The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-09-29

she ran down the walk to the back gate,
without deignlng to look back.
"Pm just glad she's gone-spiteful
old thing. reckon my mother knows
as much as her mother does, and more
too,' muttered Myrtle to herself, the
angry tear filling her eyes.
She sat down with her crocheting
again, but somehow the joyousness had
gone out of things. What did make
Emma talk so insultingly-of course it
was insultingly to hint that little wine
jelly might have caused Cousin Harry
to go on that dlsgraceful spree She
just wasn't going to think about it any
longer; besides she needed that prem
ium money so badly. Her papa had
been sick so long IN the winter, and
the doctor bills had been so heavy, that
1t seemed like they never would have
any more spending money.
There was that grand steamboat ex-
curslon just two weeks ,fter the fair.
Mrs. Menager had said she could 60
with her family as well as not, but the
fare was two dollars, and it hadn' t
seemed worth while even to think of it
before, because they didn't have the
two dollars to spare besides she had
net dress fit for the occasion.
Now she could 60 as we'll as not, if
she got the jelly premium. How de-
lightful it would be; the boat cutting
her way through the clear water, the
band playing, the girls in their pretty
light dresses and dainty ribbons and
laces futtering in the wind, and the
trip back by moonlight past the beau.
| titul cliffs and the long sweep of low
lands where the cypress-trees looked
like great green plumes, and the trum-
pet vines hung out their wealth of scar
let blossoms.
Myrtle's heart beat fast with excite
ment as she thought of it, and yet, some
how, the words that Emma had SAID
hung over her like a great, black
shadow.
If she had even the fa1ntest belief
that Cousin Harry had been tempted
by that wine jelly, she'd never make
another bit as long as she lived. After
all, though, even if he had been, that
needn't keep her from competing for
the premium at the fair. Harry wouldn't
eat any of that jelly, at any rate, but
some other boy might.
After awhile she went in and told her
mother, and they talked it all over to-
gether, both agreeing that Emma and
her mamma were entirely too particular
in the matter, and that Myrtle should
make the jelly by all means.
But somehow when Myrtle knelt
down by her bed that night and prayed
''lead us not into temptation, but de
liver US from evil,' vague fear crept
into her heart that after all she might
have led Cousin AIRY into temptation.
She lay awake long time, thinking it
over, and promised herself that she
would meyer make another ounce of
wine jelly after the fair. She just
couldn't give up the hope, certain, al
most, tor her mamma said she didn't
believe any one could make better
jelly-of getting the five dollars prem
ium that meant SO much of her.
A pretty new white dress, instead of
the shabby, old-fashioned one, and
fresh ribbons instead of the faded ones.
So she went to sleep at last, only to
dream that she was making wine jelly
in kettle as big as barrel, and that
Cousin Harry fell into it, and vanished
in puff of steam.
The next day she made the jelly
clear transparent amber certainly moth
ing of the kind could have been pret-
tier, and her mamma assured her that
without doubt the five dollars would be
hers. She was so exuberant, SO Joyous
that she had almost forgotten the oc-
currence of the day before, till Cousin
Harry came out on the porch where |
her jelly was cooling, and where she
had gone for the twentieth time to ad-
mire it.
"Did you ever see anything so lovely, |
Harry? l wish the days would fly, till |
l get the premium for It," she said |
gaily.
Harry picked up glass and looked |
at 1t admiringly.
ayes, l think it is food fit for the
gods The very odor makes a man
lose his Senses" he said lightly, but
Myrtle noticed, with a little thrill of
apprehension, that his eyes began to
shine with strange kind of eagerness
and a feverish look came into his face.
''Say, Myrtle, please give poor fel-
low taste, can't you? 1t makes me
desperate to smell it p
Myrtle suddenly grew serious.
cousin Harry, tell me the honest
truth now; when you taste or smell
wine jelly, does it make you want to
drink7 On your honor as a gentleman
now, remember -
Harry flushed up hotly.
"Why, whatever put such foolish no.
ton into your head?" he said evasively.
"That isn't fair, now, Harry-answer
me yes or no." she said persstently.
"Well, then, if you must know, yes.
l don't believe | should have made
such beast of myself on the Fourth,
if it hadn't been for the Jelly l ate at
dinner. 1t seemed like I'd sell my
soul foi glass of wine or beer, after l
got the first taste of it."
Myrtle stood perfectly still for mo-