The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-12-03
MISS FIELDS PLOT.

Arthur Ferries was tall, blonde,
handsome, and twenty eight He
was also the possessor of long
head, inherited from the maternal
side of the house. He was likewise
a dutiful son.
1t was the two latter circumstances
that had. on more than one occa-
sion, saved him from making tri.
umphant ass of himself.
But his time had come. The in
every way desirable young person
had presented herself. True, she
was not so young a mere trife. She
was just his own age and an heiress
of considerable degree. She was
not-well, not exactly handsome,
and was rather inclined to what is
politely called plumpness; but
Arthur's mamma and Arthur's long
head gave their approval and Arthur
did not care who she might be, Sc
long as she possessed the above
qualifications, particularly, the one
involving a very neat fortune in her
own right.
Besides Arthur was getting a b..;'
desperate. In fact, he had so far
exceeded his own salary and the
maternal allowance (Which, by the
way, was as large as Mrs. Ferris
could ahord) that nothing short Of
a miracle, or a matrimonial alliance.
such as he had been so long seeking
coul save him from getting into very
deep water.
And thus it came to pass that this
winter found him engaged to Miss
Bernice Field, much to the satisfac
ton OF his mother, who was visiting
in New York. and to whom he had,
like the dutiiul son he was, sent the
gratifying news at once.
He was disappointed, however,
on one point. He had pleaded art
fully for an early wedding, but Miss
Field had set her foot down with
much frmness and said he must GO
through long probationary period
all of which Arthur failed to under.
stand. He had always been noted
for his persuasive powers, and had
hattered himself that Bernice, with
her gentle, clinging, budlike ways,
would succumb at once.
Now, be it known that Miss
Bernice Field had not arrived al
years of discretion for nothing
Neither had she, a not unprepossess
ing young person, with nearly
half million in her own right, passed
through the experiences of ten sea
sons without gathering unto hersel
much knowledge of the ways anc
wiles, of wicked man. She had. as
might have been expected, offers tc
a high number; but, thus far, the
gentlemen concerned had failed-by
reason OF their unanimous desire tc
touch her purse-to touch, in the
first place, the all important key to
it, which was hidden away in hel
plump bosom. And Miss Bernict
Field was world wise in her day ano
generation.
She was certainly in love will
Ferris-there could be no doubt o
that. 1t is quite as certain that sh'
was very seriously in love with him
but, with the wisdom born OF exper
ience, she did not let him know ont
half of what she felt for him.
If anyone had told Ferris that h
was just now in very shaky posi-
ton, he would have scofed. Hi
chum, Ed. Cross, who was spending
the winter at the house during Mr.:
Ferris absence, had once sugeeste
that "there's many a Slip" BIT
Arthur merely SHE'D shoe a! him
and whistled serenely,
1t was in this frame of mind tha
one evening in February, he ra
lightly up steps to the Field mansio
to call on her whom Cross unfee
ingly referred to as his "little lad
,, love-" 1t was warm evening, an'
the front door stood aiar. The lit