The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-07-14
TRUE LOVE.


LILY NJ. CAREY IN "oUR CONTINENT.
Three ladies were seated in Agatha
Fosters parlor-MiSs Fortescue, large
dark, and of uncertain age, who monop-
olized the most comfortable arm chair;
Mrs. Becker, shrunken and sandy, who
was constantly sliding off the sofa and
reinstating hel self with jerk, and Miss
Agatha herself, who set apart from the
others, glancing uneasly out of the VIM
dow, as if distressed by their garrulity.
Miss Agatha was Il fair young woman,
with noble head and cOuntenance ex-
pressive Of all grace and goodness. Yet
at this moment she entertained feelings
decidedly hostile to her callers, who had
run in with the familiar freedom of fell
low boarders in family hotel, to chat
immensely sorry that Miss Mamie Eos
ter had not yet returned from suburb
where she had gone the day before. Miss
Mamie, Agatha $ cousin, companion and
chaperon in one, was far more to their
taste; she was more attentive, more easily
impressed, more sympathetic, they
thought. She never sat looking out the
window when they were retailing their
choicest bits of scandal for her especial
benefit. But then she was a woman of
years. However, they still fingered; it
was pleasant place. The Fosters had
the handsomc>t suite in the building
and furnished with such taste. Such
decorative art. And the Fosters were
tip top people. There were four of them
Miss Agatha. her two bachelor broth
ers. ten and dozen years her senior, and
Miss Mamie, who. since their parents
death, had kept the children together.
The winter day drew to close. The
room grew dusky. and still the ladies
fingered.
Agatha could endure it no longer; this,
She rose quickly.
Ladies. : she said, with an indignant
culver in her sweet contralo voice, ''you
must excuse me. | cannot listen to such
conversation
There was silence a moment; then Miss
Fortescue lifted her cumbrous frame.
"Oh, certainly, quite understand. We
will withdraw. We do not wish to Of
fend."
ooh, certainly family echoed Mrs.
Becker, sliding from the sofa for the last
time and preparing to follow.
Agatha's impatience only increased.
and allow me to say she exclaimed,
with no conjunction, that think ladies
might be better employed than with their
neighbors' affairs"
"Good Afternoon, said Miss Fortescuc,
savagely.
Good afternoon sneered Mrs.
Becker.
'Goot radiance" cried Agatha, sharp
ly. ere the door had closed.
"To-day, of all days" she said, as she
"dlKeu 10 anu iGO Ill the udfk.
Presently the door opened.
"All in the dark, Agatha >" asked
CHEEKY voice.
81 thought you would never come,
Mamie was the swift, unnerved reply.
Then she lit the gas.
"Why, what is the matter, my dear?"
81 bova met npt Mics Il, ,,I
Mrs. Becker out of the room, and-it
has annoyed me-"
Dear me. What had they done ~
The same old sckening gossip. Miss
Bruce tiirts on the streets; Mr.. and Mrs
Brown have shown no marriage certili-
cate. Mrs. Gray holds her stopchid to
the fire to burn it, and so and SO on"
They get their ideas from the morn
ing papers, said Mamie, calmly, I'M
clasping her fur lined circular. The
stepmother holding her child to the ii,e
scarce. Sometimes she heats the flat
iron. For my part would never go
to that trouble
But Agatha could not respond to her
staid humor. She helped tn put away
the wraps, and inquired after the subur-
ban friends.
"iou look pale; aren't you well? ,"
asked Miss Mamie, when they were
seated.
The girl dropped her eyes. Mamie,
have some news for you,' she said, 18th
an effort. ''l-last night promised
Mr.. Peters-to-marry him." Then she
sighed, as if relieved o great burden
The room was still, utterly still. If
Miss Mamie were surprised or shocked
she gave no token. She only sat quietly
looking at the girl and taking time to
collect her thoughts. Agatha never
lifted her eyes until, after some moments,
her cousin cleared her throat and tran
gully inquired: well, dear, are you
satisfied that you will be happy"
Then the girl rose and threw herself
upon the sofa. "Oh, Mamie, | don't
know; | can't tell.'
MOTE Sllence. neu MISS NannlC asked
if she had told the boys.
To these women George and Lewis
would be tile boys as long as they
lived.
Il told George at noon," replied Aga
tina, in voice heavy with tears. Lewis
was not here. ! wish you would tell
him.
And what did George say?
''lle only said, 1 congratulate Pc
ters'''
Miss Mamie leaned back in the chair
and meditated, bringing Peters up for a
mental review. Poor little whiffet. To
be sure he had money, some social stand.
ing and a fair education. He often took
Agatha about to places of amusement, to
chulc CHI, or riding. But lie was at least
fifteen years her senior, and they had