The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-01-31


Miss Roxy's keen eyes read that open
face at once. She felt the purest pity
for the misplaced boy, whose education
was wasted and his nature Disguised by
well as his employer. Elisha was indeed
misplaced but he was, in his daily way,
Il hero: and to be heroic in the petty
trudgery of distasteful life is a thous-
and times harder than to win splendid
battles. lie had given up everything to
help his feeble father and six sisters: SO
had his mother: and neither of them
looked upon their sacrifices as more than
Il matter of course. which, perhaps. was
the one touch superior even to heroism.
But Miss Roxy, used to that sort of
intercourse with many. perhaps most, of
the families in her neighborhood which
is attributed to the proverbial rdlt de
chamLre, was Yet 50 much more percep-
tive than that stupid French man ser
want that she knew hero even in a coun-
try store: and she turned away with the
squire. carrying in her heart fund of
admiration and good will that was to
stand Elisha in stead at future time of
need.
In the library of Squire Larkin time
the next hour was spent by Samuel Paine
and Roxy Keep i'll a passage of arms
! He was determined to secure Roxy to
/
manage his establishment Oh his own
! terms: and she was willing TO be secured,
but 1t must be on her terms. and being a
tailoress. she carried the day. In consid-
Grafton of the little home she left in Her
mon and the lucrative trade she left, she
required of the squire written guaran-
| tee that her services should continue for
two years i'll any case, subject only to her
own change of mind. that her salary
should he paid quarterly. under pain of
her immediate departure if it failed to
come to hand. and that the aforesaid sal
airy should be a sufficient equivalent for
the trade she gave up. After much con-
versation the squire yielded all these
points Though with no good grace.
Well. now I've gin up to ye, said
he, I'D like to know how soon yc can
come, Roxy. Things is a-goin' every
which way here. LowiSy'S a good girl
she's good enough girl, but she ain
nothin' Int girl. an she ain't no more
fit to run a house II she is to preach a
sermon; :" I'd like We to come back $
quick as We CAN
Il dono'S need to go" CURLY and
promptly answered Miss Roxy. 81 reck-
oncd should stay when | come So sold
out my house to Deacon Treadwell's
widdcr. an | fetched my trunks along:
they're over to Reading depot. and the
stage driver he'll take the checks to-
moller and fetch 'em back, don't
never let no grass grow under my feet,
Squire Paine
Land alive | should think not"
calculated the astonished squire. SO
Miss Roxy staid. and the house was stir
red up from beneath to meet her. Bird
get gave notice Just i'll time not to have
it given to her, and brush in hand. the
iiercest of bandana handkcrchicfs tied
over her crisp black hair, Miss Roxy be-
gan that awful setting to rights
which is at once the privilege and the
necessity of strenuous souls like hers
At first Louise was half inclined TO re
bel: the slipshod family rule-or mi&rulc
had just suited her youthful careless
ness: but Miss Roxy's keen humor.
pleasant common sense. and comfortable
efficiency soon enlisted Louise on her
side, and the girl could not help enjoy
ing the bright order, the specklesS com.
fort the sayory meals. the thrift that
was not meanness, and the frugality that
could he diScreetly generous. which fol-
lowed Miss Roxy reign, and at the end
Of two years the squire was glad enough
to renew the guarantee which this fore
seeing woman still demanded of him.
Well for her well for all of them. was it
that he did so sign.
In the meantime Squire Paine had gone
his way, buying and selling and talking
much about the golden rewl,' and
many small titi's had ensued between him
and Miss Roxy Oh points of domestic
economy; but the squire knew. if he had
never read, that discretion in the better
part of valor. and considering just in
time that housekeeping was not his forte
and was Miss Roxy's. he always beat
retreat after these battles. and not always
with flying colors. But now, towards
the beginning of this third year. there
began to be trouble in the camp. Elisha
Suuires. in common with various other
youths of Bassett had found out that
Louise Paine was charming above all
other girls of the vicinity. and the
Squire's house became sort of brsicged
castle. greatly to his disgust and indi.na-
ton.
Il won't hcv it | won't hev it,
stormcd he, one fine night. when the last
of seven callers had gone from the front
door. and Louise iudiciously slipped OFF
to bed.
:" Won't hcv what ," calmly inquired
Roxy, who sat by the keeping room
table, toeing off a stocking.
"Why, | won't have so many fellers
acoming here the hull eternal time
There amt no use ont, an | tell We |
won't hey it. | won't, as sure's We live"
what be you going to do about it,
was Roxy's cool rejoinder.
"I'll lock the doors
Then they'll come into the winder.*
smiled the exasperating spinser Look
here. Squire Paine. and she laid down
her knitting, and confronted him as one
who
Drinks delight of battle with his peers"
you re a master hand to talk about tie
golden rewl: how'd you ha' liked it eff
Squire Iarkin had locked the door to this
house on YOU
"lie hadn't no call to; he was dead
CHOW don't jump no fences that way;
s'pose he'd ben alive
Il Gono' I'm called to tell We. I'm
professor in good an reg'lar standin', an
the golden rcwl hes alters ben my stand
ard o linin, an the Sperritt an principle
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