The Cecil Whig., 1877-03-03

/" Harold. you wrong Alberta: indeed you
do. Il is Sou that are fooishly proud, not
she. When she went abroad, she left us
rich when she came back, she found us
poor: and yet Sh9 had only been home two
days when she sought Us out. And how
did you receive her? In the coldcst man
ner; and then raved and swore when she
was gone-you needn't contradict me;
distinctly remember two very wicked words
you said-because she didn't rush into your
arms and kiss you at meeting, as she did
at parting, three years before. Can't you
understand, you horrid, splendid old boy,
that what is just allowable in girl of tif-
teen would be highly improper i'll young
lady of eighteen? And you've only called
upon her once since her return-once in
six long months; and pray what did your
lordship do on that occasion Scowled and
growled and snapped at Louis Vance in
such ferociouS manner that he told my
Fred-poor Fred, what pity they're tax
ing count of stock to-night.-he actually
thought with a little chuckle, "you were
losing your senses. And what's more, Mr.
thrust forward defiantly-''I think, and so
does Fred, that it's your duty to apologize
for the way you behaved that evening
And | don't believe she's engaged to Dan
Van Rensselaer, at all. That was only a
rumor that tloated over here from Paris,
and | see no reason why you should accept
it for the blessed truth any more than you
do the thousand and one idle reports that
are always floating about. And Harold, if
you really love her, why don't You tell her
so? Fred told me the moment he found
out. But there. | shant talk any more
it's no use
cit is not" declares Harold, with EN-
phasis: "for unless, by some unforeseen
turn in the wheel of fortune, she become
as poor as myself and | don't believe the
wheel contemplates any such turn,
shall never speak of love to Miss Alberta
Lee"
"Rude, obstinate, wretched boy scolds
the little sister: 60 wash my hands of you.
If you insist upon being unhappy, be so.
Not another word do you hear from me
tonight, for my breath is all frozen on my
veil, making it stiff and uncomfortable.
and I've reason to think, notwithstanding
my promise to the contrary, my big brother.
m going to sneeZe.'
"My darling cries the big brother,
fumbliDg in his great coat pockets, 1--we
another sky, or moon, or cloud or what
ever you call it, here-bought it as came
along for fear
d" Har,' interrupts Cora, solemnly, elf
you wrap another thing about me, even if
breathe" and she twines the veil she had
unfolded about the lower part of her face
again, and relapses into silence.
" Here she is-and time, | think" says
Harold, his blue eyes flashing with no pleas.
ant light, as a laughing party ran down
the steps of the Lee mansion and crowded
into the empty sleigh. "Aud, thunder and
Mars. that Internal Dan Van Rensselaer, is
at her side. G'iang, Ned savagely. And
away they all start, laughing, singing, and
shouting as only young people sleigh-lid-
ing on tiue moonlight night can laugh
and sing and shout.
An hours ride, and then stop of an
hour or two at an old-fashioned country
hotel-would there were more of them
fn, Japra n, Snla music, for which rraS
furnished by a very old violin, played 10y a
still older darkey, who, the dance ended,
proceeded to display his musical skill with
much rolling of the eyes and stamping of
ton Of his own, the theme being THE
Queen Bees Visit to the Garden of Roses -
and the most noticeable point in which was
a "hum -um-um,' commencing pianissimo
and then diminuendo ultil the Queen Bee
flew away again and a supper.
At the supper an enormous turkey pre-
sided, lianked by crisp salads broled quails
and the various pies of the country: but
he, the turkey, didn't preside long, for he
was soon reduced to much less than Skee-
ton; and then the sleighs were brought
from the stable, and the heads of the horses
the horses nothing loath, turned hOmeward:
and the good -uatured andlady and the red
haired chamber-maid, and Dan Van Rens
Selaer and his chums, had all they could
do in the way Of searching for articles Of
wearing apparel, and helping on jackets
ard holding shawlS and cloakS, and trying
wells, for at least fifteen minutes.
Hurry up at length shouts some one
from outside, of you want to get to the
city before the moon turns her back on u.s.
and down stairs they 90 pell-melI, helter-
skelter, and jump and tumble, and are lifted
into the sleighs again.
Harold Brown grasps his own particular
charge from the group as they reach the
roadside, and carefully seating her in his
sleigh, heaps the heavy robes around her
and springs i'll himself.
Hundreds of silvery bells jingle together
in pleasant discord; the old darkey, whose
Queen Bee has never extracted so much
roses before, iiings his battered hat in the
air, and shouts, - Rurrah" and then seizeS
his old violin and plays " Hail Columbia, -
though every note was a soldier of 1I1G:
and away they speed for home once more.
" How lovely she looked to- o-night' begins
Harold, after five minutes silence. You
needn't speak, toad. After that warm room
and the dance and the supper, it is more
necessary than ever that you should be
careful. All | ask Of you is to listen. AS
a listener you can't he surpassed. although
as a talker, Ike NEST women. you are apt
to get things Il little confused. But don't
90 to sleep, for that is an insult can't and
won't stand. Did you ever see such hair?
spun gold. And how charmingly she
wears it. part III wreath about her pretty
head, and part floating free over her pretty
shoulders. Blondes. There's only one
blonde in the world, and that's Alberta
Lee. Her skin is like the snow with the