The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-06-16

bad end you'll come to-" So saying
she returned to the house.
When dinner was completed an old
neighbor, knowing that Jack was at
home, came in to consult him on some
legal questions. Mrs. Brown and her
daughters were engaged in performing
the afterwork in the kitchen.
Miss Layton, being left alone, felt a
strong desire to get and enjoy the
pleasant country surroundings so slip
ping quietly out of the front door she
was soon strolling amidst the flowers in
the large yard. A tall, climbing rose
bush, which stood at one end of the
house, attracted her attention, and fol
lowing path in that direction, she
soon came to a trellis that supported
the beautiful vine, and also came sud
denly on Tommie, who was eating his
dinner. The surprise was equally great
to both, although the impression pro-
duCed on the mind of each was SO diff
ferent.
Tommie forgot his anger as he sat
staring at the pretty lady before him,
for he thought he had never before
seen so beautiful sight. Miss Layton
was equally as much fascinated, but it
was the odd, ridiculous appearance Of
of the child, as he sat with his plate on
his lap that attracted her. But her
friendly, sympathetic nature soon as
serted itself, and she kindly said:
GLOW do you do, little boy?"
"Hullo !'' was the reply.
The young lady continued to eye the
boy curiously. Sne thought she had
never seen so odd looking a spt clmen
of humanity, and her pity and curiosity
were alike excited in regard to him.
Thinking him a little vagrant the family
had given dinner, she asked: "Where
do you live?"
81 live here" Tommie answered.
She then thought he must be some
poor child employed on the place, SC
she asked again: "Have you any par
ents?"
"Rcckon l have. I'm Tommie
Brown" said the boy.
Then you are Jacks BROTHER" she
exclaimed in surprise.
eyes, | be-" he replied.
"Well l am glad to meet you," salc
Miss Layton, Jack told me he had ;
little brother. But why didn't yol
come in and see US and eat dinner witt
us?"
"Cause they wouldn't let me. Cam
and Cath. said if you saw me yo
wouldn't marry Jack. But you Wi
Z won't you ! s'pose L rather homel
lookin' and rough, but | can't hel p 1t.
There was something so pathetic i
} the child's situation that strong feel
ing of sympathy was aroused i'll Mis-
/, Layton's heart. She possessed rar
S good sense and the kindest of nature:
7 And the thought of child endurin
a such oppression was repulsrve to he
/ every feeling. Sitting down by his sid
S she took one of his little brown hand
in hers, and said: "Do you think yo
. would like me for a sister?"
t Il dun know" replied Tommi
f "You're awful stunnin' lookin' now, al
d if you was always good like this I'd lik
0 it fust rate. But Cam and Cath. scol
e me so much 1 wish lots of times
didn't have any sisters"
IS ''But we will try and be good friends,
t. said Miss Layton. "And some de
e when | am your sister, wouldn't yc
S like to come to the city and see me
d The boy stared at her, while bot
| eyes were stretched with amazemen
1t "Showly you don't mean IT." he sail
"Gosh ! but wouldn't that be ine?"
is But Tommie had already suffere
e many dissppointments from broke
is promises in his young life, so the lig
y died out of his face as he continued
IS "But you'll forgit before then. Ever
S oody torgits everything they promi
of me-"
"No, l shall not forget" she answe
W ed. "You may just depend on tn;
at You shall stay long while and ha
at such a good time"
4 She had not noticed his eyes close
te until now. They were of dark gr
| color, with such bright eager look
them that they fairly illuminated t
Is homely little face. "Surely," thoug
ly Miss Layton, ''there must be somethi
W in any boy who has such eyes as those
k "You won't let Cam. and Cath. knC
IN you saw me, will you? 'Twould
IN dreadful hard with me if they knew il
Tx "No, l will not let any know that
I'd saw you. You must not forget n
And shall often think of you and tt
a visit. Good bye now," and to To-
ry mics great surprise she stopped o'
and Kissed him, then turned and we
ar into the house.
ar To Tommie, the world had suddel
at changed from midnight blackness tc
I'D dream of sunshine and JOY. T
ite beautiful, kind lady was really to be
k sister. This was the person of wit
re he had grown TO have such horror
he the last few days, and she had actu;
Yer kissed him Such thing OF which
ov had scarcely any remembrance
But short time elapsed when N
of Layton as Mrs. Jack Brown, was hapl
in established in home OF her own.
NJ soon communicated to her husba
ere her interview with Tommie, and
vas promise of the visit. Through his in
ar. ence and help not many days pas
- L.c,ra Ton,p,ie was an inmate of ii