Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-08
CECILY.
From AL the Year Round.
Its the fault of there being such large fam
ilY. dear. that's all

''And very bad fault too"
'Dick. Don't you like the family"
''NOt as l like you, child and not enough to
Ike them to monopolize you and take up all
your time and thoughts and interests. so that l.
whom you are going to marry, can hardly get
so much as word or look from you"
''Who is with you now, Dick?"
Eyes. for three minutes at the Carden-cate
because II | come inside you will be surrounded
by the whole lot of them next moment: and for
anything We may want TO say to one another we
night as well be at opposite poles. You mayn't
nlnd 1T. Ceciiy-you don't seem to do So at any
rate; but, upon my soul, it's hard lines on a man
who loves YOU"
1t Is an evening in April The land is all atiush
with the pink blossoms of the almond and the
white blossoms of the pear Behind the low
brown hills the sun is sinking slowly in prim-
rose sky. The west wind strs the tender bris-
ties OF the en-plumed larch, and bears sweet
violet whispers on its breath; and propping our
four elbows on the messy gate which bounds the
Vlcarage garden, we two lean looking into each
others eyes, my lover and |.
He is very handsome ALWAYS rather angry
just now. my lover; but know that the anger
comes from love, and so / think more of the first
fact than the second, as look up smlingly into
the brave blue eyes bright with a passionate
CLEAN. and mark how well the broad square,
cut shoulders and shapely head stand out against
the golden glory of that evening sky. am so
proud OF him in my heart, my Dick. with the
warm heart and hot tongue and clever BRAIN so
proud OF his caring for me that at the mere
touch OF his hand my heart goes leaping like
singing brook. and it is only silly shyness which
makes me answer his earnestness with laugh
And pray. sir, do you expect me to be always
at your peck and CALI I'm sure you get your
fair share of attention"
do II! he says, gravely. ''When / wait a
whole week for the chance Of one walk with
you; and when the promised day comes you
coolly send me word that you've got something
else to do and are too busy even to see mel"
And don't you think it was any disappoint-
ment to me to have to do sop exclaim with a
touch OF Indignation. ''Why, IL nearly cried
when the Whehles invitation came for that day.
| knew Kitty had set her heart on going: and
as she loves tennis So and it was the first time
they had asked her"
But what had that to do with YOU? You
didn't GO
No. but don't you know Thursday is moth
ers meeting and cOal-club day: and then there
are the children. Someone had to see to them
ALL"
And that someone must be you?"
'WhO else is there but Kitty and l. now dear
mOthSr is gone? Dear Dick, do be reasonable
OF course it is very pleasant to be with you. but
these duties must be done. and surely, surely,
while a girl is at home her first duty is to her
home people Afterward" with shy upward
look, lit will be different. | shall belong to
YOU then and can do as you like; but now-now
belong to them, and they have the right to
come first
Then wish to heaven the right was mine.
as IT should have been a long while ago: and
that brings me to the point want Cecily, will
you marry me in June? No. don't start away
as ii l were saying something dreadful. Haven't
we been engaged foy years already with the full
consent OF your people. and on the promise that
as soon as could make comfortable home for
you We should be married? | might have
claimed that promise two summers ago and
again last autumn when was offered the max
ing that new Canadian line | refused it. only
because | knew you wouldn't leave home so
soon after your mothers death. and could not
bear to 90 away without you: but now there is
TINS other job OF the same sort in Perthshire
and they say can have it for the asking The
works are to begin in July, and if we are mar
RED in June-dear Cecily, my own darling love.
do say that we shall be; do give me what ask
Think how long have waited for you already.
ana how badly want you. and come TO me-
Ceclly, dearest. II you love me say you will.
Say it now"
+" In June" repeat. my eyes wide with dis
may. and drawing myself still further back: for
he has caught both my hands in his. would have
caught me into his arms altogether but for the
gate which Is between us: and am afraid lest
one OF THE others should come suddenly upon
us June. Only two months Off Dick,
DICK. what nonsense, and Frank at home in dis
grace. and papa and he getting on so badly and
the children still without a Governess WHY
We couldn't even think of such "a thing till after
Christmas at the soonest, and then-well. Kitty
VIII be little Older then, and Frank will have
Deen up Tor his second exam. If he does pass
that; 1t Will cheer papa up little. and he may
feel better able to spare me; but June.-Dick,
you promised not 10 be in a hurry"
never promised anything of the sort but
II had done so should have kept my promise
over and over again. CeciFy. will you ever find
lover who hasoeated as long as I have done
already? and yet you talk of my waiting on
Tor another year still If you loved me in the
least you would be as tired of these DELAYS
as | am; but you don't, and | see it only
too plainly You don't even know what love
is. YOU
HullabullerO. hulabullooI Cecily. Cts. where
are you: shouts a boys voice from the labur-
mum bushes behind. There's the tea bell rjnr-
ing like mad. and Teddy's split the milk all over
spooning with CisSy:'
Don't be silly. Dick Let me 90 Please
let me go" | staHmer out hurriedly: but |
nave no need TO repeat the request. At the
hfSt sound of my rough-tongued little brOt hers
voice Dick has dropped my hands and stepped
back.
Let you 90? Oh, certainly" he SAYS. with
strange, bitter accent in his voice :. For rood
II YOU like expect it will come to that some
day Goodbye. and of he goes. stridinn
over the dewy grass and under the milk-white
blossoms OF the thorn trees without another
word or look
cannot run after or plead with him. because
schoolb0y TOm with his quick ears and terrible
sense OF fun. is already at my side. / can on.y
call out, dick. won't you come in to tea" and
when he doesn't look back or answer make a
pretence OF believing he had some other en-
@agcment. and hurry back to the house to see
alter Teddy and the tea-table. 1t does not take
me very long To endue the former with clean
p!nafore and reduce his chubby face and hands to
cleanliness; but hasten as | may. the babel of
tongues which reaches me through the dining
room door shows NE that the family are gath
cred there already; and on entering the room |
ma the whole OF them, father excepted assem-
Died about the table; the twins PLAYING an
IRISH JIG with the handles of their knives against
the urn. Maude is pouring out milk into tea
spoon Tor the kitten which is perched on her
shoulder; Frank leaning back in fathers arm
chair by the fire, aud dividing his attention be-
tween the last number of The CO17.tW on his
knee, and the anathemas he is freely bestOwing
on the turmoil around; and Kitty. who might he
Oh some help in appeasing it, laughing and list
enlng To Tom, who is giving her an absurd and
highly colored description of the .spoony scene"
al the gate. Dick represented as striding away
In fury, while | on my knees and dissolved in
tears implore him to remain
1t Is too bad OF course they don't really
mean to hurt me- but it is too bad: and the
worst OF 1t is that | dare not show my vexation
The twins, who are Indian children under
60 Ir..rf