The Cecil Whig., 1877-03-03

to have danced with her, the dance W,
danced together in the long ago, she gave
to Louis Vance, the very man came nea
knocking down one evening at her house
for taking her picture from her album anC
putting 1t in his breast pocket, with some
silly, sp0ony remark about his heart. How
her mother glared at me as | snatched il
from his hand. and she said. with COO
Pray, Mr., Brown, what is it to you ,
Deuce take her lovely, evaporation. be-
witched impudence. She well knew what
it was to me, the golden haired, lly-white
little hyuocrite, | suppose she'll marry
that Van Rensselaer, and he muttered
something which didn't sound like bless
ing between his teeth or some of his
set, not one of whom is worthy to hold her
fan, the bonnie, wee think, as our Old
Scotch nurse used to say y''-breaking off
with what is a woman we would call a
hysterical laugh. . say, sis are you
asleep? You needn't say word my but
teitly: just shake your head"
The wolsted things and wells that formed
the buttertly's cocoon moved slowly and
with difficulty from side 10 side
All right. dear. | feel rs though
must talk of her to night, and to whom can
talk but you, my darling my little
sister, who has never withheld her love and
sympathy from me, God bless her. But,
Cora, if any poor fellow had loved you all
. his i,fa lhno and Won had la6 him IN haI love
for many years that you returned his attec-
tiou, and then, growing richer as he,
through no fault of his own, grew poorer
if you turned away from him and smiled
upon those who We're only his superiors in
wealth and position, I'd disown you.-
Mouse of my life, would indeed."'
but suppose the poor fellow never
, told his love when we met after a long
separation ." whispers the ''mouse of his
life
"In words, YOU mean? Pshaw. there
are a hundred ways in which a man tells
his love, ard woman knows every one
of them by heart
But suppose. in another faint whis
per, that when she returned from abroad
she found him a man so much less manly
| than the youth she had left that he could
stoop to believe that because he had become
poor, as the world goes, she could forget
the happy, happy days they had spent tc-
gether, and-and cared for each other
Suppose that he lent ready ear to sillie
ala 70 bnt
she was engaged to be married to that
idiot Van Rensselaer, ?''
- Cora
No reply.
Cora, l say
Perfect silence.
You tormenting little thing "-shak-
ing her gently with his strong right hand
80 why don't you answer me? | won't
give you kiss for week if you don't.
There's something uncanny about you.
Where's your lisp? You had one short
time age: you know you did. Cora
My names Alberta, please sir and
the veil that had hidden her face flew aside,
and a long tress of golden hair tloated out
and frightened the night.
The reins fell from ITarold's hands AL
Derta caught them >killfully.
Ills well," she said that in those
by-gone days you taught me how to drive"
For one moment her lover gaZed at her
in open-eyed wonder Then he gasped,
Great heavens. what a fool.'
Thank you, Nj. Brown" said the fair
one, with smile.
"Not you, Alberta thunder and Mars,
no, but me, myself-to be 50 near and yet
so far. What conSummate-''
skip the hard words: there isn't the
slightest need of them," interrupted Al
berta, mSchevously. CORA thought she'd
like a ride in the big sleigh, and hadn't
the heart to refuse the child. Hope |
haven't intruded, Mr.. Brown? And now,
as we're turning into our street, you'd bet
ter take the rens again"
"Alberla-Bertie- sweetheart, say some
thing kind to me before We part, y lie pleads,
graspine both the reins and the little hands
that hold them.
"What shall say, Mr. Brown"
lie bends his head and looks earnestly in
her face. "Say Harold first"
"' Harold she repeats, with a saucy
smile, and then wrestling her hands away,
she sinks back and leans her head on his
shoulder. which droops to meet il. and goes
on in softened voice: "Im nat engaged
to Dan Van Rensselaer,. whom you, with
charming consistency, call m idiot for be
ing in love with me: and my papa. who is
the dearest and best papa in the whole
world. in spite of your impertinent re-
marks about him, cares nothing for wealth
and position, compared to my happiness:
and | myself, lily-white little hypocrite
to the contrary haven't the slightest ohiec-
ton to turning Brown, my Harold"
''God bless you, dearest
Yes, yes. but don't kiss me Just now,
please. We're at our own door, and the
light of the street lamp is falling full upon
us, and there's dear old anxious papa peep
ing out, trying to catch a glimpse of his
only son and heireSs.'
'obi Sbot-hieHt. iSSouu'ttb
from every side as each particular sleigh
started for that particular place to which
lis particular party belonged, with the ex-
ception of the sleigh III charge of the horse
called Ned
That remained in front of the dwelling
# the "priucess, while its happy owner.
with Cora, hi, little sister, who had sud
denly appeared at his side. on one arm, and
Alberta, his pretty sweetheart, on the other,
ascended the marble steps.
Papa called out Alberta, as they en-
tered the hall, " Mr.. Harold Brown has
been behaving in dreadful manner. He
has called me all sorts of names, abused
me most shamefully to my face. actually
shaken me. and worst of all. declared he
wouldn't kiss me for week Send John
10 look after Ned--poor horse. lie isn't to
bllme-and then demand that you de-
mand an explanation.