The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-02-16

dark, sitting room, and throwing himself
on the Sofa commenced to talk to Ann,
who sat by the window crocheting some
table mats.
''Where is Miss Darcy ?' he asked
"Mercy me! We never know where
Margaret Darcy is-careless childn' said
Ann, sharply She has a lazy habit Of
living among the flowers, after the morn
ing's work is done, and we can't get her to
sewing or anything sensible. ! found a
book tucked away in her room rot long
ago, but made short work of that nonsense
by burning it,"
''What was it, inquired Barrie, secretly
resolving to replace the stolen treasure.
"Mddlcdisch, by George Somebody or
other. It's ridiculous notions that girls
got, ANYWAY examining her head with
trash. ="
Her mother was your sister, was she
not?'
''Gracions, no. Our half sister She
and her husband died when Margaret was
a baby. We couldn't cast the child off,
being of our own blood, so''-here Ann
drew long sigh-''we brought her up"
"She is very pretty said Barrie
''Do you think so? Folks say she favors
me little" Miss Ann looked compla-
Gently at her well kept hands. ave wear
the same size in gloves
''lndeed!' Barrie was evidently inter
ested He moved nearer to the ,spinster.
"lhat's very quaint ring you wear, Miss
Ann. May examine it more closely?'
Coloring family, Ann drew it from her
hand. Barrie slipped it half way on his
little finger, looking at il intently.
''You wear very small ring, Miss Ann, !"
he said, returning it TO her
ann! What in the world are you
doing?" cried a shrll voice.
Desire stood in the doorway, the picture
of shocked decorum. Barrie could not
repress Il smile as he bowed and left the
room.
'i'm afraid I've made rather a bad half
hom for Miss Ann, he thought. Then he
went in search Of Margaret
80, Desire" said Ann, petulantly,
what made You come in as you did:
You've spoiled everything. Haven't you
noticed that our boarder has been very
attentive to me latey ?'
Good gracious, no. said Desire
But Ann hurried on
Gle has been SO kind and devoted that |
couldn't help noticing it, and, Desire, to
day, when he found me alone, he asked to
see my ring. knew right away what that
meant, and when he put it back he sort Of
measured my finger with his eye
did he ask you to marry him." cate
chised her sister.
"Well, no, but he was just going to
when you blundrrcd in"
'H'm! Don't count your chickens before
they re patched " said Desire, as she looked
so stern that one might suppose she had
lad some such experience of her own.
Barrie was quite puzzled by AIMS trt at
ment of him during the next few weeks
She had a conscious air in his presence
which implied the existence of secret
understanding between them. He was
half annoyed by her manner at first, but
soon came to conclusion very far from the
truth
EShe has discovered that | am in love
with Margaret, and wishes to assure me of
her good will, " he thought. She's nice
old soul, in spite of her curls and white
muslin"
So grateful was he for this unspoken
sympathy, that he treated the mistaken
spinster more cordially than ever. And so
the little game of cross purposes went on
1t was hard for Barrie to convince Mar
garet that he really loved her
"You have known me for such a short
time" she urged. "And you could do so
much better | am little more than
servant, and
81 am the best Judge of what | want.
Listen to me, Margaret. | must leave here
soon, and cannot go without promise
from you am coming back in fortnight
Will you marry me then ?"
She looked into his earnest, honest face,
and could no longer doubt him
YES" she said softly, II will 90 with
vou whore Won will >
Both the sisters were in the parlor when
Barrie and Margaret presently entered it.
Ann start at the sight of them, and trem-
bled visibly.
''She is afraid of Miss Desire" thought
Barrie Then, in a few manly words he
told his love story, and asked for permission
to make Margaret his wife.
1t was Desire who answered, for Ann
was speechless. ''They had no control
over Margaret she said, ''She was of age
and could choose for herself" And after
few conventional phrases on both sides, the
lovers withdrew
That night, as Margaret passed Miss Ann
on her way to bed, her hand was snatched
in tight, feverish grasp.
81 see that you are wearing new ring,
Margaret Darcy" said the spinster.
"fIere is another to keep it company"