The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-03-28

of Myrtleville, and his Inconsistency was a
matter of marvel as Susy was maiden
whom any man might have been proud to
win.
When the four O'Clock train came in,
Mr.. Granger, little, nervous man, all
exctablity, was amazed at the sympathiz-
ing faces that greeted him on the platform.
A chill like death seized his heart. For
years his wife had been an invalid, suffer-
ing from spine complaint. Had she died
while he was away? White as sheet, he
turned to friend standing near, saying:
"Why do you look so at me- What is
the matter at homeo'
"Mv poor friend have you heard moth
ingo"
GA choaking sensation came over the
loving husband, but he struggled against
it, saying:
"Quick, tell me Is it Nary"
"No. Mrs. Granger is as well as usual,
| believe; but there is very sad story to
break to you regarding your daughter
Wrath took the place Of terror.
"My daughter ~ cried the little man,
furously. "Who dares to carry stories
about my daughter ?''
"Well " - see," stammered his
friend, "the women folks say she eloped
this morning with Fred Seymour"
erred Seymour. Why, he's head over
ears in love with Susy Belknap. My Belle .
Why, she has been engaged for two years
to Lieut.. Weston of the navy, though We
did not publish the fact for the benefit of
all the tatters in Myrtlevile.
81 am afraid, was the reply, that it was
the fact of these engagements that drove
them to secrecy and elopement."
81 tell you the whole story is false -
roared the excited father. "I'll make
these mischief-makers eat their own words !!
My Belle, indeed They must be crazy"
But on his way home, Mr.. Granger met
the report in so many places heard it in
such plausible versions, that he entered his
wife's room with a very grave face, from
which all angry excitement had vanished
s'Where is Belle, Mary ~ he asked.
"She went to New York this morning to
do some shopping. She will stay at her
Aunt Mariah's tonight
"Did young Seymour go up on the same
train %
81 suppose so. He usually goes at
eight and that was the train that Belle
took
Mr.. Granger was on the point Of telling
his wife the whole story, but on second
thought he restrained the impulse. Sure
in his own fatherly confidence in his gentle,
modest child, that there was some mistake
admitting of explanation, he said nothing.
After all, it was subject of congratula-
ton that none of the busy bodyies of Myr-
tlevile had invaded the sick room, and he
easily made some trivial excuse for going
out again. He was determined to sift the
gossip thoroughly before alarming the
invalid, and his first visit was to the tele-
graph office at the railway station:
''Is Belle at your house," flashed over
the wires, and was carried to a handsome
house in the city.
Yes. Will be down on the next train"
was the answer; for poor Belle imagined
there was death or frightful illness to
cause her fathers message, when visit to
her aunt's was such a common occurrence.
Satisfied on this point, Mr.. Granger
quietly waited until the train came in,
walked up Main street with his daughter
on his arm, left her at home, and started
out to defy all Myrtlevllle.
From house to house he travelled with
exemplary patience, and followed the snake
like coils of the story, till he faced Mrs.
Sawyer, who earnestly assured him:
"Mrs. Seymour and Mrs. Kitely were in
the sitting room as came in the back way
through the kitchen. They were talking,
and just as l got to the door Mrs. Seymour
told Mrs. Kitely that her son and Belle
Granger had eloped. They saw me then
and Mrs. Seymour said very carelessly:
"Here are the morning papers, Mrs.
Kitely," just to change the conversation.
"And you rushed of to carry the news
Ill over Myrtlevlle, )" said Mr.. Granger.
"Well, thought it must be true, from
such an authority
"Pshaw. You misunderstood what
was said"
81 tell you l heard her as plain as hear
you now"
"Telling Mrs. kitely her son and my
daughter had eloped ~
eyes. I'd swear it on my oath y said
Mrs. Sawyer, as if there was several other
ways of swearing, if she chose to take her
choice.
"Suppose you step over to Mrs. Kitely's
with me -
"Well, will,''
But to Mrs. Sawyer's discomfort, Mrs
Kitely denied the story entirely. Mrs
Seymour had never given her any such
information, either in confidence or other
wise. Mrs. Sawyer tearfully persisted in
her story; and finally the trio went to Mrs.
Seymours. The hero of the story was by
this time at home, and eating his supper
when the visitors entered.
1t was an awkward story to tell, but it
was told; and Mrs. Seymour's face was a
picture of indignant surprise.
"I?" she cried" say my Fred eloped
with Belle Granger! Why, Mrs. Sawyer,
you must surely be dreaming ~
"You said so. l heard you,' sobbed
the widow.
"Said what -
"You said distinctly, Belle Granger
ran away with my son, this morning."
At this moment Mrs. Seymour burst int
fit of uncomfortable laughter, to the
great CONSERVATION of her audience. She
laughed till she was obliged to wipe the
tears from her eyes; when, catching sight
of Mr.. Changers disturbed face, she said,
with sudden gravity:
pardon me, Mr.. Granger, see have
most innocently caused you serious an
noyance. The truth of the story is this:
Fred, as you know, has all the morning
papers sent to him on the early train, and
many of the neighbors come in to borrow
them. Mrs. Kitely always likes to see the