The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-07-29


faults in her.
"But," said Miss Temple, "there is
another reason, and | think | can be free
with you now; l have spent SO much of
my little income-and aunt has no spare
money-that have no means Of defraying
the necessary expenses"
"But you have the fortune left you by
an Australian uncle, and even if you have
not received it, your agent will certainly
make an advance"
81 have no fortune, dear Charley. Some
probably allVde to was left to my cousin,
Miss Anna Thompson Temple, to whom
introduced you at the Philharmonic
"Ah, it was indeed. She is a favored
young lady; and how much does she re-
ceive ~
"Report said five hundred thousand dol
lars, but cousin Nan has been informed by
the agents that there is but ten thousand
dollars in money. the rest is in houses and
lots in Melboure, valued at ninety thousand
dollars"
"Ah! well, really how these things do
spread. But to our matter; l guess, Miss
Anna, You had better have your own way"
The hours of that evening dragged heav-
lily along, and as they heightened, Charles
Ashton's manner became more and more
formal. He left, and Annals warm heart
was sad as she thought over the cool man
ner and the cooler parting. No sleep
came to her eyes that night.
''Can it be ," she said to herself a thous-
and times; "and yet it must, for his man
ner changed almost from my telling him of
Nannic's fortune"
The next night Charley was not in his
usual place, and the next and still more.
About a week afterwards, a short note in
formed Miss Temple that, having lost all
his savings in bad speculation, he could
not think of holding her to her engage
ment, which would be out of his power to
consummate in years.
To say this did not grieve her, would be
false, but it did not require many days to
teach her that she had not loved Charley
as she should the man she wished to marry.
Again our two young men met. This
time on Broadway. Charley, gaily saun-
way:
" Well, old boy, off early to- day ."
"Ive been promoted, and am not obliged
to work so late, though l do often; then l
think of taking ride in the park; my
head has ached much of late, and l am
more nervous than formerly"
thanks for it. By the-by, that fortune of
Miss Temples turns out to be all in my
eye"
How-what's that ," was the eager
reply.
"Well, Miss Somebody Temple had
about a hundred thousand dollars left her,
but it wasn't our pretty little friend"
"But l heard you were very attentive,
some say engaged"
"There's no telling what might have
been but for that fool of an uncle making
over now. You know that | at least cant
afford to marry poor woman, no matter
if she is a Peri. | know that you enter
tain some sort of foolish notion what love,
etc, will dc, but it's all bosh. Give me
the Dimes my boy. When poverty comes
in at the window, etc, you know. Take
my advice and drop all such foolish ideas. :"
Ashton might just as we'll have talked to
the lamp post for the hearing Farnum
paid. What he was thinking of we can
not say, but he did not go to the park that
afternoon, but the evening found him in a
little parlor which had SO often been graced
by Charey's presence. Ere the evening
was over he had explained his long absence,
told of his better prospects, and offered his
heart and hand. She asked three weeks
to consider, and he to visit her as often as
he wished. At the end of that time he was
accepted, and Anna learned what true love
was.
Here my story might end, but there is a
sequel. Some months after the engage
ment, Mr.. Smith tapped Ned on the Shout
der and motioned him to the private office.
"Going to marry my niece?" said the
gentleman.
81 am engaged to Miss Anna Temple,
sir, and we expect, in a quiet way, to be
married ono month from to dow PIT
was not aware that she was your niece"
Neither was | until few days since.
AS for your quiet way, understand me, sir,
the child of my only sister CAT be married
nowhere else but in my house. Come now,
no flnching. I've heard all about it. But
she's poor-poor as Jobs turkey; and
have too many children to give her more
than a decent wedding''
Ned did not understand the expression
on Mr.. Smiths face, but he felt a little
angered, and replied:
d" l never should have addressed her, and
l would release her this moment if l knew
she was an heiress.'
mo you don't, no you don't. l know
you and l know the whole story. You
can go.'
Ned pondered long over this singular
conversation, but got no satisfaction from
his own thoughts or Anna. She replied
only by smile and a kiss.
Notwithstanding all the urging of her
new found uncle, Anna refused to leave
her aunt until the time for her wedding.
That event came, and the ceremony over,
Mr.. Smith called the young people into
his library, and, drawing from his safe an
iron box, said:
Now, young man, you're tied hard and
fast, and I'll tell you that you've got an
heiress, and a rich one, too. A foolish
brother of her fathers, who would 60 to
Australia, took it into his head to die, not
long since, and left such a blotched up will
that it has taken over six months to get
the straight of it. We were his agents,
and kept the matter to ourselves, because
it was large sum and might create i'm
posters. We soon disposed of the one
hundred thousand dollars to Miss Anna