The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-08-17

the stair with her eyes fixed
u upon the door facing it above.
But there was no answer to her
call, nor did the door open
Lizzie. Elizabeth.' she called again
more sharply this time.
But still there was no reply, and she
went back into the kitchen with yexed
look, and began to beat an omeet for
breakfast
The outer door opened, and Deacon
Blake came briskly in from the garden
Cline morning. he remarked, as he
looked cheerfully around. ''If this kind O
weather continues there'll be plenty of
Strawberries in a day or two. Some of 'em
are beginning to turn already Breakfast
ready, Cassie
"No, answered his wife, somewhat
petulantly; and not likely to be this fifteen
minutes. I've had all the work on my
own hands this morning.
"Where'e Lizzie?''
"Not come down yet, and it's nearly Z
o'clock, She's getting lazier every day,
we allow her to have her own way too
muoh,"
II spose she tired out with the frolic at
Cynthy's last night. Let her have what
rest she needs"
"She's had as much as is good for her by
this time. Here, Patty, turning to small
help, who was busting about the kitchen,
very much in everybody's way. 'Run up
stairs and wake her.
She can be ready in time for breakfas,,
as it's so late to-day. Where's Tom?'
''Net back from the mill yet. Time he
should be, said the deacon, looking from
the window.
Patty, in her zeal, dashed upstairs like a
tornado.
They could hear her rattling the door
knob and calling:
Miss Lizzie Miss Liz beth! Yer aunt
says to git up. It's most seven O'Clock
and breakfus mos ready
No answer came.
Then followed an irregular drumming on
the door, and Mrs. Blake, with an anxious
face, turned to her husband.
"Joseph, hope there's nothing the mat
ter with Liz. Why don't she answer?
Patty came running down with big eyes.
please. m, can t wake her, and the
doors bolted"'
Before Patty had concluded Mrs. Blake
was half way upstairs, followed by her
husband.
''Lizzie.' he called, in stentorian tones,
which would have awakened the soundest
sleeper.
Then, after pausing for an answer, he
said, hurredly:
Cassie. have you key that will unlock
this door? No? Then run down-quick ,
and bring up my basket of tools
His hands tremhled little, as with the
assistance of the tools he pried open the
door-no difficult task, as the lock was
slight.
His wife stepped hastily within the room,
and uttered an exclamation at once of relief
and alarm.
"She isn't here. The bed hasn't been
slept in. Why, Joseph, she hasn't been
home all night
Mr.. Blake stared round blankly as he
took off his hat and wiped the drops from
his brow.
'Mebbc, - he said mebbe she's STAYED
all night over to Cynthy's."
"Why should she? 1t isn't far, and
there was nothing to keep her."
"Unless she was sick,' he suggested
anxiously.
"In that case they'd have let us known
last night
Mrs. Blake suddenly paused, and as sud-
denly sank into chair.
''Joseph, | hope-I hope it isn't that
young man from the city-that Orville
Parker, you know.
Why, Cassandry, she'd never think of
such thing
She might. There's no knowing what
Liz would do when she's in one of her
freakish moods. Parker was desperately
attentive to her when he first came here,
but she didn't care to have anything to do
with him, so he went over to Elvira Jane.
But lately she seems to have been encour-
aging him. and she and Tom had pretty
sharp talk about it Sunday night, when
Parker walked home with her from church.
| took Toms side-I never could abide that
stuck up city clerk-and. Liz got weed,
and said she'd marry whom she pleased,