The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-03-08

young lady's photograph, consigned
her memory to oblivion, and had seri-
Gus thoughts ofremaining at Malta and
returning to India by the next outward
bound steamer
However, he had paid for his pas
sage to England, SO he determined to
proceed to his destination, and by way
of giving colorado object to his jour
ney the idea occurred to him of once
more proposing to Miss Mainwarins.
His recent unlucky attachment had
served to bring into strong relief the
superior charms of his first love, and it
was possible the young lady might be
touched by his devotion. He finally
made up his mind to try the expert
ment, and certainly the project gave
singular zest to the remainder of his
trip. When he reached England he
Immediately sought an interview with
Miss Mainwaring and, to his joyful sur
prise, was accepted without demur.
MIR. Mattard's happiness knew no
bounds especially as the young lady
raised no objection to a speedy we'd
ding, IN order that she might return
with him to India as he wished. The
crumblcd rose leaf which disturbed him
was the recollection of his recent en-
gasement to Annie Creep, concerning
which he had been discreetly silent.
Indeed, he had permitted Miss Main
waring to believe that the journey to
England had been undertaken for no
other purpose than to repeat his previ-
Gus offer. 1t was to this impression
that Mr.. Mattard attributed the favora-
bic answer he had received, and for
that reason he had not the courage to
undeCeive her. When they were mar
ried he meant to confess the truth, and
meanwhile considering the disappoint
ments he had suffered, he might per-
haps be pardoned for taking advantage
of the subterfuge.
He had been in England about six
weeks when his agents forwarded to
him a packet of letters which had been
sent home from India alter him. The
first that caught his eye was in Annie
Creep's handwriting, and it gave him
an unpleasant shock. He saw at a
glance that the postmark bore date
only day or two after his departure.
His nervousness vanished as he re-
flected that it was probably the letter
announcing her marriage, and he
opened it with grim satisfaction, rather
curious to see how she would address
him.
He glanced at the date and the sig
nature with sudden and unaccoun-
table misgiving. The first was subse-
quent to her marriage with Captain
Hobson, and vet the latter was her
maiden name. Mr.. Mattard caught
his breath as he scanned the first lines,
and then hastily rose from his seat as
pale as the paper he held in his tremb
ling hand. The sentence which had
caused his alarm was the following:
| ave have had such drel ifdl upset.
| Papa is furious, and we dare not 20 near
hun. Amelia has run away and married
| Tom Hobson, an old flame OF hers, who is
| dear fellow, but several degrees poorer
than Job"
Mr.. Mattard read no further than
this. He glanced again at the sigma
ture, and then sank helplessly on the
sofa. 1t was clear to him that there
had been hideous mistake, and that
it was not Annie who had married Cap
tain Hobson, but Amelia. Annie evil
IDENTITY still considered herself engaged
to him-as, in fact. she was-and
hence it followed that he was in the
ava ward position of being engaged to
two young ladies at once.
Mr.. Mattard turned hot and cold by
turns, and for a moment felt completely
mystifed. He had shown Annie
Creep's photograph to both his infor-
mantS. and each had recognized it I'M
hesitatingly as Mrs. Hobson. There
had been no stupid mistake about
names, for he had relied entirely upon
the evidence afforded by the Identical
ton of the photograph. The only
possible explanation was
Mr.. Mattard wiped the beads OF per-
spiration from his forehead as the solu-
ton of the mystery flashed across him
with painful clearness. 1t must have
been the photograph which had misled
everybody. He had been carrying
next his heart the photograph of
Amelia. Or rather, to be strictly &C
curate, he had fallen into the error of
supposing that Annie was the name of
the original of the photograph, when
all the while he had been in love with
Amelia.
Mr.. Mattard's horror at the startling
discovery cannot be described. To
make matters worse, his friend at Malta
had told him good deal about the
Creeps which he had not suspected
before, so he had reason to believe it
would be rash to rely upon their con-
sideration and proper feeling. The
old colonel had rather a doubtful repu-
tation, it appeared, and his daughters
were the kind of girls who would not
object to figure as plaintiffs in an &C
ton for breach of promise of marriage.
1t was clear that ii would be dangerous
to reveal his approaching marriage
with Miss Mainwairing, and, under the
circumstances. he concluded that his
wisest course would be to make nc