The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-11-24
A GREEN LION.

X
drawled Penelope Gardner, 81 hate small
men,
Marguerite Allen was indeed of fair size
and somewhat of a brunette; but Penelope
was no lily herself Her beauty-for she
had fair share-was rather of the aggres
sive and full blooming sort that is apt t.
"make remarks
il" lou do ~ was Marguerite's undisturb
ed reply. 81 suppose that means Ton
Lynn, just now, because he's silly enough
to admire you. You'll soon help him tt
get over it. | don't believe you've fooled
him very badly, any how"
The color in Penelope's cheeks deepened
little, for "the PEARL was seldom known
to miss her little shots, and the reply came
without any drawl:
"Tom Lynn? Who spoke of him9 Al
| said was that hate small men,
"That means that you'll marry one one
of these days, | suppose" responded Mar
guerite.
"What do you mean % asked Penelope
Why, Pen," said Marguerite, ere
morseless women like you always marry
the kind of man they hate. You feel toe
benevolent just now to marry anybody,
even Tom Lynn; but wait while. In
three or four years you'll have lost all your
pity, and then you'll marry the smallest
man you know-the one you hate most
81 didn't know pearls were bitter" said
Penelope. "Come, now, trade me Colone
Waring for Tom Lynn. I'll give you that
green worsted lion on the mantel to boot. y
Thank you, Pen," said Marguerite
put that worsted in the fire this ever Sc
long. Your claim Oh Tom is worth about
as much as the green lion, or as mine on
the colonel. Next time you want to work
canvas, you can make the colonel sit for a
model
You are dreadfully savage this morn
ing" said Pen, as she handed down the
unlucky green beast, SO good a specimen
of his wooly kind. You'd better take
him and go. l don't know where you'll
find Tom. I'll take possession of the colo.
mel when we come out to play croquet. AT
all events, he's not small man."
"Poor Tom Lynn" said Marguerite, as
she swept out of the room with. her lion;
she doesn't ike me at all, and what shall
do with him? ~
"Amuse him kindly till somebody else
comes,'' was the parting advice of Pene.
lope Gardner.
But what would not either Pen or "the
pearl have given if they had known that
the couple of gentlemen, who, unknown tc
them, were enjoying their early smoke or
the grass under the maple near the window
of PENS room, had been compulsory hear.
ers of every word that passed?
"Well, colonel muttered the lesser of
the twain, (which of us three came out of
that fight with the least glory?'
"Us three, Tom ~ replied the tall, broad
shouldered, martial-looking, but not at al
handsome, colonel. "What do you mean"
"Why," said Tom, "you and l and the
green lion"
"Oh," exclaimed the colonel, the lion,
decidedly. She's going to burn him.
must say ! fully approve of that proceed
ing. But what's to become of you and
me? They'll be cremating us next
There was red spot in Tom Lynn's
cheek, in spite of his self control, for he
was almost painfully aware of the differ
ence between his somewhat understood
though elegant proportions and the mas
>ive bone and muscle of his friend.
"Small men, never care to have the
question of size discussed in their hearing
least of all by the fairer part of creation
aud poor Tom, clear headed and manly as
he unquestionably was, had felt the sting
Of Penelope's remarks to the very extrem
lty of his neatly fitting boots. He answer,
ed quietly, nevertheless:
Why, colonel, if it's any fun to the
girls to swap what the Western settlers
would call their presumption titles to US,
why not indulge 'em?
CAN right" said the colonel. "The
green lion went with you as betterment,
suppose
"Oh,'' said Tom, a trifle bitterly, "I've
taken on bigger Improvements than THAI
while Pen was cultvating me-
so much the better for your new own
err" said the colonel. But | wonder
what Sha' III do for ma ~
"Swap you for the first conner that out.
weighs you," said Tom. by the way,
there will be new party here by the noon
boat. See 'em at dinner"
ing.
Both, | understand" said Tom. 81
wonder to whom shall be traded next ?"
When the inmates of the pleasant "sum
mer boarding house, at the shore of Green
Lake, came out for their accustomed cIo
quet an hour or SO later, the two gentle
men could hardly help exchanging an ap
preciative smile as Marguerite and Penelope
adroitly but firmly carried out the terms OF
their contract.
Tom Lynn, however, perceived less beau
ty than hitherto in the fresh, rosy, aggres
| sive face Of Pen Gardner, while the pleas
ant smiles of the dark-eyed Marguerite
were none the less agreeable because Ton
felt that she had, in manner, "stood NJ
for him - in his absence. In fact, so en-.
/ tirely and contentedly did he resign him
self to his new owner, that Pen could
hardly conceal her surprise and pque. She
remembered the bitter suggestion of "the
pearl " that morning, and muttered to her.
self:
Marguerite was right But then he is