The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-04-25

al dlleCtlOuiite ali, cSptCldliy iutchucu iol
the conquest of Terry.
"Well, indeed Oh, by Jove, there's
my train! Good buy everybody-see you
in few days" Thus Terry escaped from
his difficulty.
"Well," says Olivia, confdentially, "and
what did you say to Terry, Alice 2"
81 told him that l was bad-awfully
bad" l reply, at the same time vigorously
attacking the sandwiches in anything but
the manner of an invalid.
"You should not have told him that"
exclaimed mamma, angrily; that was not
what you were to have said
cit was all could say with any degree
of truth; for I do feel d-wicked-con
temptible; and I'm very sorry ever lent
myself to the deceit"
Olivia raises her steady eyebrows with
martyred air, and says, piously-
Self-self-self Alice you are brok-
en- reed to trust to-
l make no answer-I am incapable of
doing so; but during the remainder of the
journey | cannot quite stifle conscience.
l feel that am doing what is wrong in fall
ing in with mammals and Olivia's wishes.
My meditations are interrupted by our
arrival at our destination. Aunt Stock
dale, pleasant, portly, dignified looking
matron, has come to the station to meet
us. AS we whrl away in the old fashioned
family carriage towards Stockdale Dene,
she sympathises with mamma upon the
subject of my delicacy: and IL keep per-
fectly quiet, and say nothing.
\
The days past swiftly away at Stockdale
Dene, which is an old fashioned red brick
house, standing on the hillside at the
entrance to pleasant valley. Old mailing
houses and granaries lie on one side of the
house, and a large orchard on the other,
while up the walls climb multiflora roses,
starry passion flowers, and magnificent
American creeper, the leaves of which are
just turning to that bright crimson hue
which contrasts so we'll with the fading
greens and browns and yellows of our
autumnal British foliage.
Aunt Stockdale is very kind and hospita-
BILE, and does her best to entertain us and
make us feel at home with her. We take
long pleasant drives about the neighbor-
hood, are visited, and visit in return, and
by the time that Terry comes from London,
which is not for nearly fortnight after
our arrival, we are completely domesticated
at Stockdale Dene.
1t is the first evening of Terry's return,
and We are sitting at tea in the drawing
room. Mamma and aunt Stockdale are
discussing last Sundays sermon; Olivia, in
an innocent looking white muslin dress, is
doing her utmost to appear interested and
learned upon the subject of horses, upon
which topic Terry is eloquently descanting,
while, at the same time, l know in my
heart that she hardly knows cart-horse
from racer; my sweet self, attired in
plain black silk dress, high to the throat,
and with long sleeves-as l am an invalid
is sensibly paying attention to her tea
ana OeIlclOuS not cake. TTeSeutly Jerry
says
"Well, Alice, do you think the change
of air has done you any good p
look at him for an instant, and see his
white teeth CLEAN under his moustache;
and, as look, merry mischievous sparkle
comes into his eyes. hastily avert mine
and, flushing painfully, make no answer;
but aunt replies
81 think Alice is bettcr-it was only this
morning that l was scolding her for not
being livelier. You must try to brighten
her up IA little, Terry
"All right-Ill take you under my
special care, Alice, and prescribe for you
plenty of fun, riding and driving over the
country, ETC."
g. But she must not monopolize you
altogether, says mamma, blandly, with an
eye to Olivia's interests.
And thus the matter is arranged.
ITO BE CONTINUED