The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-02-23

hdu OtllSl arrangements, Dul Will
break prior engagement and be there.
| wish you a good evening, Miss
Blanche"
In going out | met Miss Mary in the
hall. She shook hands with me c)r-
daily. A fine girl, | said mentally, as
| left her; Miss Blanche has the advan-
tage of her only in redder cheeks and
brighter eyes.
The following Sabbath morning |
confess | felt somewhat furried. The
night before l had not slept well. Busi-
ness troubles had sometimes kept me
awake, and the excitement of success
full deals had at times broken in upon
nv rest but this restessness was not
from the same cause. A vague and
rather pleasant feeling in the region of
the heart, a strange expectancy, kept
me awake for hours. 1t took me lon
ger than usual to get ready for church.
The fit of my clothes did not please
me, my neckte would not remain
straight, and the polish on my shoes
seemed very dull. At times my heart
gave most tunaccountable jump. When
at last found myself in the street, it
seemed as If a great many people were
looking at me, and began to fear that
there was something unusual in my ap-
pearance. The sun was not warm. but
my cheeks burned. | confess with
shame that my heart flttered when |
reached the church door.
enter thus minutely into the de-
tails of my feelings and appearance be-
cause this narrative is in the nature of
a confession of weakness. The reader
may urge that confessions are unbusi
ness like. l retort by insisting that
love- making is unbusiness-like from be-
ginning to end, and defy him to show
me anything that is more so.
| paused at the church door. There
was nothing to prevent me from going
in, but hesitated. Something in me
kept asking: Is Miss Blanche there ?
MY heart beat faster than l had ever
known it to beat before, and something
rose in my throat and half choked me.
As | started in, hesitating, undecided,
| met my business friend Sellers.
"Gracious, Quoter, are you sick ~
he asked.
"Never better"
"You are as pale as sheet, said he.
| went slowly up the aisle. There
was an occupant in the Ridgeway pew
My heart beat fast Miss Blanche's an,
swer was yes Wnen | came opposite
the pew Hooked at the lady with the
sweetest smile | could call up. To my
inexpressible astonishment | found my
self smiling at Miss Mary!
Never had been so astonished or
SO disappointed. Yet, perhaps, it was
all change. The hour was early and
the church almost empty. a few per,
sons occupied distant pews. As | sa
down by Miss Mary feared she woulc
observe my confusion.
"Good morning." | said in greeting
with all the GOODNESS at my command
Good morning, sir" she said, de
murelv.
"Miss Blanche is not with you"
"Oh, she is not coming"
"And you'-
ayes, | came in her place"
at can't be-that is-yOu"-
"Why, of course" she replied witt
the pleasantest smile ever saw.
"But sIrely"-
"pm SO glad that you came, Mr.
Quoter," she continued. sour pew il
generally half empty"
She glanced at me smiiingly, looking
like ripper and more womanly Mis-
Blanche. a wOman's glance can tel
so much or-so little. In this instanc,
it was so much.
| paused in thought. Did Miss Mary
know what passed between her siste
and myself? If not, how was | to in
terpret what she said2 One thing
knew, Miss Blanche's answer was no
and Miss Mary was certainly very sweet
very demure, very charming. | begal
to take very decided interest in her
81 am at loss to unde rstand'-
began.
"Dou't you think it's wrong to tal
in churchP" she whispered.
81 had forgotten where we are, Mis-
Mary"