The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-09-30

went in search OF Claris5a whom he
found in his wite's private sitting
room, rocking their three year old
baby. 1t struck him quite forcibly
how pretty she locke sitting in the
bamboo rocker, plump brown eyed
brown haired woman Of five and
forty, though she appeared quite ten
yearsyounger.
You remember John Ainsworth,
Clarissa? he asked.
Yes. she replied, smiling. Poor
John what about him?
He handed her the letter and
watched her while she read it; her
face grew rosy and presently she
looked up at him, an amused smile
in her brown eyes.
Why Robert what a singular letter
What does he mean'
Yes, the letter of peculiar man
but under that strange exterior
Clarissa is a c,ean, honorable char
acter and you who have always
known him, would make him happy.
l always liked John, she said
musingly, the color deepening in her
smooth cheeks.
And you will marry him? Remem
I Der he has asked me to plead his
cause, urged Bob anxiously.
But It was no, SO easy to do this,
and he went away and brought
Maria his wife, who was charmed at
the thought of C!arissa as mistress
of the great house Oh the hill; and
SO finally at an reasonable hour OF the
next morning, Robert went up to see
John armed with a letter OF graceful
acceptance from Clarissa.
Tohn was delighted to see his
friend, and began to tell him his
troubles and how wretched he was
living in such discomfort. In the
midst of the recital, to divert his
mind, Bob handed him Clarissa' S
letter.
His success was astonishing; the
blood rushed in a crimson tide to
the Old bachelors very hair his eyes
grew suddenly black and wild; great
veins stood out on his forhead.
Robert, fearing apoplexy, slapped
him On the back. and in his effort to
get his collar on, nearly strangled
HIM. In their struggles they brush
ed half the china dishes off the
breakfast table and the fragments
lay unheeded.
As soon as John recovered himself
he rose and began marching up and
down the room in great agitation
Presently stopping before his visitor
he exclaimed in desparing tones
| Robert Wilkins, what you have
done will kill me and my death will
be at your door!
Come John! said the other sooth
ingly, beginning TO entertain doubts
OF his friends sanity. Just tell me
what is the matter with you.
Matter with me? Here-do | hold
an acceptance OF marriage from your
sister in law, Miss Deane? And
in an awful voice-I never made q
proposal!
He sank into a chair and glared
helplessly.
1t was now Bob's turn to grow
excited and rapidly he related the
occurrence of the day before; The
, receipt of the second hand propose
| of marriage and the urging it hae
required to induce Clarissa to glvt
her consent, q.
A comprehending light dawne'
in Johns eyes and he exclaimed in
scarcely audible voice.
/ Robert as true as there is HEAVIER
q above US, l wrote that letter with tn
q sole intention OF securing a house
e keeper.
e But you spoke of Clarissa an'
e said you repented of not having
< recognized her true worth years ag'
+ SAID Bob, watching him closely.
did indeed herepiied. My hous
a keeper-who had been my nurs
u when | was a baby-was name
d Clarissa, and have keenly regrette
e not being more kind to the taithfl
It creature.
h Bob's heart sank within HIM. Whs
d fool he had been! CIarissa was
O proud sensitive woman; the bio
h would be a crushing one TO her.
is Something OF all this must hay
@ appeared in his countenance, for
1t quiet voice John said
n Robert, do you think Claris:
r. Deane would really be my wife?
* But Robert felt too much humiI
is ated to reassure him and Ainswor
u picked up the modest little lett
pr ard re read it.
lie This has been the grandest mistaE
IS, of my life he cried suddenly, ha'
We always admired Clarissa Deane b
~ | should not have dared to ask t
.lv question which my happy blind
tie has caused that beautiful woman
1t answer favorably.
ny He suddenly leaned upon ]
~ ~ astonished guest and walked over t
art fragments Of his costly china TO po
,re him a glass of wine and begged h