The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-08-16

getting him to dine with them as often as
possible.
"Does old Miss Thorney of Monks
Dene ever come to church, Nancy?" said
Robin to the old woman, as she cleared
away his breakfast.
claw bless you, yes! Every Sunday
of her life.''
"Isn't it long walk for herr Or per-
haps she has a carriage ?"
No, sir. She gets fly every Sunday
from the Swan. She's got niece or sum-
NUT with her now: she'd one before as ran
away"
GA niecew repeated Robin.
"No; that one warn't niece, as l
knows on. No relation, but she just came
to be a companion, like. She didn't stand
it above six weeks and then she was gone.
They thought she'd thrswed herself into
the water, and they dragged the stream;
but she wasn't there, bless you. She'd
run away"
"What became of her ~ said Robin,
rather absently.
"Oh, she got married. The young man
came to fetch her from London, they said.
Miss Thorney hasn't had one since, till
this here"
Robin took his hat and went out into
the sweet, shady old garden with its high
red walls. What an abominable shame
What were her relations doing, to send
her to be miserable with Miss Thornley,
They must be an odious set of people,
utterly unworthy of her! Would she be
made wretched, and driven to something
desperate? "By Jove! I'll know the reas,
on why!' said Robin to himself quite
furiously, as he marched up and down the
walk.
When the bells began to chime, he went
out into the avenue of young lines which
led up to the church door, and dawdled up
and down there till nearly every one was
gone in. The Wilkins family very natur-
ally thought he was waiting for them, and
were surprised when he turned back from
the door, after walking with them up the
furthest corner of the square, he walked
out as far as his own gate, and, turning
back, was just approaching the church
yard entrance, when the fly drew up. Old
Joseph descended from the box, and open
ed the door. Madge got out first, and
turned to help her cousin, not seeing Robin
till Miss Thorney was safe on the ground,
shaking out her silk skirts.
"What frightful old womann' thought
Robin. "And she looks quite pale and
unhappy. Will she see me, wonder %
Madge looked round, and a sudden
light sprang into her face. Robin returned
her bow and smile, and then walked quick
ly on toward the church door, followed by
Miss Thorney and her companion, and by
two or three working boys in their Sunday
smartness. "Look! that's him. That's
old Hyde's nephew" they whispered
among themselves.
Mr.. Wilkins had large family pew, of
which he opened the door, with hospitable
intent, as soon as he saw Robin come into
into church; but the young man did not
see this movement, and turned into one of
the free seats near the door.
"What situation for the lord of the
manorr' remarked Mrs. Wilkins afterward
to her daughters.
He left the church as soon as service was
over, going out among all the poor people,
and walked off straight home, shutting
his gate sharply behind him, but turning
round to watch the fly driving up, and the
two ladies' getting into it. All through
the service, Madge had kept her head per-
sistently bent over her prayer-book, being
determined that her cousin should not
accuse her of looking about in church,
Robin had caught her eye once, and she
had given him such a strange look-he
could not make it out-half entreaty half
warning, it seemed to be; the fact was
that she could not help recognizing him
as the only friend she had in this neighbor-
hood, and yet did not dare to ask for his
help in her present trouble.
In the afternoon, Robin was walking up
and down the garden, unable to make up
his mind what he should do next. He had
quite decided that he was in love with his
pretty fellow traveller; Of course; he had
been thinking about her all the week; but
how was he to make acquaintance with
her, or manage that old dragon of an aunt,
who was almost sure to have the door shut
,,o, lin, r. bo yopturod 70 ool1o NNbila
he was racking his brains for an excuse,
old Nancy came trotting down the path to
meet him.
"Here's a lad wants to speak to ye."
"Mr. Wilkins boy, with note to ask
me to dinner" opined Robin; and then to
himself: "Hang them all! I shan't CO."
cts no boy of Wilkins" said Nancy.
His don't look near SO sharp, though he
is a lawyer"
"Well, send him out to me here,
Nancy"
A smart-looking lad of about fifteen
came hurrying down, looking flushed and
eager.
"Mr. Hyde, please, sir, do you know
Miss Thorney?"
"No," said Robin.
"My word, whatever shall l don' ex-
claimed the boy, his face falling sadly
"Why saw you with my own eyes bow
ing to her."
"To Miss Margaret Thorney-the young
lady. What's the matter?'
"That'n do; I'll tell you, sir. My
names Jem Riddell. 1 can't 60 to the
house, cause l don't know how to get
speech of the young lady, and the ser
wants would take precious care don't see
the old un. So thought I'd best come to
you, for you'd know what to do; and the
house'll be robbed tonight if we don't
take care"
"What! Miss Thorneys house? How
do you know?' said Robin, sharply.
81 was down gathering honeysuckles in
Tinker's Croft, and 1 heard 'em talking
in the little arbor in Phil. Wright's garden,
Just t'other side of the hedge. There was
old Joseph, and Phil. and another man l
didn't know, but them I'd swear to any