The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-12-13

tell her the truth. Apparently satisfied,
the blooming widow resumed her seat,
looking once more as bright, fresh, and
beautiful as summer landscape lit by the
rays of the morning sun.
"She's splendid creature, said Valen-
tine to himself, as he set forth upon his
official duties. "By Jove, if l was not the
husband of the daughter, I'd wed the
mother"
The same afternoon, by mere accident,
Val met his old acquaintance, Herbert
Price. Since the evening the latter had
given the young lover his memorable ad-
vice, they had not seen each other. Price
was too much man of the world to feel any
pique at failing to receive from his club
crony any intimation of the change in his
life: so when Hardy offered him his hand,
they were as great chums again as though
they had parted but the day before.
"Well, old man, said Valentine, I" it's
all come about just as you said. The
mothers good soul, but an awful bore.
Won't let my wife do a single thing, and
treats me as though I were a pet spaniel of
a scarce breed. She's so deuced kind and
considerate, and of such an amiable dispe-
sition, that you can't quarrel with her.
"Just the most awkward kind of mother
in-law to deal with
Exactly. If she was a violent cantan-
kerous old woman, might give her bit
of my mind; whereas now, whenever |
attempt to hint that it would be quite as
well if my wife took the management OF
the house into her own hands, feel as
though l were an accomplished poisoner,
just about to give my victim the finishing
Dose"
81 see your position" remarked Price,
and it reminds me of the old fable of the
mice and the cat"
" What fable is that?''
Listen. Once upon time there was
a colony of mice, whose eager desire it was
to make safe raid upon certain heap of
corn. In the same barn, however, dwelt a
particular wa.chful cat, and when sundry
of the rasher mice ventured to disport
themselves upon the coveted grain, fearful
was the havoc made in their ranks. Coun-
Gil after council was held, and at length it
was determined that something should be
done in order that token might be given of
the cats approach. A brilliant idea then
struck a spruce young mouseling, and
springing upon his hind legs, he said
What if bell were put around the willy
creatures neck?' For brief space the
novelty of the scheme struck the council
with admiration. Then rose a gray griz-
zled mouse, practical and experienced
from the end of his whiskers to the tip of
his tail, and gravely said: What my
young friend has suggested is most credita-
BILE to his inventive faculties but who's to
bell the cat 80
SPY Jove, you've hit it, old man.
Come down and see our cat-I mean my
mother-i n-law- and judge for yourself the
extreme difficulty of my position. Return
with me this evening""
"No, no. pleaded Price; I'm bash
full old fellow, and unused to the society of
ladies'
81 won't take denial. Call for Inc at
the Wafer Department at quarter to four.
We can have cosy chat this evening, and
wind up with friendly rubber
Herbert Price hesitated, and VAC lost
He liked Valentine Hardy better than any
of his casual acquaintance, and at length
was induced to promise that he would
accompany him to Rayswater. The jour
nalist Stunned and affected to despise
female society; but beneath his somewhat
rough exterior aud bluffness of speech,
there was chord which yibrated with
wondrous resonance whenever the sound
of certain name rang in his ear, and
awoke sad and painful memories-m
cries of days long departed, when the
future had seemed tinged with the most
roseate hues Of promise.
When Val rnshaI ol to resume his
sutie., Herbert Price wished in his heart
that he had not that afternoon met his
young friend; but he had given his word
that he would spend the evening with him,
and accordingly, at the lime appointed,
they meTHted the box-seat Of an omnibus,
and were soon rafting along the busy
thoroughfares. Before tho young hus-
band had eapaludei extolling the virtues
at his wife, they had arrived at Minerva
and in few minutes Price was in
the presence of the winsome little woman
who had SO completely enslaved Valen-
tines affections. M.mma. it appeared.
had gone to the West End. Ia iuihll the
great feminine t.aty of " shopping and
layipg several calls to make, was not ex-
pected home until seven o'clock. The
mere announcement that Herbert Price
had been for many years faithful friend
of her husbands, was enough To- insu.e for
him a hearty welcome from Felicia. The
gray haited cSnie, won by her bright
smiles and simple grace, soon recovered
his self possession, and ere an hour had
passed began to reflect that after ALL per-
haps, his experience of womankind had
not been sufficient to warrant tAe oatpursts
Of spleen IN which he had SO often INDUCED
the sex,
oval Hardy, you are lucky man," he
said, when after tea the two men strolled
into the garden.
Minerva terrace had been built when
land at Bayswater was less valuable tt,aa
now, and the tagte of Mrs. hope, COM
bined with the skill of the gardener, had
done much for the little space at their dis
posal. A pond of about the capacity of a
good-sized washtub had been constructed
in the centre, and in it some half dozen
fat sleepy goldfish sWaM, while at the ex-
IRENE end was summer house ingeniously
surrounded by rockery, over which trailed
stonecrop, ferns, and creeping plants.
This summer house was, in the eyes of
Felicia and her husband, a perfect little
Paradise; hers, on summer afternoons,
when Val was in town, the young wife
would stray, her thoughts busy with her
husband, while her fingers were employed