The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-12-06

disclose something she wished 10 keep
secret, and so forbore.
Guests from 4 distance began to arrive;
among them was cousin Charlie Hazlet
from New York. Grace had spent the last
summer in his native town, and had given
} me rare accounts of his manly beauty, his
talents and fascination. | was prepared
for great flirt, and had sort of nervous
dread of him. He came. He was hand
some, tall, and dark and slender, with a
naughty, OF rather earnest way of looking
at one as though he had read ones
thoughts. At times, however, he was so
gay and brilliant that lost my horror of
him, and we grew very cousinly.
He remarked Louise's beauty to me one
} day, bnt did not seem to notice her again
for some days.
Belle Raymond, one of Grace's bride
maids, was all admiration for Charlie, and
one day asked me if l was not sorry he
was my cousin.
was very obtuse, could not understand
her meaning.
l took Bellies arm, and walking straight
up to Charlie, said: "Bele thinks ought
to be sorry you are my cousin. Can you
imagine any reason why l should wish you
less near than a cousin?''
Whatever possessed me to say such
wordse He looked her searchingly in the
face until the rich color came to her clear
olive cheek, and her grey eyes fell to the
floor.
Then turning to me, he said: "Among
my relatives number my best, almost my
only friends, and 1 am glad to find in you,
also, both a cousin and frend.'
Was this the firt 1 had been warned
against?
Gle is too brotherly to be much of a
trifler," thought I, "But Belle" said l
contidentially: 81 am afraid of him; he
means mischief"
The wedding came off gloriously. Grace
wore white carleton and orange blossoms,
and "looked toe sweet for anything little
Lille said.
The house was full of company for near
| ly a week, and Louise did everything, and
looked SO beautiful that people asked in
establishment, Who she could be? l could
only tell them that she was our hired
girl
! The day after the wedding we all went
to the depot to see the young couple off,
and left Louise to care for the house.
We returned in the twilight, and as we
rode slowly up to the drive, the sound of
music came softly from the open parlor
windows. Willie drew up the reips and
we listened eagerly.
gay, cheerful song, sweet and clear as
the notes of bird. Now up, up, then
tluttering down softly as if satisfied with |
its fight, and going TO rest. We were I'M
heard by the singer as we alighted and we
walked straight into the parlor "to see the
bird"
"Why Louise, l cried, why did you
never tell US you sang SO sweetly? You
might have entertained us so often had we
known it,
II believe your advertisement only
specified that l should have no scruples
about being 'bossed,' I did not suppose
you cared to have me inform you of my
accomplishments.
''Come," said Willie, "your candle has
been under a bushel long enough. Now
let it shine for our enlightenment"
"Sing us another, please do" and
Charlie advanced as he spoke to the piano,
and gracefully urged her to be seated
g Would you not be after hayin' some
tay, gntlemen, afther yer long, exhaustin'
drive" said Louise, gaily, in true biddy
fashion, by way of excuse from singing.
" We have had tea at the Ellis, thank
you, Miss O'Flaherty," answered Willie,
land nothing will appease us but music"
So Louise sang. Willie sat by and drank
in every word. Charlie turned the music
for her, as she sang some of my pieces,
and, at her request, added base to some
of the choruses.
Willie grew uncomfortable as he heard
how beautifully their voices mingled in
the songs, and, coming over to me, by the
window, said, cenfdentially;
"Why on earth can't sing, Flos'
so you might help Louise ?" said /. l
He colored little, and I, all admiration
for Louise, exclaimed:
"lsn't she splendid? perfectly fascina-
ting but | don't know what to make Of
it,
They were c!o-iug the piano. Lousie
was tritie flushed. Charles invited her
on the poarch for promenade, but she
graciously declined and soon RETIRED
Next day, by tacit agreement, Louise stood
on different footing. beautiful accom-
plished, educated, why should she not be
treated as our equal? But who was she ?
That was the only thing we were in doubt
about Something restrained me from
ask'"s anything concering her past life.
In the twilight, saw Willie ask her to {
take ride. She said she waul9 g ii
went. So it WIS decided 10 take the double I
carriage, and invite Charles to accompany I
us. What a delightful ride Down bT the s
little falls in the river we stopped, and
Louise leaning out little from the front
seat, sang merry water song, full of rip
pies and thrills and cascades of melody ,
So the summer passed along. tpe day in
September, Louisa received letter-the {
first siuce she had been with u.s. She came
and told me she must leave u.s.
"No, no. said I, "we can never do
without you. Who says you must gos"
"Fate and my guardian" she answered
sadly. 81 am sorry, for have been very
happy here"
Even then l dared not ask single ques
ton about herself. Another week and she
must go to Southing, she told me, little
town about hundred miles distant. "That
is something definite at last" thought
|. The boys and Louise got along eplen-
didly, and | never could imagine which
one sEss, prs-p,re... she seemed so I'M
partial and sisterly toward them both, that
no one would imagine she had any particu
lar feeling for either, but " our folks - saw,