The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-08-14


cloak; but he was splendid. He has a
foreign accent and a black moustache."
cob" cried Maria, Il love 4 foreign
accent
"And I've promised to run away with
him tonight" said Helen. "IIc says
ma will be sure to forgive us; and he's
awfully rich. And oh, how feel girls. =
"Of course you do. But it will be so
NICE" said Maria.
"They never have bridesmaids Oh an
elopement," said Rose. "Oh, how |
would like to CO.
And while Mrs. White, sitting with 4
dear friend. who also had grown daugh-
tiers, but who kept them at home, con-
graduated herself on dear Helen being
safe at school, this atiiectionate daughter,
from whom she had just received 4
charming epistle, corrected by Miss Min
erva and TOUCHED up by the writing
master, was packing her bundle in pre-
paration for flight, aided and abetted by
four young ladies, to whose example she
owed SO much.
At twelve of the night she slipped
down stairs with her little parcel in her
hand.
All in the house were asleep save the
four friends in the tirst-class dormitory.
Bridget had left the key in the lock. 1t
was dangerous. If she were not the
first one up in the morning it might lose
her place.
Out in the moonlight hurried the
young girl.
The white beams showed her pretty,
foolish face, pallid as that of a ghost.
She had never set foot i'll the street
alone at such an hour before.
4 terror seized her-a sense of her
own wickednesS.
Perhaps she would have turned back,
but that a dark figure i'll cloak came at
that moment from the shadow of Il porch
and seized her by the arm:
"Ah. my own Helen, said 4 voice.
1t was Carlos-Prince Carlos-her own
Prince.
Romance came to her aid.
She forgot her fears, and entered the
carriage, waiting round the corner, with
him.
Away they drove, how far Helen did
not know.
Suddenly the arm that encircled her
| |, Il
"Look here, young woman. Nonoise.
| I'll choke you if you try to scream. You
have your watch and jewelry with you,
| hope, and the money you promised to
coax from your mother Hand them all
over"
"Oh, it is not my Carlos cried Helen.
| "Oh, what shall do?'
1T is Carlos-at least it is the man
you've been corresponding with, - said
the voice under the hat. g But I'm 10
Prince and husband for you. Hand over
the money and jewelry and I'll not hurt
you. haven't much fancy for bread
and butter Miss, and an idiot who would
run off with man she did mt know to
boot. Hurry; I'm waiting"
Poor Helen. She felt as though the
sudden end of the world would be 4 com
fort.
She was ready to die of shame and
modification.
But she gave her purse, her watch and
all her small possessions to the robber,
who, with a loud laugh, gathered them
up and jumped out of the carriage, call
ing to the driver
"Take that girl back to the school,
John, will you?''
The driver did as he was told.
Helen White stood on the doorstep of
Miss Minerals seminary again, but not
alone; with her stood the driver in a
furious rage.
lie demanded pay. She had no money.
He swore he would be paid, and rang
the bell and battered the door until not
only the servants, but Miss Minerva and
four and twenty scholars appeared in
the hall and on the stairway in all sorts
of impromptu drapery, and having de-
cided that it was neither fire nor murder,
opened the door to behold Helen White
and her angry companion.
PAY me, cried this worthy. "You,
misses, that drives the machine. pay me.
Here's 4 gent hires me to carry off this
gal, and when they falls out and parts,
lose my fare. Pay me!''
But Miss Minerva recognized her
scholar, dartcd forward, rescued her
slammed the door in the mans face, or
dered the servants to guard it, and asked
| for explanations.
The explanations ended in swoon on
| the part of Miss Minerva. and Mysteries
on that of Helen White.
The next morning Charles stood before
his sister with Il peculiar expression on
his face.
In her lap she held packet of letters
which she had perused.
"Can it be that my daughter would
write and receive such things as these -
| she said.
My dear sister, said Charles, "all
is as have stated and it is well that on
the part of the gentleman, it was all Il
piece of acting. Helen was in earnest,
and has no idea that her letters were
from her uncle. That he, in n moustache
and cloak, eloped with her, and wound
up the affair by robbins her: or that the
driver was his friend Wcnter. who has
daughters of his own, and who promised
| to wind the affair in the most dreadful
manner. You must, however, promise
to send for Helen tomorrow, and keep
the truth of this affair Il secret, so that
it may be lifelong lesson to her.
Mrs. White listened. She was angry,
but she had sense enough to do as her
| brother desired.
| And it was not until Helen was mar
ried that she learned that her love affair,
elopement and desertiun We're all carried
on 10y her Uncle Charles who knew what
the result of boarding school Irritation
might be. and cured his niece by giving
her bitter lesson. Of all disposition to
impruCent conduct in foolish sentiment
tally.
What the Thumb Does.