The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-04-05

The luncheon took long time get
ting through. Then it was discovered
that everybody was going the same way
and it ended with two hansoms being
called. Miss Fisher and Nick Walcot
got into one, Capt. Rowley and Doady
Dome occupied the other.
How tiresome the sun is =; let me put
up your parasol, said our friend Row.
ley, with evident anxiety to screen her !;
but Doady begged he wouldn't trouble.
l don't mind the sun bit, she said.
And Pm not in least afraid Of any one
seeing me, because evidently since
you've married you've grown so very
respectable.
Confound her. calculated Rowley
mentally, and he congratulated himself
on the emptiness of London, resolving
to keep his head well back and sit a
little on one side as they went through
Piccadilly. Hang the fellow, he has
run into another hanson
Why, it is Teddy We're. Oh, my :
calculated one feminine voice shrilly,
while from under a red parasol, still
open, another groaned, Rowley, it can
not be. Oh what will become of me?
Self-preservation is the first law of
nature the woman who hesitates is lost.
Before another minute had passed Nina
was out of one cab and into another
close by.
Drive off as fast as you can-never
mind where. III tell you when we get
further on" and five minutes later she
gave the cabman the address of Mrs.
Chetwode's house.
Bursting into the room she cried, "Oh,
Bella, such horrible thing has occur
red Do help me-" And she told her
the whole story.
Mrs. Chetwcde said something by
way of calming her, and then she rang
the bell.
Tell Martin to go to Mr.. Dacres',
and say she will not return to dinner,
I've prevailed on her to stop with me-
Now, my dear, we must trust to Prov
idence to help us through.
'But suppose he saw me?''
ooh, no, we'll suppose he didn't see
you and | think you may trust Teddy
he's got his head screwed on the
right way"
Nina wiped away the tears which had
flowed over.
Il didn't care for Teddy. What
could boy like that possibly be to me?
Why, of course l love Rowley dearly
more than l could tell you. And to
think l should risk it all in this stupid
way. Oh i! it's my abominable vanity,
that's what it is. Aunt Jane always said
it would be my ruin, and so it will be
after this, you see, Rowley will be-
lieve anything of me. Oh, Bella, what
shall | do? | shall die"
"Well, ray dear, it's the best thing
that could happen to you if YOU are go
to behave in this absurd manner. If |
am to help you it's not by letting you
sit there and cry
"What do you wish me to doo'
'To dry your eyes and come down
with me to dinser and chat away as we
always do. If your husband was going
home Martin will bring back word that
he is there, or else he will come here
and fetch you"
''You took the message?" Mrs. Chef
wode asked as the two ladies descended
to dinner.
eyes, ma am"
REALLY, Nina, l ought to have or
dered better dinner for YOU
ooh, I'm not bit hungry
"But you ought to be, after going
about so much as we have to day. By
the-by, how did you decide about that
hat saw? Do you think it will suit
you? Describe it to me-"
Forced to answer, Nina was trotted
by her friend from one subject of toilet
to the other, until there came thun-
dering knock at the door.
Dear bless me What late visitor
Who can it be? Martin, just 60 out
and look-nevsr mind the door," and
Mrs. Chetwode jumped up and stood
so that she could hear the inquiry IS
Mrs. Dacres here?"
"Yes, sir the ladies are at dinner"
"Oh All ~
captain Dacres, is that you?' Bella
had run out to meet him. '.Nhat 4
surprise-Nina, fancy, here's your hus-
band, dear" and she proceeded Row
ley back to the dining-room.
"Rowley " For her life Nina couldn't
say more-every atom of color had for
saken her.
"My dear child, have | frightened
you? Pm SO sorry, but l found after
all l had to come to town. Carne has
made such an awful mess about the gun
he was to get for me, and so l didn't
write. l thought I'd surprise YOU"
Nina laughed out like 4 boisterous
child. "What silly thing l am" she
said, Il was afraid something had hap
pened."
Rowley put his arm around her, for
though she was laughing, her voice
sounded like crying all the time
Under other circumstances he might
have been more struck with the little
embarrassment which she could not
perfectly CONTROL but at the moment he
was not quite himself either. That i'm
pudent Doady Donne had played a