The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-09-06

trouble-so unexpected, too!' she said.
and how very well you did manage, con-
sidering you were quite unaccustomed to
this sort of thing 1t must have been a
most formidable undertaking, I'm sure.
And hope you, Mr.. Miller, were not very
much behindhand with your work in con-
sequence.
Generally l could give Mrs. Vyner a Ro-
land for her Oliver, but on the present
occasion my conscience sided so much with
her in her poltely-veiled sarcasms-1 mean,
| thought them so just-that | really could
only mutter out some common place an
swer.
"I'm afraid you are little tired with
your exertions, Mrs. Miller; indeed, they
must have been immense" continued the
merciless virago seeing that | was in no
mood for reply. But, Pm sure, it was
very kind of you to try so hard to give us
pleasant evening. And as you are such
very old friends, l think l may tell you a
little secret, just to show you how much
we are indebted to you. All, dare say
| you hHoW NudI IL Is. Iieu heley pro-
posed to Ellen last night, and it is all
arranged-so kind of you, l am snre, to
give him the opportunity. And we think
it will be a very nice match, don't you,
Molly?"
Poor Molly held out till Mrs. Vyner was
gone, when she made a rush to her own
room, with a tear in each eye. She had
scarcely left us when double knock an
nounced the postman.
cit is from Wotherspoon," said, open
ing the letter. edo you know think our
new splendors, Jane, made you seem
| little rude to him yesterday ?''
"Ah well if | am never rude to any
one of more consequence than Mr.. Woth-
erspoon, ii will be no great MATTER" she
replied, contemptuously. I" But l am
grieved and vexed beyond measure about
this young Kelly. Ellen Vyner, indeed ~
Dear me - said l, as I glanced over
! Wotherspoon's letter: " y on II like to hear
! this, | think Jane" So l read it to her.
"DEAR MILLER: l am sorry to be
obliged to leave without calling to bid you
good-by, but have just met some friends
who are going to Italy, and have decided
to accompany them. AS we start to-mor-
row, l am in an awful hurry, and l shall
be away at least two years"
"And very good thing, too" inter-
ruped my wife. "Do you know l am
quite sure he would have made Patty an
offer last night, if had not looked so well
after her that never gave him the chance?
| have always wondered, James, you never
would see the depth of that man. How
ever, we shall be safe from him for some
time, it seems"
| "'There were one or two things that l
| particularly wished to tell you last night;
but in such a crowd had no opportunity,
! and -
"There, l told you, James - broke in
my wife again. Gone Of these things,
you may depend on it, was proposal, and
I'm glad l stopped it."
All right, only do let me finish
&c. and, to tell you the TRUTH l was a lit
! tie nettled (you know | was always too
/ sensitive) because | thought Mrs. Miller
| last night scarcely treated me with quite
| the kindness due to an old friend. SO l
ran away early and did not say what l
intended. Perhaps it is as well. One bit
| Of news about me, however, | am sure you
will all be glad 20 hear, and feel that |
ought not to go away without telling you.
A few days ago, to my immense delight
and astonishment, | received a lawyers
! letter informing me that | was heir-at-law
/ I L.. y.
jamaica; so that | have dropped all at
once into five thousand a year. Rather
| Jolly, isn't it? But | won't forget all your
tive-pounds notes; and if ever you want a
little cash, old fellow, just you ask your
old and obliged friend
r. MOTHERHOOD
Give thousand year, groaned my
wife now. "But how could l know,
James, Why didn't Mr.. Wotherspoon
tell us?"
"Well, probably, DEAR because you
stopped him so adroitly,' said |, laughing
malciously, "and perhaps he first wished
to see whether we cared for him without
his money"
"Oh dear, oh dear! couldn't write a
note of apology and bring him back?'
"No; if know Wotherspoon, it is too
late. AS you said, Jane, he is too deep
for that
"Ah WELL" said she, quite piteously.
"And this is all the reward one gets for
putting oneself out of the way and going
to all this expense to give ones friends Il
treat"
Our motives, l could not help thinking,
had not been quite SO disinterested as my
wife now wished to make out. Few peo-
pie do give parties, | fear, on the pure
principles of Pickwickian benevolence.-
However, we had got lesson, and | am
happy to say our first evening party was
our last.-.Saint PauEs INogazine.