The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-06-21
HORSESHOE LUCK.

" NhFA tdplSS, StdiibS vi lSiiiS,
japanese screens and India hangings
SIX and thirty-and why should one be
compelled to giving up all the sweet
ness of life at six-and thirty? I'm sure
| don't look day over thirty: and
Algy Vane must be that at least
Mrs. Blythe was very pretty woman
not the bud, but the full blown rose
"a plump, dimpled, peachy- checked
matroD, who knew exactly how to make
the most Of all her middle aged ad-
vantages.
She had married Major Mortlake
Blythe at seventeen, and he had left
her widow at seven and twenty.
81 shall never be such a fool as to
marry again !' SAID Mrs. Blythe.
For the Major had by no means been
perfection. He had left her Just enough,
by dlnt OF strict economy, to live upon,
especially as her onlv child had been
taken to bring up by quiet Quaker
couple, the Majors relatives. And until
now Mrs. Blythe had adhered resolutely
to her decision.
But A!gernon Vaue was a royalty
handsome fellow, and the pretty widow
was but human, and she had scribblee
Rosamond Vane, Mrs. Algernon Vane
over and over again in ner blottlng
book, and she had treasured up flower
he had worn in his huttonhole, and she
had corrcsponded with him during the
winter he had spent in Bermuda, writing
srr,s htIy and amusing letters, with a
semi-tone of seriousness underlying all
their sparkling gossip.
"He likes me a little now," said the
widow, "and I'm determined he shall
like me good deal more. I'm tired
t this solitary life II; I'm tired of count
ing every penny half dozen times be-
tore l spend it. A!gy is Independently
rich, and he's my beau ideal of young
man. With him | do believe 1 could
be quite, quite happy. He don't know
about lydia but of course that would
he no objection. Uncle joshua and
Aunt Rebecca will keep her. Dear
me, dear me she must be growing to
be big gul now," and Mrs. Blythe
shuddered at the idea.
At this moment the door few open,
and in burst a tall, dusty, dishevelea
young girl, some half head taller than
Mrs. Blythe herself, with the white
capped maid following helplessly behind.
"Please, ma am" said the maid, "she
wouldn't walt for me to take her card
up"
"Mamma, I'm Lydia !" cried the
breathless apparition. Little Liddy,
mamma-don't you remember2 Tell
that hateful girl to go awayP A card,
indeed Am l to send up cards to my
own mother?"
Mrs. Blythe stood appalled,, in the
soft yellow light streaming through the
China-silk curtains. This fair-haired,
sunburned young giantess, with the
peoay cheeks and the big blue eyes,
the i'll fitted gloves and faded cambria
gown-could it be- possible that this
was the little Liddy of ten years ago1
| On, if Mr.. Vane should see her /!
The girl looked around like one who
views the entertainments Of a fairy
palace.
"Oh, mamma, how pretty you are y
said she, "and what lovely room
Are you glad to see me, mamma, dar-
hng2"
My dearest ctili, gasped the widow,
what has brought lou here2"
LYDIA cIasped her hands her coun-
tenancc feil.
MAMMA" sail she, "Pm The most
miserable creature in the world-and |
want hundre! dollars"
lydia A hundred dollars
And you must let me have it !! vehe-
mentI, wrIt On Lydia I've killed
Uncle Jushua's prize colt That is |
didn't exactly do myself but | was
rlding Pretty Jane around the meadow
lust for practice, and | forgot and lett
the bars down, and the colt got out on
the railroad track, and the train came
along. and-oh | nevvr can look Uncle
Joshua in the face again, unless have
that hundred dollars to pay him
shall be able to earn plenty tor
myself before long, mamma, she added,
breathlessly, for | can ride better than
the woman In pink tarlatan and span
giles who jumped through the hoops a.
the circus. When the cid gipsy told
my fortune last year, at the county far,
she said a horse shoe would bring me
luck some dav, and | knew OF course
what she m ant. So I've been prac-
icing riding ever since, whenever
could get away from Aunt Beck and
Uncle Joshua, ard
Mrs. Dappleton Ames is in the draw
ingroom, ma'am, said the white capped
maid, appearing with an ox} died silver
card receiver in her hand.
And Mrs. Blythe checked her daugh-
ter's confidence at once.
Lydia, cried she, "I'm surprised at
you A great girl like you scntting and
romping around the country Go back
to Shady Plains by the very next train,
and try to behave more like a lady.
Why, you must be fourteen at least !
Seventeen, mamma, confessed the
culprit. But aren't you going to give
me the hundred dollars?
81 have not got hundred cents y
lmpatiently cried Mrs. Blythe. "But II
| had wouldn't give it to YOU, YOU
naughty, i'll behaved, rompng-Y.s,
Matilda, tell Mrs. Dappleton Ames that
l. Ii II.