The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-05-03


ested love as yours. You're like Susan.
She was the dearest girl that ever lived.
Yes, you're like Susan"
But they did not always talk thus.
They were very busy often, over books ;
over Phemie's embroidery, for which
he designed patterns: teaching her lit
tie dog a thousand tricks feeding the
bl nd kittens saved from drowning ;
making a little well, from which the
canary drew buckets of water. And
Phemie and the old man would wander
off to the riverside, where he would
fish, seldom catching anything, and she
would read or knit.
None of the family knew OF these
intimacies. Belle, older than Phemie
by six years, preferred that she should
consider herself a child until Miss Nor
ris was married And Aunt Marcia de-
tested her for her resemblance to the
sister in law VINO chad never been con-
genial"
No one in the house knew, but some
one not of the household did, and
shared at times in them.
Sometimes, when the old mans rod
dangled over the water, younger
angler would take his place near him
handsome young fellow with black
hair and the brightest eyes in the world ;
and then the hours went by like hours
in dream, and Pnemie felt happy as
she had felt when a child by her moth
er's side. And Uncle Bill laughed and
told fsherman's stories. As for the
young man, silent or talkative, he was
always charming. So thought Peme.
She was seventeen she had never mad
a lover. She was we'll read in romantic
lore. What happened was only to be
expected. In a little while two lovers
sat beside old Uncle Bill on the banks
of the pretty stream, and walked to-
gether as far as the little gate in the
hedge that nobody else used, and did
not hide from the old man that they
parted with kiss.
Fred Howard was not fashionable
man, only the son of a poor widow.
who had made bookkeeper of her boy.
What holidays he had he spent at
home. This was his midsummer vaca
ton he was bright and good and hand
some, but Mr.. Norris surely would have
had other views for his youngest daugh-
ter.
| And so, one day, as the two, having
met accidentally on the road, were
talking together, will. an expression on
either face that made an old country
lady, who drove past, remark to her
husband: "Hlram, take my word for
it, them's beaus," Mr.. Norris marched
up behind the pair, and appeared like a
very florid ghost between them, with
an:
81 was not aware. Mr.. Howard, that
you had ever been introduced to my
daughter"
The yourg man blushed, but an
swered: "But l have, sir-by my
friend, her uCcle."
"Oh p replied Mr.. Norris, lowering
his tone little. "Then you know my
brother, Mr.. Whipple Norris, in the
clty2 He is relative | am proud of
worth half a million if he is a cent"
81 have often heard of Mr.. Whipple
Norris" replied the young man frankly ;
"but have never met him. owe my
introduction to Miss Pnemie Norris to
her Uncle Wliliam-ah-ah The
young man Suddenly remembered that
he did not know Uncle Bills last name.
"Her Uncle William r' repeated Mr..
Norris. "Euphemi', does young How
ard allude to your poor mothers un-
fortunate brother, Bill?"
Phemie bowed her head.
"Young Howard p repeated Mr..
Norris. That person has no authority
to introduce my daughter. Consider
yourself stranger TO her henceforth." "
Phemie looked at Fred Fred looked
at Phemie.
"It is too late, SIR" the latter said.
81 love your daughter, and have won
her heart. She has promised to be my
wife"
Mr.. Norris stared at him, lifted his
eyebrows stared again through his
double eye glass, ana spoke sternly:
"I have one daughter who is a credit
to me. Lord McTab paid great atten-
ton to her last winter. He has writ
ten to ask my consent to their nuptials,
which l shall give, and he will return
in the fall to be married to her. An
English nobleman would hardly like a
brother. in-law who makes, perhaps,
twenty dollars a week. My eldest
daughter, Mrs. Timkins Trotter, has
married a gentleman who is esteemed
the wealthiest man in Mineville. My
son is with my brother in New York
a man l am proud of. Now | shall
never make a fuss about Phemie. |
only tell you this: II she marrles you,
| disown her. You can take her if she
chooses. | shall never give her a
penny. Sne may have her clothes and
irinkets, and go. If she obeys me, she
shall be, married or single, well pro
vided tor. Sne is plain and unpre-
possessing but know young clergy
man who will attain eminence, who
only needs my permission TO propose.
She might do very well with a proper
portion for him. She has thick waist,
large mouth, and ordinary features -
continued Mr.. Norris, turning his eye
glass on his daughter; "but clergy
man should not look for beauty"
!. "She is the prettiest girl know, al d