The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-04-20
"Indeed. Did Miss Vaughn tell you SOP"

leaked out.
$50 it seems"
Laura's something of flirt, like the
rest of us. There was young Sample, the
clergyman-in fact it's her nature to be
on with the new love before she's off with
the old"
"Mrs. Bender, Miss Vaughn is a friend
of mine, - said Devens, reprovingly, while
he thought bitter things of her himself,
and made desperate resolves.
"And I'm sure Laura and I've always
got on well together. But it strikes me
that we must be tolerably familiar with
young fellow when he signed himself Jack
and nothing more. Shouldn't you say so,
Mr. Devens? ! shouldn't like Prue to be
on such terms with any but declared
lover myself
docs Miss Vaughn show her love-
letters?' he asked, already caught in a
snare.
Not muchly, Mr.. Devens. But MUIR
der Will out, you know. | believe myself
that it is dangerous innovation to teach
servants reading and writing, as the
Naughns do. No good comes of it."
MIR. Devens experienced a strange dis
trust stragbtway. Not being versed in the
wiles of women of the Bender type, he
mstook her airy insinuatians for law and
gospel. Laura had played false, had taken
advantage of their little quarrel to encour-
age rival. Should he not return the COM
piment by bestowing his attentions upon
some other damsel? Naturally Miss Prue
became the recipient of his temporary
favor. 1t was Prue who drove with him
through the lanes that led to Laura's school
house, where they were pretty sure to
meet her going or coming, and see the
quick color deepen in her cheeks and for
sake her lips; it was Prue who played
backgammon with him in the lighted
parlor, with the curtain of the window
looking out upon the Vaughns' premises
raised and the interview visible; and it was
poor Laura, in the darkness of her own
room, who watched the pretty game, with
tightness ather heart and tears in her
eyes.
" What blessing postal cards are, to be
sure.' reflected Mrs. Bender, as she looked
at the pair. "Now, if that one hadn't
been thrown in my teeth, so to speak, he
would have been spooning over at the
Naughns' this very minute
Mr.. Devens, blinded by his feelings,
failed to perceive that the situation looked
peculiar; he never guessed what a topic he
afforded at the sewing society and the
Bethel meetings, nor how much occupation
he provided for the neighbors' eyes and
ears. He never once staid to question how
his behavior affected any one but Laura.
Prue was used to flirting with Tom, Dick,
and Harry, and she had never received
wound
Its kinder natural and handy, living
under the same roof" said old Mrs Good
hue, looking over her spectacles at the specta
Gle. I" s'pose Prudence and her ma cosset
him within an inch of his life: the way to
mans heart is through his stomach; you
must pamper his appetite or fiatter his
vanity, and the Blenders are equal to the
occasion, reckon
Its propinquity, remarked Miss Blue,
who read mental philosophy and novels,
and represented feminine culture in Ches-
ter. When Laura left her school again
and again to the tender mercies of Ellen
Dow, and repeated her excursion to Boston,
Mr.. Devens neve: failed of being made
aware of it. On the third occasion.
indeed, he condescended to follow in the
smoking car, persuading himself that he
really ought to hunt up college chum.
He was rewarded by seeing Laura met by a
hansome young man upon fremont street,
who turned abont and disappeared with
her inside the Studio Building. Mr.. Devens
did not hunt up his chumshat day. Through
Mrs. Bender's application to her neighbors'
affairs it came to his ears whenever Miss
Laura received boquet by express, and he
once discovered bunch of violets bloom
ing in wine glass in her window, which
he well knew never bloomed in a Chester
greenhouse.
One evening he was congratulated on his
engagement to Miss Bender
g am engaged to no one.' he said, with
a sudden giddness about the head, as if
the ground shook under him.
"No? Well, folks do say they oughter
be, if you amt" returned the disappointed
gossip.
Indeed? Folks seem to understand
mg duty better than their own"
He walked homeward, half benumbed,
revolving the subject drearily. Had he in
deed gone beyond his, depth unawares > he
asked himself. Was Miss Prue mistaken,
like the rest, with regard to his feelings?
Had he mised her, in his blind selfshness?
Ought he to marry without love because
g folks" talked? AS he drew near the
Naughns' in the failing light he perceived
two figures family outlined: woman had
just closed the garden gate and stood with
in: man departed, yet fingered with the
others hand shut in his own; the tall
hedge had hidden Mr.. Devens; in a minute
more he would be in sight. He wished
neither to listen nor to encounter his rival,
nor to surprise them love making. He
took step backward, still behind the
hedge.
"To- morrow, then" said the masculine
voice, with tender information, 81 shall be
the proudest, happiest-" Devers found
himself actually bending all his faculties to
hear, but the end of the sentence escaped
him. 81 should be glad to invite hand
full of friends to witness my success" pur-
sued the same voice, /" if you do not
object"
Il object" said Laura's silver treble
81, who owe you so much and can return
so little.'
"Good-bye." A little silence followed;
then-could Mr.. Devens believe his own
ears? The jackanape had kissed Laura,
and she had not rebuked him, He turned
hot aud cold alternately; his heart seemed