The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-09-06
A FORTUNATE CHANGE.


To say that Prudence Pringle disliked
the Sterner sex is saying very little she
held them in utter detestation, indvid.
ually and collectively.
According to tradition, this was ow-
ing to some bitter wrong inflicted upon
her heart when it was young and tender.
But however this may be, the antipathy
above mentioned was too real to be
mistaken. For over thirty years no
mans foot had desecrated her dwelling.
Even the old man who sawed her wood
and did odd jobs about the house re.
ceived his pay standing under the
kitchen window, Miss Prudence drop
ping the amount into bis hand with
averted eyes and an audible sniffle ex-
pressive of hes disgust at unavoidable
contact with the detested sex.
Miss Pringle's family consisted of
herself, an elderly female domestic, and
her niece Ruth. She had taken Ruth,
when child, with the avowed deter
mination of making her as inveterate a
man. hater as herself. And in case she
succeeded in her laudabIe design, it
was her intention to leave her the bulk
OF her property, "not otherwise" as she
often assured cousin Jonas, the next
heir at law.
Jonas Qlimby was stiff, sour, disa.
greeable old bachelor, for whom Ruth
had particular dislike, on account of
the pleasant way he had of snubbing
and lecturing her whenever they met.
He had remained single in the hope
of eventually inheriting his cousins
property, knowing her aversion to mat
rlmony, and therefore regarded Ruth's
adoption by her aunt IN the light Of a
personal grievance. But he took great
Comfort from Miss Pflngle's repeated
assurance for he knew that young girls
take as naturally to love as flowers take
to dew and sunshae.
Every evening Ruth was chatechised
after the following fashion:
each man on the face Of the earth
is falsehearled and teach;rous !'
eyes, aunt" was Ruth'S dutIul res
ponse.
ESPECIALLY young men?"
"Yes, aunt"
"And you must never have anything
to do with them in any way or shape?"
81 never will, aunt"
Whereupon Ruth was dismissed 10
her chamber, with a grim smile of
approval.
But Miss Pringle did not trust en-
tirely TO precept; Ruth was kept
strictly from all contact with the outer
world, Lever beng allowed to go IN the
street without either herself or her at.
tendant damsel to act as guard and
defence.
And with such formidable guard,
bold indeed was the youth who ventur-
ed upon i second admiring glance at
Ruth's pretty face for pretty it was in
spite of the ugly bonnets she was forced
to wear. But the little blind god
laughs at all such precautions.
1t happened that Miss Pringle was
very tond of strawberries, so as soon as
they were ripe, she sent Ruth down to
the meadow behind the house to gather
some for tea, strictly charging her to
"look and speak to no man."
Now 1t culiously enough happened
that MIR. Edgar Haven, who caught a
glimpse of Ruth tripping down the
lane, was suddenly reminded of a SINH
lar wish expressed by his mother, and
animated by flial desire to gratity it,
seized basket and proceeded in the
same direction.
Now Edgar knew his young neighbor
by name and sight, and, politely accost-
ing her, cff-red 10 show her where the
berries were more plentiful than where
she was picking.
Startled by his unexpected appear
ance, Ruth's first impulse was 10 drop
her basket and run but his look and
tone were so gentle, his smiles SO win
ming, and his eyes So beautiful, and then
it would have been SO rude
So she rot only stayed, but let him
take her where the ground was red
with the ripe and luscious fruit, and
even accepted his preferred assistance
in filling the basket. And then they
began to talk, Edgar drawing her out
with SO much tact that Ruth began to
feel quite at ease with him, though she
was still somewhat shy Of the glances of
| respectful admiration that the young
man directed towards her blushing face.
s., when they separated, doubt began
to stir the gentle heart OF Ruth as to
whether young men were such dreadful
creatures after all, Or, if they were, if
Edgar Haven was not an exception to
the general rule.
Miss Pringle praised the the quantity
and fineness Of the berries, but Ruth
never mentioned who helped her gather
them. If she had, we doubt whether
the vrtuous spinster would have suffer-
ed one of them 20 enter her mouth.
Every day Ruth W Mt down to the
meadow to gather strawberries, and,
curiously enough, Edgar was either
there or followed soon after. He always
returned empty-handed, but with his
heart full Of the soft, blue eyes, into
which he had gazed, and the sweet
voice to which he had listened.
And as for Ruth. she began to repeat
her customary catechism in much less
assured tone and manner, and consider
able inward demurring.
Are all young men so very bad, aunt