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

is subject.
! "Your wife is charming" continued
Price; elf she nherits her vi rtues from
her mother, you have nothing to compton,
Of"
"Well, you'll soon have an opportunity
of Judging for yourself, for if mistake
not, that is her knock" replied Valentine,
as the echo of rat tat fioated through the
house and along the garden to the grotto
! in which the friends were seated. The
neighboring church clocks had long since
chimed seven, and the period of the year
being Spring, mellow twilight was rap
idly enveloping the earth. Just as Val
and his friend were about to leave their
hiding place, with the view of entering the
house, the dining room window opened
and the forms of two ladies were seen de-
scending the veranda steps.
owe may as we'll remain where we are,''
said Val, pausing, "for see, the ladies are
about to join u.s."
Presently Felicia and her mother ap-
preached. and Val went through the stere
otyped form of introducing his companion
to Mrs. Hope but no sooner did the words
"Mr. Herbert Price escape his lips than
she grasped her daughters arm, and sud-
denly drew back few PAGES.
"Mamma DEAR" cried Felicia, startled
by the sudden movement, "what ais you?''
Nothing, nothing, my child" muir
INJURED Mrs. Hope; "a spasm, nothing
more. 1t is gone now"
With the sound of her voice Herbert
Prices cheek flushed, and his heart beat
violently. He was at the back of the
grotto, and for a few seconds leant against
the rockwork for support. The semi-dark
ness which prevailed, concealed the agita
ton occasioned by the accents of voice
whose every note had once thrilled his soul,
but which he had never expected to hear
again. Quickly recovering himself, how
ever, he advanced. and bowling stifiy, said,
elf I mistake not, l knew Mrs. Hope
when she bore another name"
Dear me, how strange, mamma ~ said
Felicia. Can it be possible, that you
knew Mr.. Price before you we're mar
ried ~
"Mr. Price is not mistaken" responded
Mrs. Hope; "before l welded your father
we often met"
Obeying sign made him by his guest,
Valentine drew to the side of his wife, and
| taking her arm, said, Perhaps, Felicia
two such long parted friends may have
much to say to each other, and we may be
in the way" The young man has never
yet comprehended how, from the few words |
spoken on either side, he felt that his moth
erin law and Herbert Price desired to be |
| alone. 1t was one of those instructive |
thoughts that come, but seldom ia life
! time-a thought upon which we at once |
act without further consideration. Felicia |
felt no such impulse, hut calmly submitted |
to the superior will of her husband, and
together they entered the house.
For few moments the elderly pair left |
in the garden were silent. Herbert Price |
still stood by the entrance to the srotto,
while Mrs. Hope remained few feet from
him; neryously destroying half. blossomed
rose she had just gathered.
81 feel,' he said, "that some explana.
ton should be made of my presence.-
Having been acquainted with Mr.. Hardy |
it'r SEINE years, | came by his invitation to
ba introduced to his wife and home. Be
liere me, had l expected to meet in Mrs.
Hardy's mother the Blanche Tressell | !
once knew, no power, no influence, in the
whole world could have persuaded me to
be here He spoke thickly, his emotion
betraying itself in every word he uttered,
while his limbs trembled as though ague-
stricken.
do believe it, for l know it to be the !
truth. Mr.. Price-Herbert, I merit all
your scorn and reproachs but were you
acquainted with tho circumstances which
led to NY conduct twenty two years SINCE
you would look with an extenuating eve
upon my crime, cen though you might not
be able to forgive me. Shall proceedw
She nvoluntarily drew toward him, but
he made no movement, save a slight incli-
nation Of his head for her to continue her
story.
Long before welded Col. Hope, my
father was deeply involved in debt; a COM
bination of commercial misfortunes drag
ged him deeper and deeper into the slough
of bankruptcy; and he knew THAI an acct
dent might any day lead 10 disclosure of
the true state Of his affairs. Though not
vehementiy opposing my betrothal to you,
ne took care during your absence in Aus
tralia, whittier you had gone on special
mission connected with the Journal upon
which you were engaged, to advocate the
claims of Col. Hope, then home from India
on furlough. Your rival was assiduous in
his attentions, and if he was much older
than myself, could boast of handsome
income in addition to his pay. He became
favorite with my father, and was q oon-
slant visitor. Day by day attempts were
stancy, for | loved you, Herbert truly,
fopdly, with all the fresh affection of bud
ding womanhood. One day, worn and har-
assed with business disappointments, my
father lay upon sick bed, dangerously i'll,
the doctors despairing of his recovery.
Calling me to his side, he declared that
naught could bring peSoe 60 his last mo-
ments but the promise that | would be-
come Col. Hopes bride. Terrified and
heart-sick, gave my hand to your rival.
Shortly after that my father died. Though
dared not write to you, l hoped that you
wonld have returned to claim me. But
the months passed. Col. Hopes leave of
absence was on the point of expiring, and
he sought the fulfllment of my promise.
A week after our marriage we embarked
for India, whittier remained until a year
after his death. had never heard of you
in the int. val and deemed that, like my
self, you had welded another. To my hus-
band | was faithful true wife; he knew
my love was not his, but he wa. satisfied
with the respect aud consideration l paid
him. For yosd Herbert, my love has