The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-04-10
ed the house for that tluant letter, but
in vain.
"Who was it from, aunt ," | asked.
''How should / know. child?"
But the handwritiny-the post

ne poStmalk was blurred.
Had it q foreign stamp?'' | asked.
with sudden cagcrncss. Cedric had gone
abroad some months before, and | had
not heard of his return.
"A foreign stamp. No. Were you
expecting a foreign letter?'
No: but it is expected that always
happens. you know
It's awfully provoking said s;usette.
Perhaps it was only the recipes Mrs.
'larke was going to send YOU
Nothing more likely: but what has
become of it? It's a prolonged game of
hunt the thimbe.'
And suppose it's letter notifying
you of the existence of first Mrs. Am
lcrst, put in Anne, "or Of a legacy left
by Your forty-fifth cousin in Australia-''
And then the door-bell rang.
Well, after that | suppose must have
accepted Mr.. Amherst. Everybody be-
haved rs if had. received congratula-
tirns and a ring. and the parish begun
"epairs upon the parsonage, before could
muster courage to tell Mr.. Amherst all
tbout Cedric and my mistake. and how
WASH t at all sure | could ever get over
it. and care for anybody else. but that |
would do nay best. And he smiled in a
sort Of absent way when | told him. but
I
better or worse; only it dill strike me
>nmetimes that he was the most unde-
nonStrative lover in Christcndom: but
hadn't much experience in lovers, and
perhaps they weren't as gushing in real
life as novels pictured. He used to kiss
my hand when he parted; that was all
lie was very gentle. but a little sad.
ianciel. with look which might mean
that he was afraid of 50 much happiness.
II that TO marry the woman he loved
WASH t all fancy had painted it; and some
times thought had perhaps done wrong
to tell him every thing about Cedric so
unreSeryedly; vet had only meant 10 be
honest. Bat the day was appointed. and
suddenly Cedric app AIRED among us. when
thought he Wa, 1T the worlds end. and
he and the girls decorated the little church
with white field daisies and grasses for
the occasion. Iou may believe that
avoided the sight Of Cedric in the inter
val before the wedding as much as posi-
bic, but somehow was always stumbling
upon him: lie seemed to be perpetually
1t my elbow; he surprised me more than
once with traces of tears upon my face:
the sound of his voice made nv heart turn
and culver within me. If had dared to
withdraw ut this juncture, I'm afraid |
should have done so: but it was too late:
md though felt like a hypncritc when
ever Mr.. Amherst appeared, his look ii
sober satisfaction, which reminded me of
those lines of Matthew Royden on Sir
Philip Sidney,
~ fnii assurance giv-n hy looks.
Continual comfort in a face
The lineamrlits of gospel bo"k-,''
might have taught me that all was well
with him.
You are the oldest swcethearts lever
saw, gossiped SuSette. Il wouldn't
give straw for such a lover; and as for
Won, Adrienne, you resemble ghost
more than bride"
In short. IA thousand wears of purra-
tory would i'll represent my sufltrirgS
during those last weeks before my we'd
ding. Well. to crown the whole. Aunt
Browne said Cedric must give me away:
he WAS the only male relative the head
of the family, so to speak and he could
do it SO admirably.
1--WE shall see, said he I'm afraid
| should make Il poor figure at giving
Adrienne away and he strolled his
tyiste moustacl,e as he spoke, and looked
at me just rs he Looked that day when
We gathered the laurel for SuSette'S lcte
i could have sworn he did. | didn't
answer. for fear my voice would be husky
and the tears would start.
The wedding WAS to be quite private
only relatives. Aunt Browne arranged
everything to suit herself and the pro-
pricticS: iC didn't become a Clergyman
bride to make 4 great parade. At the
church, remember, my veil caught il
the carri!%e door. and an orange blossom
from my wreath. which Cedric
picked ND. and Wore in his button hole.
Then he drew my hali-hfelcsS arm within
his and directly the Wedding March
peale,l forth in great resoun'ling waves
of melody. Ny granlmothcr's India
muslin blew out in abundant creamy
folds behind me, ana Cedric and were
standing before the altar. and Mr.. AM
hers: WAS reading the marriage service!
believe that Aunt Browne tainted. or
she would have forbidden the banns.
" You see. it was impossible for me to
give goa away, Adrcnnc.' said Cedric,
later. when we were stcaming ont of
town. amherst is "A trump: and may
he find wife as sweet As Mrs. Brawne.
II it hadn't been for him. I should have
been OF all men the most miserable to-
day. What do you think he did? Why.
he wrote me all that sad little story you
thought right to tell him, and added that
he would not deny he was making a sac
he
nouncel ali that made life lovely to him.
except his work: yet he felt it was better
one should fail of a heaven on earth than
that two should suffer; aud that if |
loved YOU as | had once said. would |
take his place at the marriage, and allow
linn to solcmniZe ita 1t was whim of
his to have it so. to avoid explanations,
he said. | couldn't believe in my luck,
YOU know. Alrienna. We banded let
tiers to and fro canvassing the subject.
| feared he had made a mistake. as | had
renewed My offer some little while be-
fore, bnt had received no reply: still, a
dozen things happen to letters every
day
eyes. and something happened to
yours, | said.
Years after. when Srsettc and Anne
were married. when Adele husband had
taken the children home TO a new mann
ma. and Aunt Browne had gone to ~ the
land of the hereafter" when Cedric was
repairing the old house for a summer res
idcnce, in ripping away the ancient dado
in the music room. which had always
warped away from the wall in warm
Iren LnI. lnlNinn . littln rrlck the ca