The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-08-24

Miller, with a newspaper
" spread on the carpet at his
Az "A feet, was scraping with a
piece of glass an axe handle
to desired smoothness while Bessie, the
tive-year-old daughter of the house, stood,
with kitten in her arms, watching her
father at his work.
Suddenly Mrs. Miller, with half pared
apple in one hand and holding knife
threateningly in the other, exclaimed: ''If
there is anything in the world | despise,
it's a dog in Manager, so it ISL
Mr.. Miller looked up inquringly.
"Why, Marthy," he said, "what do you
mean 2"
Just what sad," she answered sharp
ly; "a dog in a manager! I'd like to know
what else you'd call Teller that hangs
around girl, keeping every other young
speak out and Here She was inter
rupted by the opening of the door neal
her, which led to the kitchen, while a
clear, sweet voice asked if the apples were
ready.
'Just about, said Mrs. Miller, deity
finishing the last one, and handing the
pan containing them to the owner of the
voice. This was Mrs. Miller's young
sister, and pretty picture she made with
her sleeves rolled above her elbows, show
ing her plump dimpled arms, her curling
brown hair pushed back from her white
forehead, and her face rosy with the heat.
Little drops OF Precipitation stood around
her lips, and as she wiped them away with
her bluechecked apron, she said: guess
I'll make pie as well as the sauce; the
men always like pie" She looked at her
sister interrogativeIy.
so course, if you want to-" said Mrs.
Miller; 'but it is so warm to bake, and
there's cold bread and lots of cookies
81 don't mind the heat the girl said
laughingly, as she closed the door and
went sidging merrily back to the kitchen.
81 can't see," said Mr. Miller, "why
you are so anxious to have Lucinda
marry; she's mighty nice to have around. ]"
''I'm not anxious" retorted his wife,
who was like an old edition of her pretty
sister, ''but do say no man has right to
90 with a girl and keep everybody
else away unless he means to marry her;
and | do say it's acting like "a dog in
the manger' For here's Lucinda nearly
twentythree, and might have had lots of
chances il it hadn't been for him."
Mr.. Miller evidently thought silence the
better part, for he made no answer, but
scraped away diligently at his axe handle.
Presently he ran his hand up and down
the surface of the wood, saying, II reckon
that's about right now"
''Let me feel it, pap, said the little
daughter, and she initiated his movement
so earnestly that her father laughed. 81
dess it's all right, pap" she said; GIFTS
perfectly slick"
Come on then, Bessie" he said, rising
from his chair, and we will try to finish
the job before supper.
They left the room together, while Mrs.
Miller cleared up the scrapings of hickory
and placed the chairs against the wall as
vindictively as if the mysterious "dog in
the manger" was being handled in the
process.
You must not for an instant think that
Mrs Miller was an illnatured woman, fol
she was not. She dearly loved the young
orphan sister who had been with her for
years, and really liked Joe Stebbins, the
neighboring farmers son, of whom she
had spoken so contemptuously. But her
ambition had been reused by the very
evident desire of rising young physician
in the vicinity to visit her sister. She had
an idea that a marriage with doctor
would increase Lucinda's prospects Of a
happy future, and was vexed that
Lucinda did not seem to share her opin-
ions, but showed a decided preference
for Joe Stebbins, the aforesaid young
farmer.
Poor Joe. What anguish he would have
felt if he had known the thoughts Mrs.
Miller had harbored of him! He was .
fine manly fellow, but had such humble
opinion of himself that he never could do
himself justice. He truly loved Lucinda