The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-11-23
NEVER A SHADOW SINCE.

they were very old, and the appearance
OF their long expected neice at their home
had produced upon them an overwhelming
sensation.
Not only was it novelty to have a
young person in the house, but such a
perfectly radiant creature was rare in any
house.
Such a face OF roses and lilies, with bur-
nished curls of gold dropping on the low
brow-sweet eyes of dark violet, and
heavens own smile!
Nothing like Juliet Fayes beauty was
ever seen at Walnutville, and the old
people were sure, with her gentle man
ners, that she was as good as she was
pretty.
She was the youngest child of Mrs. Lam
bert's youngest sister, lately deceased, and
she had come to the Lilies to reside per-
manently
Sixteen! Old enough to come out, )"
murmured Mrs. Lambert. "And such a
little lady! Lydia Bellingham has no
such girl among hers
Now it had secretly vexed dear Mrs
Lambert that Mrs. Bellingham, her
social rival, had always a crowd of pretty
granddaughter and neces at her house,
making the place since young ladies are
irresistibly attractive, very popular But
not one was to compare with the lovely
Juliet.
Juliet escaping. after two hours exami-
nation, from her relatives presence, was
allured down the main walk of the old
garden.
1t was indeed Il garden of lilies Vel
low day lilies dropped in beds, white ones
CLEANED, and clumps of spotted tigers
glowcd in the sun, while the red velvetv
amaryllis burned like fire among the
green.
Coming at length to the water, the girl
uttered cry of delight; for dappled with
sunshine, shimmered hosts of lovely white
water lilies. She clasped her jeweled
hands in ecstasy.
She was certainly charming in her azure
dress and with pretty uncovered head, at
the edge of the water; and perhaps the
occupant of little canopied boat up the
river thought so, for silently the boat
glided away from its moorngs among the
willows and came slipping along the dark
waters of the pool.
would you like some lilies ?" asked a
baritone voice.
And turning, startled, Julia saw the
handsomest young man she had ever seen
in her life sitting in the stern Of the pretty
boat, his hat in his hand. The voice, the
attitude the courteous question: disarmed
apprehension.
eyes, | should" she replied with only
a natural constraint
In an instant the young gentleman had
changed his seat and shot among them
In moment he had great dripping
handful, and the young girls eagerness
and delight brought smile to his rather
gloomy countenance.
"Oh, | never saw anything so beauti-
full she cried.
81 suppose they are pretty replied the
young man: ''but I've seen them every
June for five years, and they haven't the
charm of novelty for me. Indeed, nothing
here has. You are stranger, are you
not 2"
He had pushed his boat among the rushes
to hand her the flowers, and sat looking
over his shoulder at the roseate face she
turned to him.
eyes, have come to the Lilies to live.
Mrs. Lambert is my aunt
The young man gave vent to a soft, low
whistle.
Sorry" he said.
Then laughing, and with his usually
weared expression displaced by one of
mirth, he was such very handsome
fellow that Juliet was lost in admiration
but in an instant the girls expression
changed.
''Why ?" she asked
"Well, you know replied her COM
pamon, frankly. 81 haven't seen such a
pretty girl as you are since | have lived
here, and | would like to have an intro
duction and call at your home, if it was
any other place. But at the Liles-out
of the question:, > he concluded.
Then as she regarded him in perplexity,
he lifted his straw hat, and with pleasant
parting glance, pulled away out of the
pool and round a sudden bend of the rive:
out of sight.
Julia breathed in the delicious odor of
her lilies pensively, and turned homeward.
Her adventure had been pleasure, but it
left regret.
81 never met anybody so nice, i" she said.
"But he will forget me-"
That evening her Aunt Lambert said:
my dear, | hope you will be discreet
as you are pretty-about making acquaint
ances, for one thing"
eyes aunt" murmured Juliet, with a
little blush.
"Be choice-be select. Above all, don't
admit the Brennans to your acquaint-
ance.''
"Who are they, auntie %