The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-03-11

the door casing. Nearer and still nearer
came the tripping feet, until female form
stood dimly defined upon the threshold.
With a great heart -throb George caught
the slender figure to his breast, and in an
instant was vigorously kissing the captured
face indiscriminately on the cheek, brow
and lips.
A smothered scream burst from the
frightened girl at the first pause in his
fraternal demonstrations, and, as its tones
awoke the sleeping echoes, Geo. Seabright
loosed his hold upon the taper waist as
suddenly as if trip hammer had smote
his elbow, and retreated to the wall.
Oh, Lord! 1t was not Gertie at ALL He
knew the voice too well to attempt to dodge
the fact that it was Miss Kate Kervan-
the girl whose hand he had only dared to
touch after much fear and trembling
whom he had caught in his arms and forci-
bly, kissed. QueI horreuri Why had he
not fairy godmother to turn him into a
winged insect at that dire moment? His
bashful soul stood still within him, bead
like drops of moisture started out upon his
brow, and like a second Goliath he stood
quaking in his boots, awaiting the sling
with which he fully expected this feminine
David to Stay him.
Glow dare you, sir?" she demanded,
stamping her tiny feet passionately on the
floor.
81 could not help it, Kate" stammered
the poor fellow; "the room was dark, and
| thought you was Gertie. l am George
Seabright. Don't you know meo'
You are an impostor, sir. Mr.. Sea-
bright is abroad"
"Indeed, he is not. am he, and have
just arrived in the city"
Walking across to the CRATE he gave the
smoldering Goals an emphatic punch, and
as the flame leaping up brought his features
into strong relief against the black marble
of the mantel, down went the garnet me-
rino, the white apron, brown curls and
cherry ribbons in confused heap upon the
carpet, and hysterical sob brought the
his tawny beard sweeping in dangerous
proximity to her crimson cheeks, and the
crushed rose fragrance of her breath intox-
icating and inhaming his diffident spirit,
George essayed to comfort her.
"Indeed, could not help it, Kate"
81 don't believe you wanted to-" she
sobbed.
"Well, now, it would not be human ma
ture for a fellow to be sorry for kissing the
girl he loves, but am sorry l frightened
you"
1t was astonishing how easy it all came
to him after the first awkwardness was got
over, and l never could quite understand
how he did it, but in due time tranquility
was restored, and Hates eyes were as
happy to look upon as those of mountain
thrush when wild Strawberries are at their
ripest. After some preliminaries that it
would be impertinent to record, the cou-
quering hero asked:
"But where are my mother and sister,
Kate?'
"Why, did you not know that they do
not live here ?" was Hates Yankee
answer.
"Don't live here!'
"No. Your father has bought an ele-
CANT brown-stone front up on the Avenue,
and they moved out yesterday and we NOV
ed in. Maybe they don't have almanacs in
the place from which you hail %
"Oh, yesterday was the first of May, to
be sure. Well, it's a pretty way to cheat
fellow out of his home coming, Think
Perhaps you are not satisfied with the
turn of affairs ?''
Well, rather think l am, or | shall
be, when you have kissed me again"
| do not think she could have made up
the sum of his content, however, as he is
still asserting his dissatisfaction upon the
same grounds; and when the golden arma-
das of Autumn leaves come floating down
the mountain streams, and the blue smoke
mists of Indian Summer wrap the earth in
dreamy lights, George expects to take unto
himself "the prettiest Kate in Christen-
dom," and thus consummate what she in
sists is one Of the miseries Of moring.