The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-07-06
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EUSTACIA'S MISTAKE.

Eustacia Moore's cheek and she shrank
still farther into the shadow of the twilight
as if the very red Goals in the CRATE were
many prying eyes to decipher the secret Of
her heart.
And then, her forehead leaning on her
hand she tried to recall the past few
months of her life.
Eustacia Moore was old Mrs. Piper's
companion; that is, she read to the old
lady, went out with her for daily walk,
mended her laces, checked all her house
keeping accounts, and bore with all her
fitful moods as patiently as might be. And
for these never ending services she received
the mighty guerdon of two hundred dollars
per annum and her board.
1t had been a gray, uneventful sort of
existence until Mrs. Piper's nephew, fresh
from voyage from China came to stay
with his aunt; and then, all of sudden,
the leaden clouds rolled away and the
firmam ent of life became rose bright and
flushed with the softest tints of dawn. 1t
was like new revelation to her, the COM
partnership of this handsome young fellow,
and while Eustacia listened, with her shy
eyes cast down and her cheeks glowing
into carmine bloom, her heart someway
escaped out of her own keeping who
knows where?
"Do love him ?''
Maiden modesty said 'No; for he has
never asked you to think more tenderly of
him than of any one else, while the
hayward, tender little heart answered
'Yes.r
What is girl to do with two such con-
Trajectory accounts as this?
While she was hesitating in delicious
perplexity, in came old Mrs Piper.
"Eustacia," cried the old lady, "what
are you doing, sitting here in the dark Z"
"Nothing, ma 'am," our little heroine
made answer family.
"And a very profitable way of spending
your time" said Mrs. Piper, sharply.
"Do you want me, ma'am p
"No, | do not want you, but Mr. Petit
bone does, in the back drawing room down
stairs :" answered Mis-. Piper, taking a de-
termined stand on the hearth, with her
hands behind her like man.
"Mr. Pet.ibone wants me?' echo,d d
Eustacia ia bewildered amazement.
Eyes, Mr.. Pettibone wants to see you
What is there SO very wonderful about
it,"
Nothing, ma am, only
CHOW look here, Eustacia, - said the old
lady, patting the girls round arm, not
unkindly, as she talked, "Mr. Pettibone is
a very nice man, a member of the Board OF
Brokers, with handsome house on the
avenue and the temper of an angel. He
isn't hands ONE, hut hope you are past
the aye when mere beauty attracts, and he
isn't young but I've always heard that it
young mans slave"
"Yts, ma am" said Eustacia humbly;
"but--I beg your pardon-I don't quite
understand what all this is to me -
"To you, child y cried old Mrs. Piper
"Why he wants to marry you"
"Me?"
There, run along, and behave your
prettiest - said Mrs. Piper, giving her
protege push; and Eustacia, hardly know
ing whether she was awake or dreaming,
went into the back drawing room to face
the Majestic Pettibone.
"My dear little girl" said Mr.. Petit
bone, doubling not that Mrs. Piper had
paved the way for his proposal, don't be
frightened.'
81 am not frightened" said Eustacia.
But she was.
81 only want to ask you this one ques-
ton. Do you think, my little Eustacia,
that you and could be happy together ?"
mo, sir, don't ~
''Hey % echoed the middle-aged sutton,
who had evidently expected a very differ
ent sort of answer.
al am very much obliged to you,
sir" faltered Eustacia, "but-I would
rather not marry you Good evening, sir ?"
and away ran the little girl, terrified at
her own audacity.
Up stairs she went, like hunted hare,
but on the way to her own room the light
from an open doorway streamed across the
hail. and CARL Uphams voice sounded.
81 am sorry you do not like the idea of
this engagement, Aunt Dorcas, butt
81 don't like it at all - answered old
Mrs. Piper. "What does young man
like you want to be married for %
Eustacia paused to hear no further; her
little heart seemed to stand still with
great shock and coldness. CARL Upham
engaged, and never to tell her Carl to
fancy-but there was an end to that for
ever Anger, grief, and species I resent
ment struggled together for mastery in her
heart, and liked winged creature Eustacia
flew down stairs again, to where Mr.. Pet
tiboae was.
"Mr. Pettibone," she faltered-and her
sutton stood upright, with something of
puzzled face - ''Mr. Pettibone = please