The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-02-21

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and cloak to start out on that weary
round of music lessons, which were
their support.
81 am sorry to leave you all day,
Ethel, but it will be late before l can
get through"
"Do not fret about me Marian. Mrs.
O'Malley will come in and give me my
lunch and fresh glass of water, and
l have this beautiful lace to mend for
Miss Constantine, and that magazine
you brought me yesterday to read. Oh,
shall be fully occupied until you re-
turn"
''Well well, it is comforting to have
SO brave and busy little sister at home.
| think of it often when am out, and
it gives me courage" said Marian,
bending over the couch with tender,
misty eyes.
The crippled girl clasped the slender
hand caressing her hair, and drew it
down against her pale cheek.
cam I help 10 you, Marian? Oh,
that thought makes me happy! l lie
here such helpless, useless creature !;
sometimes l have feared that l was
only burden to you"
"Never think that again, dear one
never. If it were not for YOU"
She broke off, and STOPPING, kissed
the sweet, pale face resting on the pill
low, but when she would have moved
away, Ethel held her a moment longer
Marian, darling, do not lose your
faith and hope. There will be clear
sunshine after awhile. and all these dark
clouds will vanish"
81 will try to think SO, she replied,
with smile-a smile that vanished the
moment she left her sisters presence,
and memory began to bring up one by
one the events of the two years just
passed.
The girls had been left orphans at an
early age, but with property sufficient
to supply all they could eyer need, not
only of necessities, but even luxuries.
Their guardian controlled and managed
the money, and they lived in his house
under the care of his good hearted
maiden sister. Ethel had always been
lame and delicate, but Marian went out
into the world, seeing and enjoying its
beauties and pleasures.
Walking swiftly along to give her
first music lesson, she drew a sharp
breath of anguish, as memory too faith
fully recalled all the glory and happi-
ness OF three months tour in Europe,
with party of friends, just before the
downfall of fortune. At the very out
set they met Mark Keller, handsome,
travelled, and to the young girl very
king among men. He joined the party,
and singled her out as the object of his
attentions. The routes they travelled
he had been over before, and he could
point out all that was beautiful or inter
esting. 1t was a golden season, and
the girls heart surrendered in spite Of
womanly pride and reluctance. But
she had no cause to feel shame, or tC
believe her love unsought for. One
mellow, moonlit night in an old Italian
garden, he stretched out his hand tc
her with sudden, passionate words O
love, and so eloquently did he pleac
for the sweet gift of all her future life
she could not withhold the promise tc
be his wife.
You shall never regret it. YOU
shall be happy" he cried, with lover.
confidence.
81 am happy now," she whispered
flushed and shy, but radiant.
They wandered long among the flow
ers, feeling that heaven lay about them
but the next morning the girl received
bad news from home. She only mad,
out clearly that her presence was need
ed, and with only one regretful sigh fol
the bright dreams she had cherished
she began preparations for the Ion!
journey. Keller earnestly begged t.
be allowed to accompany her, but she
gently refused. He must go on witt
their friends, and if she needed him
she would write for him to come.
81 shall come on in a few weeks
whether you send for me or not. w
must finish this interrupted tour togeth
er, Marian
She returned home to find thei
guardian dead, and their fortune gone
swept away in some ill-advised specu
lation The maiden lady sought HON
with relatives, and Marian Ray foun,
herself among the worlds workers, an,
with helpless invalid to take care Of
Helpless, did l say? Nay, she was til
only hope and comfort of poor Mar
ian's heart, for her handsome, wealth
lover came not, and the letter she wrot
to him explaining their reverses of for
, tune remained unanswered. She trie
to think of him with contempt to hol
the love that failed in the hour of he