The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-02-28

/ Dcl ldlltI Hlelll, lOl IL was odiN
that he hated women, and she
adored people out Of the ordinary.
This thought the romantic little
Puss, whose favorite heroes were
Rochester in Jane Eyre and Bois
Gu!lbert in lvanhoe.
Thus, while the deacon sat and
helped Miss Caledonia string pep
pers with their chairs together, Oba
diah listened to Kitty Bliffen's fresh
young voice singing Beulah Land to
the music Of the old spinet that had
been her grandmother's and the fall
ing rain beat Il soft accompaniment
to both pictures.
After that first morning 1t seemed
to poor conscience stricken Miss
Caledonia that Obadiah was very
often absent from home, and never
once did the deacon in his many
visits run across him. Poor unsus-
pecting fellow thought his sister. |
can hardly face him when he does
come in, and it really seems as if he
was kinder than he used to be. He
bought me that pink muslin | said
was pretty, as if l had any idea OF
coming out at my age in thing like
that. Though for the matter of that,
James-dear me ; Deacon Bitten, |
mean, says I'm only in the prime OF
life. She sighed and smiled and
sighed again. I can't tell Obadiah,
| Just can't He'd laugh at us both,
a widower like the deacon and an
old maid like me, besides l couldn't
have the heart to leave him here to
look after himself.
She stopped to recall how when
she had the typhoid fever her
brother hal nursed her night and
day, and to laugh as she remember
ed how he had made bread in the
dish pan, which she could never
wholly clean of the sticky, mysteri-
Gus compound that Obadiah had
ruefully declared would not rise
from sheer obstinacy. No, | have
to give James up, she concluded,
and forthwith began to cry, in which |
occupation the decon discovered
her.
Pshaw said that gentleman,
smiling. Well just make the foolish |
fellow see reason. Because he's a
rusty, crusty old hater Of matri-
mony he mustn't expect TO make |
other people such. He shall live
with us, Caledonia, and you shall
be devoted to him as you like, only |
you must spare a little love for me. |
Now here is the question. Will you
tell or shall /?
Miss Caledonia shivered, but an
swered bravely : No, no. If | must |
strik him this blow, let me be the
one to tell him. 1t shall be part OF
my punishment. So after the man
ner of women she cooked her |
brother an unusually nice supper,
and made much of him when he
seemed very thoughtful, and several
times their anxious eyes met by ac-
cident, when both faces flushed and
both hearts felt p.ng of keenest
self-reproach. Obadiah scarcely |
touched the marmalade poor Miss
Caledonia had brought out on this
special occasion because he was so
fond of it, and that lady noticed it
in dismay. Can he have heard of
it? No, surely not. There was no
hope that some one else had saved
her the dreadful task OF breaking it
to him.
After the things were cleared
away and the CRATE heaped up in
cheerful dancing flame, Miss Gale.
donia drew her chair close to where
her brother cat staring into the fire.
| Obadiah. dear brother, she faltered,
| must hem-I feel it my duty to
speak to you of something.
Yes. yes, Caledonia, l know
know feared you would-you
would, stammered Obadiah, embar-
rassed and flushed as a school boy.
1t grieves me very mnch, dear
brother, went on his sister twisting
her apron around her tremb ing
hands.
knew it would, l knew it.
cannot bear to think of leaving
you, said the poor lady bursting
into tears.
Why you must not think of such
a think. There, there, don't cry!
Nothing shall be changed. We will
love each other just as well, and you
shall teach Kitty all you know.
Kitty? echoed Miss Caledonia.
Oh. YES, | shall love her as a daugh-
ter. How good you are, Obadiah,
to think of her.
Love her as daughter. Humph !!
said Obadiah. Why there's not all
that difference IN your age. Plenty
of sisters have the same years be-
tween them. A daughter ! You
might have spared that allusion,
Caledonia, knowing am only few
years younger than you.
Younger than me, cried Miss
Caledonia, bewildered and lndig-
nant. Why you know perfectly
well, Obadiah Crump, that you are
five years older than | am. Then
melting she ran to her brother and
clasped him in her arms. | see how
it is, my dear, dear brother, I've
grieved and upset you SO you do
not know what you're saying. If
you feel so about it, I'll not go
away from you, no, not for all the
Deacon Blif1ens in the whole world.