The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-06-30
IN THE TINE OF BIRDS.

She handed him the package as she
spoke, with smile half scorn, half mer-
riment upon her lips.
A girl fair to look upon, with her gold
touched tresses and eyes of wipsome
blue; vision to delight the hearts of a
less impossible man who saw her, that
Summer morning, in her soft, white
robes, and the wondrous roses on her
breast. But Richard Thayer was man
of old-fashioned notions; he looked down
on it all gravely, with sternness he
could not repress.
pardon me, but think such affairs
as this, Miss"
Her smile suddenly changed to rip
pling laugh.
"Should be viewed in more serious
aspect" she interrupted, unceremonious-
| ly; that is what you were moditating,
Mr.. Thayer? A bit deplorable, you
think-this summary execution of Cupid
in the pleasant time of birds and flowers?
Perhaps, Mr.. Thayer-but let me give
you my opinion. He is selfish, blund-
ering boy, and the sooner such affairs
come to All end the BETTER
1t was a bewildering onset for an old
fashioned man; he stood gazing down in
to the audaciOus eyes, his dazed brain
| swimming one moment helplessly in their
saucy lights. Suddenly, despite himself,
| a smile broke over his set face
"Who is the laundering boy, may
ask, Miss Ray? Cupid or Arthur Ham
niman:'
Cupid generally, l think. In this
particular instance Arthur Hanniman.
She was certainly very beautiful as she
stood looking up at him, amid the SHIN
! mer of her gold tresses, and the
wOndrouS roses on her breast. Still Smil
! ing one little moment. Richard Thayer
| regarded her, till suddenly the packet in
his hand recalled him to himself. He
turned with flush and frown.
81 beg your pardon, Miss Ray. be,
| leve my mission is ended. Good morn
| ing"
4 Good morning, Mr.. Thayer.'
\ 1t was poor shift for the pretty flow
4 ers and grasses as Richard Thayer walk
4 ed out among them, now thoroughly au-
4 gereo by the sweet, calm tones, and the
| parting ripple of merriment dancing out
! from the winsome eyes. On he walked,
| beating the beds with his cane, tramp
ling them all unconsciously; careless, had
| he known that those same azure orbs
were now regarding HIM bit wrayhfully
from the porch.
lie had reason to be vexed, thought
Richard Thayer. The day previous the
mail had brought him the mission of this
morning.
1 DEAR "NUNKIE. All is at an end
\ between Etha Ray aud me, and 1 am
I going away to try and get over it-you
/ know. Will you take the letters you will
1 find in my desk to her and get back mine
for me? Only, for my sake, don't fall in
i love with Etha. ARTHUR.
i it was not pleasant mission Tor
Richard Thayer. lie was staid, settled
man, IA stranger to love affairs for many
) y
him, this mingling in the business of this
foolish boy and girl. But. vexed as he
| was at his ward and nephew, lie could
| see no reasonable escape. no alternative
but to brave over this little unpleasant
ness as best he could.
The first morning train had brought
I him to W with aught Il smiling face.
| Would he ever have the patience to so
through with it, thought Richard Thayer.
lie had never seen this angel OF whom
Arthur raved; to him she had been SIM
ply an absurd being. who, in a few
months time, would step for ever into
the background in the ynuths ecstatic
soul. lie knew nothing If the modern
| girl How would this Etha Ray conduct
| herself? Would She was sentimental;
cry, despite herself, perhaps; worse, pose
| a bold, soulless trickster, to hide from
him her fanced woes?
The modern girl in this instance rose
promptly, in his view, to the last ex-
tremity, and speedily aroused his ire.
For Richard Thayer was al old-fashoned
man; there was to him only the one prop
er way for such business to be conduct
ed. And SO this dazzling vision of gold
touched hair, aud eyes and roses. he
looked down sravely, with sternness he
could not repress. To
What to do? To lose his wits in the
to smile and e9le, like fresh fedged
idiot. with this ridiulous Etha Ray!
! 1t was this humiliating realization that
set him to beating the flower beds in an
anger rare with him. He had reason to
be vexed, thought Richard Thayer. A
man of his years and dignity to be made
the laughing stock of girl, all through
this troublesome sisters son! He was to
himself mystery beyond calculation;
he could only grasp that it was Arthur's
work. Would the time never come when
this boy wovld be forced to the adjust
ment of his own love-affairs and his
deb.s?
1t was with this desperate, concluding
ejaculation, that Richard Thayer entered
his office and sat down at his desk. The
little note stared up at him from the place
where he had thrown it!
"Only don't fall in love with Etha."
Just these words met his eye. But for
them, perhaps, this tale were not to tell.
Accidents are oftener fates in life, and it
I seemed SO with Richard Thayer. He
stared back unthinkingly i little moment
then opened his day book TOTO turn
to diem again and again with fascina-
ton saiid bewilderment that grew apace.
Law Mzs subordinate that day; the little
words grew seven points of light un-
consciously to set off Il vision of blue and
| gold and roses, that would not be shut
ont.
Richard Thayer went home that night
in a strange mood. A little portrait
hung in his room; the face of the girl he
had wooded and won way back in the
Years. He had never cared for women
since; he had grown steadily more care
less, NOR irresponsible, since that far,
! nleasapt time. 1t was his one thought
of woman now, to look, sometimes with
d fieetiug sadness, at the fair girl death