The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-12-23

ing Michel's and Eagles. The ground in
side was considerably higher, it was thickly
turfed, and in addition to this, the snow
lay in frozen masses, for the suns rays
could scarcely penetrate the recesses of
that gloomy little nook.
81 must have it, said, and stepped
into that magic circle which was to be the
means of disclosing to me many things;
and scarcely had ! entered it when | heard
voices coming up the path behind.
l did not recognize the voices till they
approachedimy nook, where had no fancy
for being discovered getting the holly that
Lionel admired. But when they came close
| found that the disturbers of my solitude
Y had betrothed myself.
Her tones were passionate and warm
his low, distinct and calm; they both fell
clearly upon my ears; and from the mo-
ment | heard her first words, for Blanche's
sake, as we'll as my own, | could not be-
tray myself.
II have told you the TRUTH she said
WDdJ Is your answer TO IL,
THAT cannot ask you to sacrifice so much
to my selfish love, dearest he answered,
tenderly. mo, Blanche, am not SO care
less of you as you, even though loving me,
had supposed. | cannot ask you to be my
wife, dear, since it would cost you so much"
| covered down trembling with rage in
my secluded nook as the pair paused at the
entrance.
If you would not count the cost she
murmured fondly, :" could bear poverty,
even penury with you, Lionel, rather than
be the mistress of the Firs with an empty,
blghted heart"
There was such simple womanly elo-
quence in her soul-fraught tones. My sym
pathies were all with HEREWITH this woman
who loved with self-sacriticing love the
man who had asked me to marry him that
morning. What Gouble game he had
been playing to bring such climax about.
DO not tempt me-" he said; "for your
own sake do not tempt me to make you
violate the condition of that cruel will. |
should be coward to win you from such
fate as NINE
Then why have you won my heart ~
she cried with great sob. Aud then
heard her light footsteps flying away, and
| was left alone with only hedge inter
man, who had won my promise to be his
wife, though he affected love for another
woman at the time, and only abstained
from wedding her because | was the richer
prize.
| read our mutual self-deceptions Alright
at that moment | knew that poor Blanche
had unconsciouSly deceived me, and that |
had unconsciously deceived her, and that
Lionel had Willingly deceived us both
But | did not see my way clearly out of
this mass of deception yet; for | was
gagged to this man; and | could not shame
my friend by letting her know that | had
heard that which would honorably relieve
me from Mr.. Poole.
| saw it all as l covered under the holly
hedge and he stood chewing the cud of
meditation outside. | saw how he had
fooled us both to the top of our bent till he
had learnt which of the two was the richer
woman. He had finally decided i'll my
favor, though why he had done so before
Mrs. Fitzgerald had told him as | gath
cred from her broken words that she had
done that she would lose her possessions
by second marriage, | was at loss to
imagine.
| shrank from the idea of going out and
disclosing myself, and yet he made no move,
and it was getting near the dressing hour
and | was very cold, | could not feel senti-
mental, do all | would. This man seemed
to me too thoroughly base and mean, with
his trickery and calculations, for me to
waste thought about again. But | had
liked him very much before | knew him to
be the mere mercenary man he was; while,
in fact, he was still an Apollo to me, and |
did not desire to pat him to the open con
fusion of coming out and detecting him.
SO | covered behind my hedge and gazed
at my holly sprig fondly: resolved to wear
it still on its own merits entirely, and not
for the sake of my recreant lover, Lionel
Poole.
He had stood perfectly quiescent for some
minutes, apparently quite staggered by the
sudden flight of Mrs. Fitzgerald, but he
came back to animation with light laugh
presently and exclaimed:
"By Jove! that topmost spray would BE-
the very thing for little Eva-kiled two
birds with one stone by coming here-I
gained a true statement of the widows
finances, and | mean to gin head-dress
that will completely subiugate her vain lit
tie heart for Miss Travers.''
| had resolved upon wearing that holly
spray, but | felt that | could not take it
from his hands. So now | rose from my
crouching posture with an immense effort
drew myself up to my full height which
isn't colossal, and jumped at the coveted
prize. He heard my efforts to gain it, and
he saw Il gauntlet glove gather the little
sprig, but he did not see me, nor did he
suspect it was me, for he walked away
with a muttered imprecation for having
been overheard by any one.
| tore back to the house and arrayed my
self in rush for dinner. | gathered all
4 L.. Ill,
tened them with a jet comb, from which
depended the precious sprig of holly in the
search for which | had found the blessed
truth that saved me from being that miser-
able thing, a wife married for her money.
Then | went down to dinner, and had the
satisfaction of seeing that Mr.. Lionel
Poole was considerably agitated by the
sight thereof.
"Don't go away Tomorrow | Whis-
pered to Captain Villars when the gentle
men Joined us after dinner. And he said
mo, he wouldn't, if l really meant it."
Lionel Poole was 7 It Ell distraI TO {, time,
but he recovered himself as the evening
went, and came up to me as | sat on the
sofa by Mrs Fitzgerald, for we had not got
up charade that night.
Il want you to play me something" he
said; and when | rose and walked to tie
piano, he whispered:
son the whole, Eva, dearest, l think
you had better tell your friend of our en-
gagement at once-that is tonight. |
shall leave the Firs early in the morning,
and could wish you to curtail your visit
in order that we may meet in London again
soon. | shall see your father to morrow"
"There will be no occasion for your do
ing so, Mr.. Poole" | answered, "and
though | think it will be becoming thing
on your part to leave the FRS as soon as
possible, still | must beg that you will not
consider me in the matter at ALL"
Why, Eva.' he said, 81 don't like
transformations usually, but this less than
any l have even seen"
He tried to take my hand, and | could
not avoid recoling, for felt how base he
must have been to have won such a pas
sionate protest from Blanche Fitzgerald.
Hedges have ears Mr. POOLE l re-
piled, land the next time you propose
making two offers in one day with reserva-
tions, don't let it be behind thick holly
fence"
| pointed as | spoke to my vivid, bril-.
liant ornament, and he glanced at it and