The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-07-21

that young father prefers to Harry.
began 10 believe in the truth of
the old proverb that listeners never
hear any good Of themselves.
don't care! pouted Kate, Inever
never will marry him!
And he's coming to propose to
morrow EVENING"
Yes, sighed Kate, and what shall |
dO2
III manage it, said Eftie, gayly.
OF course it won't do to be unciyil.
Here the voice of old Aunt Betsey
Mr.. Willis maiden aunt and house
keeper, was heard. and the laughing
echoes died away in the distance,
leaving ME nearly paralYzed with
wrath and dismay.
Theirs no use describing the hours
of preparation that were devoted TO
getting myself up splendldiy.
Now for it, sad l to myself giving
sinking courage tremendous UP
ward screw, as l stood on Willis
doorsteps. in the soft purple glow
of summer twilight.
All right my boy! said old Willis,
with beaming co,1ntenance, pointing
to the door. You'll tnd her waiting
tor you; she's beea asleep for an
hour or two, aud wouldn't disturb
her. In such cases as this it's better
to be taken little by surprise
Speak up like a man, now!
Aud old Willis rubbed his hands
ioYously. My heart decended into
the soies Of my Boots as 1 shutiled
slowly away. III had been worth
half a million would have given i;
at that moment to buy an hours
reprieve.
But old Willis was inexorable. He
noiselessly opened the door and
motioned me to enter | obeyed
and sat down close TO the thresh
old.
Not there, go and sit by her on
the sofa Inever saw anything like
your style Of love making! calculated
old Willis under his breath, as he
gave me an impetus toward that
corner of the room where a hall
reclining figure sat, wrapped in
mass OF snowy lace.
No backing out now. was
fairly in for it, and | sank on one
knee before the figure, beginning to
recite the rhapsody had committed
to memory that morning.
At first my audience paid very
little attention, but as proceeded,
growing gradually more emphatic,
the recumbent figure slowly reared
itself up. Just as | possessed my
self Of the hand, exclaiming, Speak
dear ore-tell me may hope ! a
pungent odor struck upon my senses
a box OF scotch snuff rafting down
upon my head, and a shriIl voice ex-
| claimed:
Hey! what on earth do you mean,
talking your nonsense TO me?
had been counting Aunt BetSey!
Up rose the indignant old lady,
demanding explanations, more like
one Of the wrinkled witches in
Macbeth than a modern spinster.
Explanations, indeed! pretty time
to explain when man was sneezlna
his very soul out in peppery whlrl.
wind of Scotch snuff! Effie Millers
half stitled voice was heard eXclaim-
ing in the ante room:
Uncle Willis, you'll have to inter
fere- Mr., Simpkins IS making love
to Aunt Betsev
l stayed TO hear no more, but beat
a precipitate retreat.
| went home III rather dangerous
state OF mind, with a strong incilr
alton TO knock my head against al
the stone walls and Jump into all the
running streams.
The next day met eftle Mile
on the village street. had NJ
particular desire to stop and eN
change civilities, but she put out he
little hand before could slip past st
l came to an unwilling halt.
This is a decidedly romantic atll Al
: Mr.. Smpkins, she said.
No appropriate remark suggested
t itself to me. remained silent an'
S she went on.
: Uncle Willis poor dear man
thought his bird safely Gagged: bu
t when Aunt Betsey came in for he
Kate slipped away. Harry wa
waiting at the foot OF the orchard
o and by that time the household wa
e fairly reused our little lady was Mr.:
Wendell.
And the mlrthiul damsel mad
!, me A low courtesy and trippe
d saucily away.
is | went mechanically down th
street to the house among the hone
}. suckles.
o Mr.. Willis sat on the porch, in a
attitude OF profound despair, his u