The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-05-08

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Miss Gerry pondered this reply minute
or two. Then she rose to go.
81 only came to bring you this flower,
she said Here, let me fasten it in your
hair, She did SO, and then kissed the
girl with most unusual tenderness, that
brought a moisture into Setar's eyes,
CHANGING up to thank her, Setar found an
answering dewdrop in Miss Gerry's own
eyes, usually so clearly radiant; but before
she had time to say word, Miss Gerry had
gone. After she had closed the door, how
ever, she opened it again, and said softly
':Setar, do right tonight
And so she left her. Left her crying,
moreover, as usual.
Faithful to precedent, Neil Conway came.
l don't suppose that Setar ever came
nearer to looking positively ugly than she
had that evening. Her eyes were heavy
with the tears she had shed, and the purple
marks beneath them rendered her pallor
almost CHASTITY. The rosebud in her hair
was simple mockery of her wretched
looks; and anything less like the bloom
and beauty supposed to be natural to
maiden expectant Of her lovers VOWS, was
never seen or imagined.
Miss Gerry remained in the parlor little
willie; but her presence did nothing to
dispel the cloud that hung over Setar
Her sharp tongue was sheathed, and her
face was pale; and despite Setar's implor-
ing looks, and Geographic eye-signals OF
distress, she soon went away, and left the
young lady to her fate.
1t was not very long in coming at any
rate. Neil Conway-good-he hearted, obtuse
fellow that he was-drew no evil anguish
from Setar's manner or appearance. He
had come resolved to ask her to be his wife,
and anything she did or said would have
had very little effect upon his determine
ton. | suppose in his secret heart he
thought she would be but foolish girl to
decline for the second time such piece of
luck as he was ready to bestow upon her.
1t is not every day that discarded lover
comes back and asks girl to accept thirty
thousand pounds, along with his own ines
timable charms and virtues.
| And of course Neil appreciated himself
| thoroughly, in the midst of his love for
Setar, which, though not dramatically VIC
| lent, was very sincere and kindly.
| They talked about the weather: how
unusually warm it was. And Neil related
how he had seen the ladies in St. Martyrs
| church quite in Summer costume last Sun
day; Setar thinking to herself, in paren-
| thesis, that before he was so rich he did
not use to worship in grand St. Martyrs,
but at plain St. James. Then about where
Neil was going this Summer; then about
the weather again. Then Neil asked Setar
where she was going this Summer. At last
Setar smiled little, and said she thought
of migrating to cooler room on the other
side of the attic.
And Immediately her head grew little
dizzy, and herself little faint. She
wished-oh, hop she wished she had not
said that, for she felt that the moment had
come.
at is shame for you to be in the hot
city the whole Summer said Neil, warmly.
u don't think mind-at least-that is,
not a great DEAL Setar answered, quite
unaware what words she was using. She
was looking down straight at the carpet,
and she noted that there were just ten
colors in three roses of the pattern. She
saw Miss Gerry's face looking back through
the opened attic door, and heard her saying
softly, "Do right tonight, my dear"
Her heart beat so hard She wished he
would 90 on, and be done. She wished
she knew not what indeed. She only knew
that she was very, very miserable, and
likely to make equally SO one better and
truer than herself. She felt that no imag
Unable bride could have made Walter Ora
ven falter so for an instant.
"Well, | say it's a shame anyhow"
repeated Neil, unconscious of all this play
of emotion. 'sYou are as pale as ghost
now. What will you be by the time the
Summer is over?'
Etherealized to An angel, maybe said
Setar, trying to rally her senses.
No, no, don't say that. You are too
iCdi an III tblo "oiii ho".
Neil paused a minute. 1t must be task
upon mans courage, after ALL suppose.
That moment before the wish is irrevocable
in words. He went on abruptly, in lower,
a really tremulous tone, quite unconscious
of any brusqueness of manner.
"You said you could not once before,
Setar. l know that. But l believe you
know what l came to ask for to-night-to
be my wife, Setar Don't you think you
CAM Indeed, love you very much, and
| will try my best to make you happy"
Who shall tell all that went through
Setar's mind as he said these words? Not
I, indeed. for | cannot. Who shall say
whence came the inspiration that suddenly
lifted those deep brown eyes, and tinted
her pale cheeks, and lifted her bowed head
steadfastly erect? All of US know that
that must have come from Heaven. I'm,
knowing how or why, she had resolved
) suddenly to tell the truth! And she did it.
Miss Gerry's " Do right tonight, my dear, -
bore good fruit of most unexpected sort.
"Nei," said Setar, looking straight at
him, and speaking clearly and sweetly, 81
did believe that you intended to ask me to
marry you, and | had made up my mind to
say Yes But, all at once, Heaven has
} shown me how wicked l should have been
how miserable should have made you,
who deserve so much better. l like you,
Neil, too we'll to marry you for money.
love some one else who is poor like me.
And this temptation has come between us,
and made US both unhappy. Forgive me,
please. l shall ask his forgiveness also.
) And if you can be the friend of one SO
: weak as | am
Neil held out his hand, and Setar laid
hers within it.
think know why everybody that saw
her loved Setar. The girl who could have
acted thus after all her wretched irresolu
ton, must have had a strong sweet root OF
honesty within her, that gave character to