grave. 1t
was such day. this white day in my life
We started for the Grange early, we three
riding on before. George came to the gate
to meet us, and walked up the avenue by
my horses side, admiring the pretty Great
ure Charley gave me, talking pleasantly
and with something very love-like in his
tones. Then l knew it was coming; and
when we arrived at the door and saw our
tutor standing on the steps with his hat off
my heart seemed to stop beating, and l do
believe for the first time in my life my face
was white.
There was a proposal to 60 into the
garden till luncheon, and after a distant,
bow to Mr.. Vivian hurried away, follow
ed by mine host; and there, Ruby, you
met your fate.
Lord Montford asked me to be his wife,
as an honest, true hearted Englishman
should do, because he loved me. l knew
when l accepted him to-day that it was
mean and unwomanly to do so, for | do
not love him, and l never shall. l might
have loved him once, in way, but | can
not now; there comes between him and me
another face, another love, that know now
has been in my heart for long, and will be
in it till it ceases to beat. | accepted
him because they all expected it Of me,
not really because he is wealthy and titled :;
| -. ~ y I hnr IL,
all my life, and | do not believe it would
trouble me to lose it; possibly the loss
would make me better woman than now
am.
With my honors fresh upon me, l escap-
ed into shell-house arbor, and there sat
down to think of what had happened.-
All, Ruby, what face was that which look
ed in at the open door, face very white
and cold, with no anger in it, only sorrow
and despair? l may, of course, live to be
an old woman, and many long weary years
may pass over my head, but | know my
memory can never SO fail me that shall
forget that face as it looked then. He came
in and stood before me-he who loves my
sister Kate.
Miss Ruby, came to tell you some
thing that l thought it better to tell you
than to Lord Montford. l accidently over
heard few words of conversation just
now, and
"And you have come to congratulate
me o'
81 did not come for that; l came to tell
you, that was all. do congratulate you
with all my heart''
"Thank you; 1t is a match worthy of
our position, Mr.. Vivian; no falling from
that you see; and, forgot, we shall be
tutor and pupil again, you and II
81 told you when Lord Montford marri-
ed l should go abroad"
"What, you will not let me try and
make up to you for the many times have
troubled and leased you at the Hall You
think Ruby Montford will be no better
than Ruby Davenport was, and perhaps
you are right; and yet, Owen Vivian, /
have not quite forgotten all the lessons
you have taught me, and sometimes have
a hope that even /, reckless and careless
as am Of all you most prize in life, may
be one day told to enter IN where there is
rest''
"Ruby, God grant it may be SO for both
of u.s.
1t seemed to me like a blessing as he said
it, and lost all my selfcommand and cri-
ed as he had never seen me cry before;
and in the old way he used to do when we
were children, he put his hand upon my
head, and stroked my hair; and, Ruby,
when you looked up into his face were
there not tears in the mans eyes?
"Ruby,' he said, 6" there are pleasures
and things in this life that may never be
ours; there are some joys that We are new,
er to know, but we cannot crush out the
longing to taste them once for little mo.
ment. | don't know why talk to you OF
these things, child you whose life is SC
full of the light and sun; but even to you
sorrow will come and remember, when it