The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-07-01
THE PICNIC.

lessly over her shoulders, dusky eyed,
crimson brunette, who might ap-
propriately have sat for the photograph of
royal Cleopatra.
81 don't know whether shall or not, :"
said Natalie.
Mary Ellis looked almost enviously at
her. Why was it, she asked herself, that
all the rich wine Of life should be held to
the lips of one who scarcely cared to taste it?
''But it will be such fun" said she, visit
fully.
I'm not at all certain of that" said
Natalie.
"Hugo Worthington will be there
"Oh, of course, Hugo Worthngton is
just like boy let out of school. He goes
everywhere"
"And Captain Westray.'
a deeper tint came into Natalies cheeks
at the mention of this name.
"Wil he be there?'
"Mrs. Turner told me that he had &C
cepted," answered Mary.
Then, perhaps I'll CO." said Miss
Warwick.
Mary Ellis went up stairs to her own
room-the two girls were staying at fash
iOnable Summer hotel, upon the edge of
the cliffs, where the pillows of life and
fashion rolled with the dawn of every
Summer-and looked at herself in the lit
tie fern wreathed mirror over the mantle.
Natalie Warwick and Mary Ellis were
distant cousins, but their fates in life
seemed far differently marked out.
Natalie was the only child of a wealthy
merchant, with scarcely an ungratified wish
in the world; while Mary, the niece of
surly old wholesale grocer, who had adopted
hn, l,a l,,Sk lo1.> =
was kept on scanty commons of either love
or money.
eff you don't get yourself married off
this Summer" said her uncle, with dog
like snarl of the upper lip, "you'l have to
60 teaching, or something else. l can't
support you any longer in ldleness.'
This, as it may be imagined, was pleas
ant tidings for poor Mary.
81 know am not very pretty" said
she, little mournfully, as she surveyed
her reflection in the glass. 81 have not
got Natalie Warwicks glorious eyes and
satin smooth skin; bnt then, again, | am
not positively ugly. And-and Captain
Westray is always very polite, even if he
isn't particularly attentive. Oh! think l
should be perfectly happy if some true
hearted, noble natured man, like Basil
Westray, would love me-"
For poor Mary hungered and thirsted
after the love which had, during all her
life, been SO niggardly dealt out to her.
The picnic came off upon glorious
May day, with the air all scented with
ferns and flowers, and the merry little
brooklet dashing and tumbling down a
narrow ravine near by. Towards the sea
a precipice extended almost down to the
water, fringed with trees, and forming a
delciously cool table land, where the i'm
promptu banquet was laid.
Natalie Warwick was in her element.
She felt herself to be thoroughly mistress
of the OccaSion-queen of the feast.
Hugo Worthington hung on her words
like the humblest slave; and Basil West
ray, stately and dignified though he was,
haunted her footsteps, perfect shadow.
Mr.. Leefield, blonde moustached ex-
quisite, was content with the honor of
carrying her fan and parasol.
Professor BluestOne was engaged, not
withstanding his spectacles and forty years,
in making a collection of ferns for her. and
Percy Fayall, budding author and Hera-
teur, was writing ION the crown of his hat)
an acrostic suited to the occasion.
AS they sat picturesquely grouped around
the edge of the cliff, Mary Ellis dropped
her parasol.
1t eddied a little way down the cliff, and
then caught in bush which grew at right
angles with the precipice.
Hugo Worthington was just in time to
catch it.
"You nearly lost your sunshade, Miss
Ellis, said he, lightly. " If it had gone
down the cliff, no one could have recovered
it."
Mary colored, smiled and thanked him.
Natalie leaned a little forward to look
down the steep descent.
"There is a path" said she.
"But one to be trod by goats Alone"
returned Westray.
"The villagers hereabouts have legend
about true lover climbing down to rescue
his sweetheart from some impossible PERIL
said Natalie, lightly.
GA true lover might do it," said Pro-
fessor Bluestone-" always provided he was
under thirty. l couldn't
"And would not" said Captain West
ray, as he stood little in the background
with folded arms.
Natalie Warwick had tormented him all
day with her coquetries; she had played
with his heart as if it were a foot ball;
she had been at once exacting, delightful.
capricious, and cold-and Captain West
ray, who was an honest, straightforward
u
thing, was beginning to get tired of it.
Wouldn't you? said Natalie, looking
up with mischievous play of jetty light
under her long eye lashes. "Do you re-
member the story of King Francis and the
glove?'
"No, l DON'T" said Captain Westray.
1t seems to me, though, there was some.
thing in it about some brilliant court lady
tlinging glove into the lions den to test
her lovers DEVOTION
and he sprang after it, didn't he ?"
said Natalie.
"Yes.''
81 would scorn to have cavalier less
chivalrous," said Natalie, with languid
softness-and as she spoke her lace edged
handkerchief fluttered down the precipi-
tous edge of the rock.
For an instant dead silence fell upon
the assembly.
No one present fancied the idea of re-
claiming the scented trifle at the cost of
life or limb-but presently Basil Westray
swung himself over the cliff.
ooh, don't let him go!' cried Miss Ellis,
Historically snatchlng at Natalie's arm.
"Call him back! Why don't you call him
back ~
"Don't be goose, Mary Ellis, said Nat
allie, with little scornful laugh. sit
wont hurt him.
Remember his widowed MOTHER" sob
bed Mary. "Oh, Natalie, if his foot should
slip-if he should be killed-his death will
be at your door,"
Natalie paled little at this, but she
made no reply.
A minute or two afterwards young West
ray sprang up the grassy ascent beyond,
white as death, but holding the pocket
handkerchief in his hand.
Here is your handkerchief, Miss War
wick" said he. "But hundred thous-
and pounds would not tempt me to do it
again"
And he walked away.
oil am very much obliged to you,"
said Natalie, family. Captain Westray
But Captain Westray had turned away.
You are not vexed with me?" said
Natalie, in her softest, most appealing
tones.
"Vexed!" slowly repeated Basil West
ray. "No, l am not exactly what you
would call vexed. But, Miss Warwick, |
never again can respect Or admire the lady
who would deliberately risk the life of