The Newtown bee., 1880-06-23

1 be thwarted. The door opens again, and it is the andlady-Natalie's mother who appears now
 "Indeed, Cecil, the trunk is for you
 The man will hear to nothing else, and
 your name Is on it in full Come at once and see if it is really yours, for my
 curiosity is thoroughly aroused. Yes.
 Natalie, you may go. Miss Cecil will 1 finish your lesson another time." 1 The child waits no second bidding,
 but gladly slips from the stool, and 1 Cecil, bewildered look on her face, | follows Mrs. Branscombe's portly figure into the hall.
 I Mrs. Branscombe's rather pretentious dwelling, situated just on the edge of l the village, is the boarding-house of | Lynville, and, as there is quite sprink- 1 sleepy little town, Mrs. B. can truly | boast that her boarders are all first class, unless, indeed, an exception may be iaade inregard to Cecil Adair, music 1 teacher, who works for her daily bread | instructing the numerous little Brans- i combe's in music in exchange for her l board.
 It is a close, sultry morning in Au- gust, and several of the lady boarders l have taken refuge in the wide, cool hall, l where pleasant breeze Is stirring. or are seated on the vine-covered veranda that runs the full length of the house.
 The most striking figure in the group, I however, is the burly, good -natured negro, who is stolidly standing guard | oyer an 4unassuming little trunE, fan l ming himself with his tattered straw | hat.
 One glance is sufficient to dispel l Cacils doubts and assure her that the trunk is really hers. Alas there is no mistaking it; it has served too long and too faithfully for that.
 Where did you get tP'' she demands, helplcssly. "Who sent itp'
 It was Mars Philip Courtland what told me to fotch it, Miss. Now Jeff dar by twelve o'clock, I'll gin you one dollar; ef you gifts i. dar fo' twelve, I'll gin you two dollars. And I's done it, too, and de two dollars Is mine, kase Mars Phil nebber goes back on his word. Whar will you have it tux, Miss CecilP"
 What does it mean, Ceoils" ques tions Mrs. Branscombe. do not un- derstand it St all"
 The ladies, attracted by Jeff's voice, have gathered round eager with curi- especially, who is always interested in tLiiuS pSL CS | iiiH SoAi has stepped forward. and is supercil iously eying the trunk, the negro and Cecil herself.
 It is only this, " Cecil begins, desper- ately, seeing an explanation is impera tive. |" Mir. Courtland was very anxious for me toattend the reception tc-mor- row evening. l told him it was impos- sible, as my trunk was not here, and consequently I had nothing to wear 1 suppose he imagined he was doing me a great service---"
 ooh, certainly" sueered Miss Per cival, the above-m entioned brunette. (" We believe that story. It is scarcely probable that he would have taken such liberty unless he had been duly au- thorized or commissioned--h
 "It is matter of utter indifference to me whether you believe or not,' returns Cecil, her color burning high But I imagine you will, one and ;eil be readily convinced of the truth of my statement when you know and know you must = in what an awkward dilemma the whole 1 affair has placed me. Perhaps itsWas cowardly, but 1 did shrink from ac- knowIedg ging to Philip Courtand that I could not afford 8 dress for his sisters reception, and so put it on the plea of my trunk not being here, little dream ing he would take such 8 step as this. Now, not only my extreme povery will be exposed, but the contemptible du- piieity Istooped to also, for the trunk is em pty-lterally emkty Bring it up to my room "-this to Jeff, as she precedes him up the stairs with the grand air that Philip Courtland has admired as queenly. but that Miss Percival con- temptuously denominates as giving 1 herselfairs.a'
 Poor Jeff! Somewhat crestfallen, he shoulders his burden, scarcely compre- 1 hending the situation, but decidedly of | the opinion that " Mars Phil has done gone and put his foot in it, for shop Indeed. when the innocently-cffcnd- l ing trunk has been carefully deposited l in the small room whither he is ushered, he IS not altogether certain 1 that it will be safe to deliver the note intrusted to his keeping, but remem- ] bering the positive ipjunctions received along with the note, Be sure to give it
 to her, Jeff-Miss Adair. Do you un- derstandp Put itin her hands. Do not trust 1t to any one else," he considers it
 wiser to face the anger of this pale
 pretty girl than to encounter Philip Courtland's fierce wrath should his or
 ders be neglected. Ezs
 Yes, between two evils eff discreetly
 choose the least, and for the first time
 considers his two dollars scarcely
 earned as he reluctantly draws the note 1 from his pocket.
 Heah's 8 letter, Miss Cecil, as he
 sed was to give it into yo' hands and
 nobody else's."
 The next instant he shuffies out of the
 room as he shuffles out of our story.
 CECIL: There is no reason now why you should not come--nothing to pre-
 vant. l trust you will not be offended
 at the liberty I have taken; but how l could Iallow such trife to stand be-
 tween me and a whole evenings shappi-
 ness. have so much to say 10 you, it seems that I cannot wait until to-mor-
 row evening. Hong for, and yet dread
 yes, for once l own myself a coward
 -the moment when 1 shall hold your
 hand in mine and look into your sweet,
 truthful eyes and know what my life is
 to be. Goodbye now until tomorrow
 night, when-as ever yours, PHILIP.n A dozen sweet, passionate kisses, and I n rain Of hot. happy tears, 10 consecrate \ the little white-winged, love-laden mes-
 senger is all in the first few deli cious moments when she req izes that
 her heart has not slipped from her
 keeping in vain-that Philip Courtland
 loves her. But afterward cone n thous-
 and doubts and fears dropping in upon
 her, trampling roughshod the beauteous
 blossom of her love at it's very birth.
 What will he think when she does not come-that she is offended P-that she
 takes tEis way of delicately answering I his question before it is fairly put. Yes,
 but one construction can be placed on her abence now
 On whattrifes do our destinies hingel
 Is she, then, to suffer this great penanct
 her whole life through to atone for one miserable white 1ieP Can it be justP Or I is everything always to be harder fol
 her than for othersp