The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-02-15
81 suppose it's too old for the Found

ling ?" unused Bessy.
Bessy, be quietr' said her mother.
You dear old darling" said the per
one afterward, "don't you. see that we can
not treat this thing seriously without max
ing it doubtly painful for dear Mrs. Bryce
1t will all come right in the end"
eyes, my dear, but when is the end t
begin9"
1t was to begin by special arrangement.
the, next day, after breakfast; when thu
following conversation took place:
Now James, said his cousin, CIV,
shall not be interrupted for some time, ane
you must really give me your serious at
tention''
Eyes, cousin Margaret
"You see, James, you are man now
and must act and be treated-do you un
derstand 9-treated like other people,
"That's just what want to be-
"Well, then, must tell you frankly
that am much annoyed by your coming
here as you did,
alt wasn't my fault that it rained,
cousin Margaret. 1 wish it hadn't" he
replied, pitiously:
I'm not speaking of your coming in
wet and spelling the chairs, Sir; am
much annoyed at your coming here at
ALL
! The good widow thought that she would
| get on best by being angry, but it was no
use.
"Where else was to go to-" he asked.
How you found me out, 1 cannot
think" sighed the victim. The observa-
ton was an urlucky one.
"Ah, ha"' he chuckled, "you thought
was a stupid, did you %
And then followed long weary story of
how passing through Manchesters, he had
seen this person and spoken to that, and
obtained the clue by which he had hunted
his listener down. What made it more
provoking, was the credit he took for this
cleverness. He warmed to his subject as
he went on, and finished with the air of
man who had rendered an important ser
vice and expected to have it promptly re-
cognized.
This threw his victims cut-and- dried
| speeches off the line.
go dear, o dear " she cried. at
| doesn't matter how you found me out; you
have done so. The question is, what am
to do with you, now you're here? What
am to do with you %
81 don't know, cousin Margaret"
You don't know! A pretty answer
for a man of five or six-and-twenty. Now
look here, James Wymper, should like to
do something for you for your poor moth
er's sake, but cannot; and-and you have
no right to thrust yourself upon mo like
this, and-and-are you attending to me,
James Wymper ?"
Eyes, cousin Margaret" he replied
with jerk, coming suddenly out of his
fog.
"What was saying?'
That you would like to do something
for me for my poor mothers sake"
"That was only half what l said, Sir
How dare you pick out my words like that!
1 went on to say that l couldn't do any
thing for you, and can't. I've not the
means. I'm very poor; can hardly man.
age for myself. My husband left me very
badly off,"
odd he leave me anything ~
You. after your conduct-running
away, and frightening us as you did? Is
it likely?"
81 know it was wrong to run away,
cousin Margaret, but you see I've come
back again." he said, with the utmost
gravity.
This was conclusive. For the last half
hour she had been trying to din into his
head that he had no business to come back,
and here he was, taking credit for having
returned, as an act which was to cancel all
the offenses Of his youth! Perceiving that
his reply had troubled her, he proceeded to
promise upon his word of honor that he
would never, nerer run away again. What
was to be done with such man? Talk
ing was clearly useless. One of two courses
only remained-to endure him, or call
policeman and turn him out neck and
crop.
Mrs. Bryce did not call policeman.
The conduct of poor James Wymper
during the next two or three days was
what, in another man, would have reused
the indignation of all concerned by its al.
most sublime audacity. The proceedings
of Mr.. Charles Mathews in "Cool as a
Cucumber" are timid and retiring in com.
parison with those of Mrs. Jervoice's un-
welcome guest. II the house and all it
contained had belonged to him, and its
inhabitants were dependents upon his
bounty, he could not have behaved more
freely; and all this with an air ofinnocence
which utterly disarmed opposition.
cor; never mind me-" was his refrain;
~ don't want to trouble anybody. I'll do
it all for myself I'm all right. You let
me alone and see."
His first great exploit was to precipitate
himself upon washing and wringing
machine which he found out of order and
dlsused in the cellar; and whether he had
improved in dexterity, Or sufficient time
was granted him for tine realization of his
ideas, need not be discussed here. The re-
suit was satisfactory. Not only did he put
the thing into working order, but he work
ed it himself, to the intense delight of
Bessy aud CONSERVATION of the cook.
Many other useful things he did. He
made wind mill which pumped water up
to the top of the house, and saved the six
pence day which had been paid to a boy
for this labor. lie mended an old boat
there was, and took Bessy out for rows on
the river. He became that young lady's
right hand man in her garden. Before a
month was over, not only had cousin Mar
garet become quite resigned to have him on
her hands, but Mrs. Jervoice refused to
accept any remuneration for his board and
lodging, declaring that he was we'll worth
his keep. 1t was something, you see, for
these lone women to have a man about the
house who could and would put his hand