The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-03-08
MATTARD'S ESG5P1.

Mr.. Mattard. of the Indian civil ser
vice, was very susceptible !tttit man,
but he was genuinely heart-broken
when Miss MainwarinG refused his offer
of marriage. His affection for that
young lady was 10 ephemcral fancy,
and he put off proposing to her till al
most the last moment before his return
to India from sheer trepidation and
anxiety as to the issue of his Courtship.
The answer he received was 50 unmis-
TAX able that it left HIM no nope, and
he abandoned himself to despair. lie
went to spend TIE remainder of his
leave at Southsea. where he made the
acquaintance Of Colonel Creep. who
had three daughters. Ii would be I'M
just to say that Mr.. Mattard consoled
himself for his disappointment in the
society of these damsels, but he Ger
tainly paid them considerable atten
ton. The fact was that he was con-
stitutionally addicted TO mi!d ilirtatous,
though it was chiefly owing to pique
and wounded pride that he eXerttd
himself to fascinate his new friends
But he had no serious intentions. else
he never would have escaped an unen-
gagged man from the accomplished
Establishments of the Misses Creep.
What might have happened but for his
early departure from England there is
no knowing, for though his acquaint-
ance with Colonel Creeps daughters
was comparatively slight, he neverthe-
less carried away with him to India the
portrait of the pretties and loveliest Of
the trio.
Now the portrait of a pretty girl is
rather dangerous possession for a
Tilted lover whose frame of mind is in
clined to desperation and dependency.
He had looked forward to returning to
India with the object of his bhghted
affections, and his bachelors solitude
weighed a good deal upon him during
the voyage. 1t happened that the lady
passengers on board were sigulariy I'M
1
interesting, and Mr. Mattard WAS too
much downCast to engage in Irritation
without little encouragement. He
had nothing therefore to distract his
thoughts which were centered on Miss
Mainwaring and his own unhappness,
except the portrait of Miss Annie
Creep. He found himself gazing upon
it rather sentimentally in his leisure
moments, and there is no DENYING that
it represented pretty face and figure.
He began to persuade himself that he
was in love with the original; and the
upshot was that. upon his arrival in IN
dia, after some weeks OF melancholy
detection, he suddenly chcercd up and
wrote to Miss Creep, with a proposal
of marriage.
When he had done so he felt like
new man, and worked himself up into
a fever of Joyous anticipation while
awaiting Miss Creep's reply. He
guessed instinctively that his second
venture would be more successful than
the first, and sure enough, Iy the re-
turn mail, came a letter accepting his
offer. There was a occurrences about
Miss Annie Creep's answer that sur
prised Mr.. Mattard. considering that
the young lady had certainly done her
best to make herself agreeable to him
at Southsea. She prciesoed astonish-
ment at the honor he had paid her. as
though he had not particularly singled
her out from her sisters when in Eng
land by his attentions. However, a
coyness is not unbecoming in a pretty
girl, and Mr.. Mattard had no serious
fault to find with the tone OF his flancee.
BY the same post came letter from
Colonel Creep, readily accepting Mr..
Mattard as his son-in-law. and consent
ing to his daughter going on to India
to be married at the earliest oppor-
tunity.
Mr.. Mattard eagerly looked forward
to the advent of his bride. Unfortu-
nately, as the cold season had just
passed, some months would have to
elapse before the young lady could
safely face the Indian climate. Mean
while the lovers correspondent regularly
Mr.. Mattard became more than ever
convinced that his future happiness
was secured, and Miss Annie Creep
seemed quite reconciIed-to say the
least-to her approaching marriage.
One unluckv day Mr. Mattard Glanced
to come across a young officer newly
arrived from England, whom he had met
at Colonel Creep's house at Southsea.
When they had exchanged saIutations,
Mr.. Mattard inquired, with pleasing
embarrassment, if his companion had
seen anything of their mutual friends.
Yes, by Jove..; - said the young tei-
low with a laugh. Il came overland,
you know, and as passed through
Paris who should l meet but pretty
Mrs. Hopson.'
"Who is Mrs. IIob5on?" inquired
Mr.. Mattard, blankly.
ooh forgot You haven't heard
Of course. One Of the girls-l'm not
sure which is which-but the prettiest
bolted with Tom Hob5on, Of the ma
rines the other day. | met them on
their honeymoon. Tom, YOU know
is u, to his ears in debt, and has had
to send in his papers in consequence
How the deuce he is going to teep q
wife | don't know. However, they