The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-07-05


help me-" she gasped, thinking aloud
rather than speaking to Mr.. Grafton.
eyes, yes, there is some one ready t,
help you, Greta," said that gentleman; g
will help you, if you will only give Inc thu
right he petitioned.
You, Mr.. Grafton! What right can
give you? l don't understand
=" If you We're my promised wife All
my dear Miss Greta, don't turn away youl
head disdaintully; hear me out. Mr.
Stoughton is under some obligation to me
if you We're my promised wife, l could
write him. There would be no more said
about the missing diamond; it would be &C
counted for in some natural manner. You
would he no longer suspected No one
could suspect the woman whom Thomas
Grafton delighted to honor
"You-you are very kind | thank you
but do not love you, Mr.. Grafton"
81 don't ask you to love me. OF course
you don't; the idea has never, perhaps, Ell
tered your head before. | only beg that
you will marry me. Love will come sooner
or later, as deserve it at your hands. And
my dear Greta, what better can you do ?
Who will give you employment, with this
blight upon YOU How will you earn your
daily bread -
81 don't know" returned Greta; how
shall indeed? But all the same, it would
| be merely marrying you for a home"
"Only agree to marry Inc, and | will not
quarrel with the motives he implorcd.
What could Greta do? Her lover had
deserted her: her good name was furnished.
| Without home, friends, or work, was it not
the height of folly to refuse such 4 way of
escape: And vet, how could she love
him? But might not one survive the
luxury of loving" Come wealth, ease, and
sweet. She begged fortnight for consider
alton: something might turn up to her ad-
vantage-the diamond, for instance. But
the fortnight passed, as fortnights will;
nothing happened, except that Mr.. Grafton,
feeling confidence in the woman who hest
tates, refurnished his parlor in blue satin
and pale gold, fitted up an apartment for
his witc's boudoir like "a suburb of fairy
land, bespoke the parson, the ring, and the
caterer
"Do tell.' said one gossip to another;
"Greta Loring's going to step into clover,
and no mistake
It's 4 powerful change for her. l hear
Mr.. Graftons always had a laundering for
her. He told Mr.. Jobson any man could
marry any woman he set his heart upon, if
he'd only work hard enough, and wait like
i spider in his web"
81 guess he got Greta for the asking, eh?"
81 dunno; there was that Sotherne who
was sweet on her"
Il reckon that's blown over-only 4
Young mans paStime. In surprised at
Tom Grafton, though, with all his airs and
frillS, with his family tree and his coat of
arms, and his ancestors and his money
How does he get over that little affair Of
Mrs. Stoughton's diamond. | s'poSe he
expects folks to visit his wife and ask no
questions, once she's Il Grafton
Claw. its the way of the world: y pretty
face makes Il man forget trespasses and get
rid of his Judgment. It's no Use quarrel
ing with such things at orr age. Greta' II
make fine lady, and mean to pay my
respects at Grafton Place directly: Pm just
crazy to see Che rev tNings. I'd just like
to see how I'd look in the blue satin parlor."
And all this time Greta had not eren con-
scented. 1t is true, wealth and comic. ~.
Ill 81,
dence would p:nvide, and how could she
know but this was the very provision made
for her? 1t would he delightful, no doubt, to
enjoy such an establishment as Grafton Place
She remembered what visions of romance
had accompanied when she rambled through
the quaint old-flshiuned mansion, which
might easily boast Il haunted chamber:
through the halls with the :" dim religious
light " falling from painted windows: sazel
at the portraits of the dusty Graftons: push
ell aside the brocade h;,ngings: drank from
the china that had outlived generations.
She recalled the great mirrors that lined the
walls, the silver oprrsne upon the sie-board
heaped with fruit, the flushing ivory of the
piano, and the o,or of the hot house flowers.
And it might all be hers at n word. Only
let her SAY eyes," and she might wear her
velvetS and laceS with any lady in the land,
drive in her satin-linel carriage and have
servants under her, and all that heart could
desire All? Yes, all but self-approval,
love, and Stephen Sotherne. Still, let her
answer No." and Stephen and love would
still lie lacking, and hardship, want, and
public disapproval be superadde,.
"The miserable little tlief." thought
| the exaspcr:,ted Mrs. Stoughton. "She has
played her cards to perfection, cozening that
| old fellow into marrying her. No doubt
| he'll rue the day, and serve him right
In the mean time, rs Greta had not given
him Il refusal, Mr.. Grafton chose to con.
siler himself accepted. He consulted her
about the wedding journey, about the new
servants TO be engaged, dS if the marriage
was matter of course. She acquiesced in
| his Suggestions but she had no choice tc
make; she was drifting with the stream
and rowing hard against it; she was max
ing believe that she could love him by-and
by; his attention, his consideration for ont
so forlorn, his generosity, touched her; tha,
was all.
One day Mrs. StoughtonS husband re-
turned home. 1t would seem rs if no event
could have less effect upon Greta's fortunes
She watched him walking by, and wondered
if Mrs. Stoughton was glad to see him.
u,y l,a asl-a,l -,
his dinner table.
"News enough. Mr.. Grafton is going t.
be married. returned his wife.
"That reminds mel must see Grafton
directly. Married, Ell? Well, he's ole
enough. Who's the bride elect"
"That little hussy, Greta Loring."
"Softly, SOFTLY my dear; it sounds envi
ous.'
"IenviouS of that little thief"
"Thief? What has Grrta stolen-ol,
Graftons heart Nobody knew he had on,
before. Perhaps she has only developed ;
latent organ in him"
"Oh, Herbert, l am SO sorry to tell yol-
never could make up my mind to write it
but she was at work here-Greta Loring-
blythe way, l haven't paid her yet-and-
and my diamond ring was in the sam'
room, and-itS there yet, only the diamond
gone. Nobody else had been in the house
What could l think" OF course she stol
it, though she brazens it ont as she does. "
Mr. Stouahton turned ash-color, laid dowI
his fork, and started at his wife. can,
Won accused her of stealing the diamond -