The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-01-11
TUT THE NtVII W III!
MARGUERITE.
BY META AND lola.
CHAPTER III.

CHAP LEX Ill.
Nellie arose from the sofa with alacrity
and greeted the new conner with more
warmth than Rupert thought absolutely
necessary. But the impression soon wore
off as her winning smiles and sparkling vii
was dispensed equally to each.
The little French clock on the mantle
chimed eleven and Rupert knew that it was
time to leave; but there sat Mr.. McJil
ton serenely smiling and Nellie chatting
very exasperating. At last Mr.. McJiltor
arose to 60. Rupert intended to linger be
hind few moments and hear from Nellie's
lips the words that Mr.. Nc Us untimely
presence had interrupted. But the little
witch with a careless glance that bewilder.
ed her lover, extended her hand to him frs
and then with charming smile, bade
them good-evening.
Rupert's face bore rather rueful ex
preston as he walked down the street with
Mr.. McJilton. His thoughts, however, soor
assumed brighter turn, when he remem,
bered that Nellie had really accepted him
How was it with the bright-eyed girl
who had thus tinged his whole future with
CLEANS of rosy light. Alas we must re.
cord that she was engaged in combing out
her raven tresses and crimping the silker
strands to ensnare, perhaps, another heart
on the morrow. Her thoughts ran on from
dim wonderment if Rupert would be angry
because she had dismissed him with Mr..
Nc J. and how long she could carry on the
little game without compromising herself
too far.
The next morning, the sun had not ceas
ed to shed his glorious beauty on other
worlds, ere Rupert was up and walking
around his mothers handsome grounds
The last became gradually tinged with gold
and rose colors, and soon the full splendol
of the luminary burst upon his view. But
what a change had occurred since he had
last walked through those shaded paths.
The grass and every shrub and flower were
laden with trembling dew drops-glimmer.
ing in the hearts of the rich autumn roses
like opals, and resembling brighter gems
on the green sward. But was it really the
beauty of the early day, or a sense of the
new fountain of joys yelling in his heart
that made him appreciate the loneliness
that Nature lavshed in his path as he bad
never done before?
At the morning meal he appeared very
distracted, and his mother twice asked
him if he would have his cup of coffee re-
plenished, ere he replied that it was too
lonq," much to their amusement.
"Why, uncle Rupert" laughed Margur-
lite, "you must have been dreaming about
my lessons, too, for mamma says l talked
in my sleep last night, and said that Miss
NAPLES lessons were too long"
As soon as he could leave, he wendell his
way towards Mrs. Green's pretty cottage,
where Nellie was now visiting. She kept
him waiting about ten minutes and then
appeared in charming street-suit, stand
ing Just outside the door within Mrs.
Green's range of vision.
"Oh, good-morning Mr.. Howell am
so glad to see you. Is it not lovely day ?
l have wretched head ache though, and
thought, perhaps, the fresh air might effect
a cure. Will you join me?''
Rupert, of course, acquiesced readily,
though he would have preferred remaining
in the cool parlors, and soon they were
strolling beneath the arching naples that
line the upper part of Gay street.
1t is needless to say that Rupert pressed
his suit with ardor. Nellie laughed gaily,
and did not say nay. Rupert was very much
in love, and the smallest crumb satisfied
him. He told her that he was wealthy,
and though they were both young, might
marry soon and lead life of endless bliss.
Outaoardlv, Nellie smiled, and demurely
replied that she, too, believed in short
engagements inwardly she was thinking,
Rupert love-sick ninny, who would make
an excellent cats paw.
"One thing, Rupert said Nellie as they
were about to part at Mrs. Green's door,
"our engagement must be kept secret fol-
at least a month"
"Anything, my darling, to make you
happy,' returned her lover.
The next day saw him in Bailly's elegant
iewelry store, where he selected the gilt.
tering circlet that lie supposed would prove
secondary link to their love.
Nellie received it with smile and slipp
ed the superb stone on taper finger of the
small, white hand, where several Others
very much like it, already cleaned.
"The gifts of her father and cousins, >
innocently thought Rupert. Could he
have seen the interior of Nellie's jewel case
and known the names of the donors of the
sixteen rings glittering there, the seven
teenth might not have been added to the
number. But to quote trite saying,
"where ignorance is bliss, It's folly to be
WISE"
The golden autumn days passed very
pleasantly, and Rupert faithfully kept his
to him, sacred secret-Nellie was his nc
matter how brightly she might smile OF
Others Trust, however, cannot forever
exist unless fed, occasionally by truth ant
confidence. Nellie, really gave him Meth
er. She flirted with all the gentlemen il
town, then denied it with laughing per
sistency that he could not contradict, ant
as for confding in him, the nearest approx
imato she made to that was, when she tolt
him that her new love of hat had com;
from Philadelphia, and she would appea
with 1t on on the following Sabbath to tbs