The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-09-02

SocicIy tndt he VIII De certainly JuDilant
over your return"
She looked toward the gallery, and saw
among stroling sight-seers, Minerva stand
ing with her white, little hand clasped fer
vently in the palm of fine-look ing bearded
man, whose dark eyes were bent upon her
face, and seemed literally devouring its
beloved lineaments.
"Come away from these crowds" she
heard him say, among much else that was
rendered indistinct by the distance. Then
he led Mrs. St. Alban out into the conserv-
atory, and stopped with her at its farther
end.
moment after, Gustavus St. Alban
walked rapidly past her up to the strange
gentleman, about whose shoulder he threw
his arm with easy familiarity, exclaiming,
as Minerva had done, "My dear George!
What proptous gale has blown you here
so suddenly? Your last letter prepared US
for weeks waiting at the very least"
The strangers low reply she could not
catch, but Gustavus continued
81 here formally resign Minerva to your
care, George. Not that am weary of her
by any means, but it's not fattering to
fellows vanity, you know, to feel himself
constantly compared mentally to an object
so much superior to him as you certainly
are to me in every physical and moral en-
dowment, my dear George. There, I'm
fn
merits, and | trust you respect my unusual
humility. l never aspired to be more than
reflection of your extraordinary perfec-
tons, anyhow"
"That'll do for this time, GUS" smiled
Mr. St. Alban, senior, as his younger
brother paused to regard him with look
of blended mirth and admiration.
Emma attempted to steal away from the
vicinity unobserved, but Gustavus suddenly
remembered her, and in a moment was
standing by her side.
"Wil you come with me and he pre-
sented to my brother, who has just ar
rived ~ he asked, looking at her with an
expression which revealed that he more
than half comprehended the cause of her
late treatment of him.
Emma laughed shyly, and frankly placed
her little hand in his hesitatingly. extended
palm. "He doesn't look as though he
pinned for my society,"" she observed, de
murely. "Wouldn't it do as well to wait
awhile?"
infinitely BETTER" readily assentcd Gus
tavus. Besides, l hav'n't seen half the
wonders of these gardens yet, and I find
you are better able to explain them than
anybody else. Suppose we make circuit
of them again, if you are not too fatigued ~
"Not in the least tired now," was the
naice reply, as she tripped by his side out
of the labyrinths of the Conservatives into
the gardens again.
GustavuS St. Alban discovered that it
would occupy a much longer time than
day in Woodward's Gardens to complete
his acquaintance with so fascinating dam
sell Week after week found him still lin
gering in the environs of the city, while
George St. Alban and his wife were revel-
ling among the sublimities of Yosemite
and the Big Trees, those abnormal atroci-
ties of Nature, perpetrated under the inilu-
ence of Californian fertility and productive
ness. At the end of month the paternal
elder brother was the expectant recipient
of the following laconic telegram from
Gustavus:
"Come down to San Francisco, you and
Minerva, by next train. Emma consents
to marry me at her fathers house, Wednes-
day evening next. Everything propitious.
Gus