The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-07-22
BY ETTIE ROGERS.

OF woman.
She had, too, the rare and royal beauty
of our dead father. She had his majestic
grace of form and winning features. his
black-lashed, large blue eyes and waves of
chestnut brown hair.
l think our gentle, invalid mother had
more maternal admiration than love for
Emily; and | had the bittcr-sweet gladness
of knowing that | was her favorite.
Emily was her hope and pride, but was
her idol.
But Emily-sweet girl-was too noble
Tor any sisterly jealousy, and petted our
mothers spoiled darling in all her capri
cious moods.
was wild, fearless little thing, full of
glrlsh pranks and gayety, and five years
younger than my stately sister.
One sad night was awakened by Emily's
tears and kisses on my face.
What is it, Emmy asked, stirring
lazly from my happy dreams.
"Poor Kitty murmured my sister,
"our mother is DYING
Shall l ever forget that sorrowful, sor.
rowful night, when Death stalked into orr
beautiful home to make it desolateo-ncyer,
| never.
! Shall | ever forget the sad vicissitudes
that followed our days of orphanage >
Alas, never. never.
"Good-bye, my dear children" wills
pered our dying mother, 81 do not desire
you to mourn for me, for am glad to go
where your father has gone before me-
You are both young, and will be well pro-
vded for You, Emily, will travel for a
few years with aunt Hope; and you, my
Kitty, will 90 to Mrs. Elliott, whom our
lawyer has recommended. You, my child,
will find a pleasant home with this I'M
known friend, and by and-by, you will
marry some honest, easy going man and
be content. l have no fears for you. 1t
is different with you, Emily; heart like
yours will never be satisfied with the love
that most men give their wives. Be care
full where you fix your affections, my child,
for love is cross as we'll as a joy; and life
at the best, long unrest of vague yearn-
ing
Emily stood quite still and fearless, hold
ing one dear hand that was growing swiftly
cold with the freezing touch of dssolution
but knew even in her calmness, her grief
was more lasting and terrible than mine.
"Good-bye Kitty, Emily murmured
the failing voice. Henry-husband-
am coming
1t was all over. The grim boatman had
taken our precious mother across the sullen
waters, and we were left orphans, and alone.
In little time strangers had come to
desecrate the altar stones of our old home:
and Emily went with aunt Hope across the
Atlantic, and found sweet refuge in
distant city with Mrs. Elliott, whom had
never before seen.
She had been our old lawyers oldest and
dearest friend, and l soon learned to love
her dearly.
Her daughter Agnes was beautiful and
good, always reminding me in many things
of Emily; and next to my absent sister,
became to me the dearest creature on earth.
Agnes lad a brother whom she worship
ped, and who was in Europe.
"Oh, Kitty" Agnes used to say to me
often, 81 do SO wish that Wilfred would
come homeand fall in love with you. do
want you for my own little sister, so much"
was only sixteen then, and my brain
was weaving romances all those Summer
days about this handsome, wonderful Will
fred, whose coming | began to yearn for
and whose pictured image haunted my silly
heart.
About this time strange, incoherent
epistle came from Emily.
She had met her fate at last. She had
found the one man among men who was
for her and her alone.
That was what gathered from the frag-
mentary story of her ecstatic and unex-
pected happiness.
There was a romance in the story, too.
Frederick Avenhoe, they called her lover,
and he was an amateur actor, whom aunt
Hope did not admire, either as a man or Il
professional.
81 saw him first on the stage" wrote.
my poor Emily. "They were playing a
great drama, and his part was that of a
courtly, simple hearted gentleman, who
was betrayed by the frivolous wife whom
he adored, ruined by treacherous friends,
and at last suffered, and was executed for
crime committed by dissolute only son,
rather than reveal that sons known felony.
l wept as sat in my box. Kitty. Iseemed
to see under the fair wig, streaked with
grey, the black curls of youth; and knew
that under the furnished purple and fine
linen beat the strong, true heart of the one
and only man whom | could ever love.
More than once l knew his great, eager
eyes were on my face. The people APP
plauded their favorite as they had never
done before; but | felt that he had played
for me, and done his best because he had
recognized a presence which had inspired
him. Silly, am $50 let it be. The next
day he passed my carriage on horseback.
All. Kitty, dear, | knew him, even as he
knew me. He drew his magnificent horse
up SO suddenly that the creature rested for
an instant like a statute on its launches;
he lifted his hat and smiled, and tearing a
white rose from his breast, flung it at my
feet. That was the beginning, my sweet
sister. All am so happy. Aunt Hope
frowns and scolds continually but don't
mind Keep my secret, sister mine"
was amazed beyond measure. My calm
and stately Emily had wept before the
mimic grief of an unknown actor, my self
retained sister who had held back her tears
by the bed of dying mother.
All. | did not know then that the free
heart will not be fettered by pride or pre-
judce, but like the wind will go wherever
it listeth, and that the love of woman for