The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-04-21

, inquiries made. 1t would be safe enough
to destroy it, dangerous not to do so now,
even if wanted Annie to read it
Then Jane tore the letter in two, thrust
it into its envelope, and looked about her
1t would be dangerous to tear it to bits in
the wood. Its fragments might attract
some eye amongst the greenness of the
grass, But hard by, pretty stream bub-
bled away over stones and pebbles. Once
thrown into the water, that was the end
of it.
Jane hurried to the water side, and look
ing over her shoulder, as one might be ex-
pected to see ghost, tossed the little pack
age in. 1t fell with the closed side down
which was thrust into it. The surface was
hard and highly finished, and shaped so as
to resist the water. A little breeze that
had just sprang up favored it, and away it
tloated, like little boat, deity clearing the
shore and lacking and turning as it passed
the dark, half hidden breasts of the little
rocks over which the water played.
GOOD by" said Jane, laughing as she
watched 1t. 81 have now vessel, freigh-
ted with the hopes of Harry Craig, afloat
in fine style. am afraid it will make
shipwreck, but all the better for some one
else. 1t is an i'll wind that blows no one
any good" And, turning, she tripped
towards the house.
At this moment, farther along the same
stream where, in a little cove lay hidden
a great tangle Of water lilies, Annie Con-
yers sat in a rough little boat, rowed by
Mrs Wilson's son Peter shock headed
boy of twelve. Little Fannie Wilton sat
beside her and the two girls drew up the
dark green stems of the great, beautiful
white flowers.
If one could only carry them to the
city, said Annie; "but they always die.
How greedy am, can never get enough.
But We'll leave the buds until they open
and there comes one down the stream to us.
Let's try to catch it, Peter
Peter in obedience to the mandate rowed
his boat into deep water, and Annie leaned
over the side with her hand outstretched
to catch what she fancied was a floating
lilly.
Pshaw.' she cried, with laugh, as it
came nearer. ''it's nothing but paper
But it seems to be lodging me. I'll catch
it whatever it ISL
And with these words her white fingers
closed on an envelope, not yet soaked
through and within which lay, torn and
crushed, the paper still dry.
Why, it has my name on the back-'
cried Annie. 81 never destroy a letter
when I'm away from home.
Then her face changed, and the children
saw her pale and flushed as she pieced the
torn letter together and read it through.
" Is anything the matter, Miss Annie p
asked Fannie.
"What should be - said Peter. "What
a little goose you are, Fan"
Nothing is the matter, children, said
Annie: only, as the old adage says, truth
is stranger than felton,
En- cried Peter.
$50 odd for a letter of mine to float to
me on the river" said Annie.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha. Amt it?" roared
Peter.
And stranger than Peter knew, for it
was Craigs love letter that Annie had Just
read.
She was wise little woman and kept
the matter to herself, but Fannie did not.
wasn't it funny, ma?' she cried
"Miss Annie found one of her letters
floating down the stream, just like boat,
when we were getting water lilies"
"Oh?' cried Mrs. Wilton, for at this
moment the teacup Jane had lifted to her
lips dropped from her hand and dashed to
pieces on the floor.
Glow careless that was of me-" cried
Jane.
Hope you haven't spolt your dress %
said Mrs. Wilton; but as Jane lifted her
crimson face from the fragments of the
broken cup. she met Armies Conyer's eyes.
Women sometimes talk to each other
with their eyes; two did then.
But Annie was generous in her triumph.
She never told Craig, and she sent Miss
Heath an invitation to her wedding, which
Miss Heath, with a great many regrets, de
cliued.