The morning call., 1891-11-20
OUR NEW NEIGHBORS.
BY ANNE ALLEN.

ated a greater sensation. The blank sur
prise on Cecile's bright face and the dismay
on mine brought a smile, but did not change
the serious light in Pills eyes as he said:
Il think you will find them pleasant,
agreeable people"
but they're from Westbrook," said Ce-
Gle, in a tone that said There's an extin-
guisher for your candle, sir!'
Phil smiled on the beautiful young sister
he was so proud of.
"'Can any good thing come out Of Nazar-
ETH? " he quoted
Cecile looked thoughtful for moment,
then laughed as she recalled Westbrook,
with its awkward, underlined denZens-its
slouching gait and still more slouching
grammar.
81 have never had even glimpse Of our
new neighbors," she said, laughing, but l
can imagine how Mrs. Benton will come to
the door wipng the d saltwater from her
hands with her blue apron. feel the zig
gag hand-shaking, and hear the loud,
hearty Land sakes, hev ye come TO see me
al last? Why hain't We ben beforeP How's
yer ma? Powerful hot weather, amt it p 1"
Phil joined in my laugh.
That's Westb1ook," he said, 'but not
Mrs. Benton. Wait-get sitting before
you paint the portrait. | met the BentOns
several years ago under circumstances that
showed me their true worth ana place, and
hope my sensible sisters will put prejudice
aside and at least see before condemning.
1t is quite possible, too" he added. with a
droll look on his face, that you may have
met some one like them before. But there
comes Tom Braud-l'm going fishing with
him. Good-by" Aud Phil was of. leav-
ing US to lock al each other in silent wonder.
That Phil, so refined in his tastes, should
advise association with anything savOTing.
no matter how remotely, of WcSlbIOok
Mother, who had horror of the place and
people, would never consent TO such visit,
we were sure, aud father drew the social
line even closer than she.
No use, Cecile," said /; there's too
much opposition TO that bill; it will never
pass"
Nc the Liberals must go under this
time" said Cecile, gayly. "Phifs whim-
hut Phil never has wnims," size added,
thOughtfully. He must have some Interior
interest in the mat er.'
I'VE Will leave il to Providence" said !,
with immense relief at shifting the respOn-
slhi!ity from ourselves.
And meantime. Wen hope Providence
will keep tile whole matter well out of
sight" laughed Cecile, and a few minutes
later was galloping off on Gypsy, light of
heart her horse was fleet of foot-the
June Of life and June Of the year in match
less harmony.
Ana yet, light hearted as MY sister
Seemed. size had her own trouble. Months
before, while visiting friend, she had met
daIk-eyCd, Ietlcent young man who caught
her capllciOus fancy-perhaps because lie
did not pay court to her like fifty others
had done.
u don't think he liked me bit, Kit"
she said. and admired me even less; but
thought from the first how superior he was
to any one had ever met-except, of
course. Phil" she added, laughing, land
what a desirable friend he would be if one
could only win his liking"
Don't be goose, Cecilep' | said sharp
", indignant that there could be a man who
dId not find Cecile irresistible. He is prob
ably an owl who is grave because he hasn't
appreclatye sense enough TO laugh, and
reticent because he has nothing to say;
superior because, as 1t seemed TO me, he
gave you no chance to see what there was
of him, anyway. You remember tile Span
ish ambassadors who asked 10 be intro
duced TO that wisest-lGOking man at the
French court, and were told it was the
Kings fOoi?"
Ceclle smiled, but sighed a little as she re-
marked:
1t did not strike me in that way at all;
however there's no use in thinking any
more about him, suppose"
So the matter was dismissed but had an
uncomfortable impression that it was not
forgotten.
The next forming Phil was called to the
city by telegram from his business part
ner. Harry came home for his college va
cation, bringing friends with him, and in
the general gayety our new neighbors be-
yond the cliff were entirely forgotten till one
day, returning from the woods laden with
ferns, We met a youth with rod aud basket
coming from the stream beyond. The easy,
Independent bearing-tGe frank, boyish face
with its clear dark eye5-would have won a
second glance anywhere.
Our new nPlghDOr on the Westp said
Harry, careessly.
Westbrook," said Cecile, under her
breath.
but a mon for a. that and a. that and
gO0dly to look at" | said, gazing after him
in admiration of the 1.-THE figure aud elastic
step.
Cecie grew distracted, pulled some of her
best ferns to pieces, and even forgot to reply
20 the lively Sallies Of her escort
" Does 1t seem to you that we have ever
seen our young new neighbor before?" she
asked little later, as We were dressing for
dinner.
/ shook my head.
He certainly reminds me OF some one l
have seen somewhere" she said musingly.
Very definite, that; you will be able to
trace him, have no doubt, II you can only
remember the some time" | responded.
AID that reminds me that we have not
even once thought Of our new neighbors.
and what will Phil say?'
You will probably know very soon after
be gets here" And Cecile was her own
bright self again at thought OF his coming.
He returned day or two after and in the
dear home life and the pleasure OF being to-
gether again, outside matters were for a
time little touched upon; but one day later,
when we were near the cliff, he said sud-
denly:
Now, girls. will be just the time to call
on our new neighbors. Come, l will take
the responsibility at home"
Hefpre u rom "a hraath n
the Case We were at the door, in the parlur,
making our Manners" as the boosters say,
10 our hostess.
Cecilc's prophetic vision faded into air.
or the blue apron, the loud voice, the West
bToOk grammar, there was not tTace-not
shadow. A graceful presence, a sweet,
motheTly face, and the ease OF conscious
equality were in their stead. Mrs. Benton
expressed her pleasure at renewing her a =
Quain.ance with Phil, and meeting the sis
Sc tiers Of whom she had SO often heard him
speak.
did you live long at WestbroOk?" l
asked later in our visit.
Size smiled.
''Only three years. My husband was con-
nected with some manufacturing interests
which made it imperative for him TO be
there, and we could not think Of letting him
lace all the unpleasant things in the town
alone, so came with him. Fortunately for
us. the place became vacant and we took
" ~ Nbhito lNO1t suc SAUL lie W III
be glad 10 meet an old acquaintance"
Roy, the angler of our fern excursion,
with his frank, boyish, yet thoroughly re-
fined manner, was really irresistible, and
our proposed formal visit had assumed m ost
informal proportions before we had any
Idea it was time to go.
''How charming they are!" said Cecile,
that evening, as we sat on the veranda CIV
ing father and mother a history of our
afternoon. And the strangest part of it il
that am so sure have met them before.
am unable to recall time or place, yet feel
they are connected with something pleasant
In the past"
"Why not think they are premonition Of
something good in The future" said Phil
smiling.
Our visit was the beginning Of very de-
lightful acquaintance, which rapidly grew
into friendship. Roy was the companion Of
: all our excursions and sociabilities. He had
a talent for managing affairs and making
everything work together for the general
good, and was therefore invaluable as 8
prime minister who apparently saw the end
from the beginning. and so was never in
dancer Of failure.