The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-06-21


DO you think | would encourage q
noble true man. love. only to spurn it -
" Has any one accused you of that? p
| asked.
No. no, He says never gave him
any reason to count himself more than
my friend. but" and she wrllng her
hands together-''I may have let him
Sec
"What?" l whispered, drawing her
into my arms.
That love him. she answered. Il
love him, and | have sent him away
And he! Oh, | never knew what Il
man. love was, till heard him tell me.
He would die for me! know he would
and II cannot give upm mere wealth for
him.
But he is not poor man. | urged.
.'No, his wife would live in comtorta-
BILE responsibility. | hate comfortable
responsibility: one. or at most two ser
wants. personal supervision of bcetStcaks
and potatoes, turning old dresses to make
new ones. l was intended for Just the
life have, without care and with every
luxury at my command. will not think
of Herbert Graham again.
At dinner time. Mrs. Graham told us
that her son had gone to New York, to
see about opening the house for their re-
turn to the city. If she knew of the
mornings scene. she did not speak of it.
but was her sweet placid self during the
few remaining days of her stay. For
her son did not return. writing for her to
oin him in New York.
Was it Self-rcproach that made Lois
even more tender than usual to the dear
old lady during the few remaining days
of her stay? Whatever the motive, she
was very devoted and very loving.
In October we were alone again, talk
ing of return to the city during the
Winter. But the days passed away. the
weeks became months. Christmas was
over. and still Lois made one excuse after
another for remaining at home. She was
very quiet. unlike herself for she had
been before always cheerful, if not gay.
But she was depressed i'll those Autumn
and Winter days, after Herbert Graham
left us. |. who watched her as carefully
as it was possible to do. without her sus-
pecting my anxiety. saw that she would
often seem to be practicing an odd sort
of experiment sell-denial. wearing no
ewelry. rising early, following me about
the house when | was giving orders to
the servants, Or busted about little house
hold matters | would not trust to less ex-
perienced hands than my own.
She asked me many questions. too.
about economy i'll housekeeping. which |
answered as gravely as if l did not sus-
pect any motive beyond mere curiosity.
But | was surprised when Spring open
cd to hear a proposition she made that
seemed oddly out of keeping with her i'm
pulsive nature.
Il want to try how | like housekecp-
ing" she said to me one brilliant May
morning. Not this luxurious cHshe-
keeping with a staff of servants, but real
practical home life: suppose we play we
are poor. as the children say. and take !,
cottage for the Summer, where we can
live with one servant. and wear print
dresses; receive no company, and prac-
tice making pies?'
I smiled, but she was thoroughly in
earnest Before | was married" she
continued, Il used to spend my Sum-
merS with an old aunt, who lived in a
cottage on the l. river. She had two
boats she hired out by the hour. and at
the back of the house was wharf and
porch jutting out upon tile river where
| spent hours reading poetry and watch
lug the rowing, for the river there is too
narrow for any vessel larger than Il row
boat. That little cottage is my very
own, for my aunt left it to me, and every
Summer my lawyer rents it to some one
who hires out the two boats and takes a
boarder or two. 1t is vacant all Winter,
but is furnished. Suppose We go therc?'
| saw that under the hali-laughing
proposition she was thoroughly in earn
est and said the scheme appeared to me
in every way delightful.
But when we were actually i'll the house,
| felt doubtful about the result of the
| 70, 10,
the life endurable to one who had been
SO long accustomed to luxury? Well |
knew that Lois was testing her own heart.
her own power to resign her wealth for
loves sake.
1t was touching and pretty to watch
her efforts and her successes: to see her
in a print dress and white apron study
ing culinary mysteries. washing dishes,
sweeping floors. or working i'll the gai-
den.
The boats were hired out by a man
who took them for the summer, and Lois
had nothing to say about them.
But she would often sit for hours upon
the porch she had described to me. read
ing and watching the river. ! could see
her from the window of our little sitting
room, and my heart was full of gratitude
as noted how her eyes filled with happy
light. how her lips smiled often, as if the
problem of life were being pleasantly
solved. The soft color came back to her
cheek, and the sadness that had shad-
owed her sweet face gave way to new
beauty of cheerlulness. unlike the vivac-
ity of the preceding summer, but full of
placid happiness.
1T will all come right, thought,
assured i'll my own heart that love was
better than riches.
June and July were of the past, and
August was making the sky brilliant.
when one afternoon at sunset heard the
dip and splash of oars, and presently
voice asking:
Would you fill my cup for me >
| looked out to see Lois standing up,
facing a lad standing in row boat, who
dropped his oars to hold tin cup to her.
There was pitcher of iced lemonade
upon the bench. and probably the petit
TONER thought it water.
But rs Lois took the cup. she lifted her
eyes to meet those Of second passenger
i'll the little boat. The cup dropped to
the floor, and both hands were extended
to make more impressive the salutation.
"Dr. Graham' How glad an to see
you, NO, you shall have none OF iny lem
onade, but come in and taste my tea and
peaches
He hesitated but moment Something
i'll her pleading eyes. the trcmulous lips,
was too strong for him to resist and pres
emily he entered tie room where sat,
followed by his companion, both apollo
giving for lack of coats and evening cos
tunes, but both keenly appreeiativc of
the tempting rcrast We impr0viScd for
their benefit.
They LETT us when the mooA rose but
the l.oxi morning was not altogether
dumb with amazement IL sec Dr. Graham
IL faultiesS attire walking M to or front
door.
Lois saw him alone, lut actcr he left
she came to ne, with her eyes shining
with clear sweet radiance and her voice
full OF happiness. to whisper:
lie loves me still. and will be his
| wife III Ootobur."
| am still Lois Graifam's most intimate
friend, and | know that never for one
hour las my darling regretted the day
when she gave up her wca It'll and splendid
house to be the beloved wife. the careful
hoEsekeepcr who makes the sunlight of
pr GralamS home.
John NJ Clayton.
at Dover not far from the . ,urt Ioasc.
stands roomy OIL DWELLING formerly
the residence of John VI. Clayton. &ecle-