The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-10-27


Cecy, in her pleasure. 81 will surely
come for them tomorrow morning with
the money. I should like to take the
dear little daises in my hand now, if you
won't mind trusting me. lam Cecy Leigh
Mrs. Hammond's niece; she lives on this
same street further down."
''Oh yes know where she lives, ''said
the handsome gardener. 81 would trust
you with the whole greenhouse, if you
wanted it, Miss Leigh"
"Your uncle, Mr.. Revel, wouldn't be
so confdingr' said Cecy, laughing and
blushing.
Then with pleasant good-morning she
walked briskly away, with her basket of
flowers and her daisies. The Young man
watched her out of the gate, and then
going back to his rhododendron, laughed
long and quietly to himself.
"Of all the adventures ever had this
is the gen." he said, mentally. 81 fancy
carried it off pretty well-Ravel's
nephew was trembling in my shoes
for fear Uncle Guy would come in and
spoil it all. What little pet she is. Oh,
it's practical joke! ~
But presently he grew more thought
full, ard trifle sad, remembering, per-
haps what lonely fellow he was after
all, in spite of his kind uncle and many
friends.
Cecy fastened home light-footed and
light-hearted. She was late for breakfast
to be sure, but that was no matter. Bell
went wild over the tea-roses and hello
trope; they were too lovely for anything,
she declared.
"And here was trembling for fear you
might not get any at all" she said, 'for
knew the Goves ordered quantities yes
terday, and Ragel doesn't keep superb
bundance.'
"Why, the green. house was one blaze
o brilliant flowers ~ exclaimed Cecy.
80 cheap too pursued Bell. "Why.
Cecy, you must have melted the old mans
hearth
SIT wasn't Mr.. Ravel himself" said
Cecy, blushing wildly. at was his
nephew"
ellis nephew? Oh, that young man
I've seen there sometimes, potting plants,
I suppose. Cecy, you've made con-
quest! I shall certainly send you for all
the flowers I want after this il you bring
home such bargains. But, dear me, 1
can't stand here. I must fly and get
ready for that reception
Many times that day did Cecy caress
her pretty pink mountain daisies; and
she was conscious of an unwonted excite
ment as she looked forward to her next
visit to the greenhouse. Her Aunt Ma
ria promised her one of the broad sitting
room windows for her plants, where they
would be safe from frost all winter, and
Cecy, in fancy, arranged and re arranged
them, while she silently resolved to spend
at least forty cents more in that wonder
full greenhouse.
Tomorrow came, and forth she sailed
along again, for Bell was too busy to want
to go, and Cecy did not urge her. The
road already seemed familiar; she had
traversed it with such observant eyes the
day before, and it was not long before
she came in sight Of the greenhouse.
Almost at that moment she saw her gar
dener friend crossing the lawn; it almost
seemed as if he had been watching for
her; and he had the greenhouse door
already open when she reached it. They
said good-morning, smiljngly, like those
who are already friends, and then Cecy
took out her sixty cents.
Il want to pay my debts first thing"
she said, gayly. The young man looked as
if he wanted to protest against it; bpt as
Cecy laid the money on a bench, he let it
lemain there.
You didn't go into the violet house, I"
he said, as Cecy was beginning to take
up her pots of flowers. "Wouldn't you
like to just look at it ?"
Eyes, indeed ~ exclaimed Cecy, who
was always ready for violets. He opened
another door she had not noticed, which
led into side addition of the green
nonse; and there on either side was a
broad bed of moss and sand, full of violet
plants, many of them in bloom, blue,
perfect, intense. Cesy stood breathless
with delight. The young ms6 began to
gather yiolets.
II must give you little bouquet of
these he. w ~,
,ona;n., o"y must not. l
ouI ihoeeu you - it,"
am SO afraid Mr.. Ravel will not l,A>
My uncle expects me to do as please"
said the young man, carelessly; and wind
ing soft green moss around the violets,
he handed them to Cecy.
"Now have something else to show
you,' he said, and led the way into the
small room where she had first found
llm. There he called her attention TO
The coarse, uninviting stems that clamb-
cred up over trellis, with prickly, cac-
'us-like leaves. There were four or five
great buds at the top. Cecy looked at
lin inquiringIy.
ut is the cereus," he said. ga flower
hat blooms only at night. These binds
will blossom by tomorrow evening, and
before the next sun rises they will be all
'!osed up and dead"
Il have heard of it, but never saw one
before" replied Cecy, greatly interested.
ut would be worth your while to come
lround here and look at it, then, when it
blossoms, he said, eagerly; "our friends
frequently come. You never saw any,
hing like it, the great white magnificent
lowerr'
81 wish could" said Cecy, simply:
md then, feeling as if she had really no
eason to remain any longer, she went to
Ter plants again, and tried to manage so
IS to carry them all in her arms at once.
"lou never can do it! Don't try,"
aid the gardener, laughing. II will send
n bring them around in the course of the
morning. That is what customers always
xpect."
"Wouldn't it really be any trouble 9'
inquired Cecy, relieved by the proposal;
nd on his assuring her that it would be
My pleasure, she contented herself
With taking the Gala and her dainty