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

feeling for him was. She was mischiev-
ously kind at one time, and saucily cruel
the next. She laughed at him to his
face, but quickly resented any one else
doing so, and invariably defended him
when her sister ridiculed or found fault
with him.
\ few days ;fter the conversation we
have IT corded between Mr.. and Mis-
Miller, Joe, in n new buggy, and driving
his favorite horse Prince, drove mp to Mr.
Millers gate FOR the purpose of taking
Lucinda to picnic in the ncighborhood,
As had been arranged by themselves the
Sunday before. From her window Lucinda
SAW him, and, leaning out, she called to
Bessie, who was playing in the yard to
tell Mr.. Stebbins she was not quite ready,
but would be down in a few minutes.
Bessie ran joyfully, for she liked Joe, as she
always called him, and. after delivering
her aunt's message, begged him to take
her lust little ride
"All right" said ,Dor, good naturedly.
GIVE me your hands, and catching her
up, he seated her by his side and drove
off :"
Bessie was delighted She chatted gayly
about any and everything while joe his
thoughts intent on what he wished to say
to Lucinda was silent The child was
| OF rha1 Che Iil ILL, th,, ci1a
"Joe." she said, ''what makes you so still :
Don't you like me?' Then, before lie
could answer, she exclaimed, "Oh, JOE,
Do you know what dog in u manager
isl"
Joe laughed. ''You midget" he said,
what put that in your head ?'
why, mamma said she 'spised 'em
they was allays round k,cpin' folks away, u
said Bessie.
Joe was quick wittcd. The blood leaped
to his face. IL deserve it," he thought
but he said, "Who was she talking to,
Bessie %
"Why, to pap, when he made the new
aXe-handle and helped him; an it's q
dice one, too, Joe, said Bessie. ',Joe, &c
you like aunt? Pap says she's nice, taust
she makes pie for supper; and oh, Joe, she
laughed at Dr. Grey, an mamma jes
scolded her.
,Joes conscience prickcd him, though
his heart gave glad bound, and he turned
Prince around, saying, Il expect Aunt
Lucinda is ready now. Let us see how
fast Prince can go
Lucinda was at the gate as they drove
up. and Bessie was lifted out, laughing
merrily and insisting on kissing Joe good
by and telling him mot to run of viii
aunt tause she 'ooked so nice in her new
dress
"Nice," thought joe she looks like
an angel" and such feeling of unworth
mess came over him that he scarcely lifted
his eyes, and helped the angel into the
buggy so awkwardly her dress caught OF
the step, and she almost fell into hi.
arms.
She laughed, however, saying, 1T seem,
never can get into buggy without
trouble; | do wish | was not so clumsy
and Joe, without Il word, seated himself
by her side, and drove off grim as q
statue
When they arrived at the picnic ground:
they found gay crowd assembled, and
Lucinda, being universal favOrite, was
at once surrounded and hurried off to joil
in game of croquet. And then dinner.
time came and the baskets were unpack ed
it was Lucinda who must superntend the
arrangements.
Joe vainly tried to get near her. Dr.
Grey was gracefully unconscious of being
in anybody's way, and managed, some
how, to be of much assistance in unpack.
ing dishes, and rescung pies and cakes
from perilous places, that all the girl.
were calling on him for advice and help
And when dinner was ready he easily sue
ceeded in placing himself at Lucinda's
side, and kept up a constant stream OF
laughter and Jest If sometimes Lucinda
cast Il glance at Joe, who was heroically
devoting himself to an elderly spinster, he
was ignorant Of it, and Miss Golden was sc
battered by his attentions that she wits
pered to him that she had always felt that
when congenial spirits met, light differ.
ence in age should not be considered, as
the soul, knowing nothing of time, was
always young.
Joe assented to the remark, as he would
have assented to anything she said but he
thought, if his soul knew nothing of time,
it was queer it should be so wretchedly
tired and anxious for particular time tc
end. But it ended at last, and Joe was
once more in the buggy, with Lucinda by
his side. That ''impertinent puppy a.
Joe inwardly called DIR. Grey, had fingered
near her until Joe had gathered up the
reins, when with bow and SMILE he had
mounted his own horse and galloped away
Now, as they sped over the prairie, Joe was
fully determined to tell his love tale. "I
she refuses me-" he thought, 81 can't fee
much worse, and it's just got to be settled
Mrs Miller was right, and I'm coward
Int Tn, in FOR ~ now. ~ and ,,o;p1o ,rlo,