The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-07-18

his own tluency! And when supper was
over and she sat down at the piano, what
was his surprise ana delight to STE her dear
little white fingers 20 rafting over the keys
to the merry tune of 'Speed the Plow, -
instead of the dismal and dreadfully long
fantasies sister Kitty affected and of which
he never could make head or tail. Miss
Grant was a perfect little darling, and so
Kitty had rapturously said when she kissed
that lady for the thousandth time and
showed her to her chamber and, returning
there alone, looking thoughtfully into tie
roaring, hot fire.
"And | wish, cried Kitty, ecstatically
sob, how do wish she was my sister,
"An so do I, Kitty" said nrother John,
starting up. Good night"
When Mr.. Duval took himself off next
morning IIattie's last message had been:
Tell mamma and all the folks will be
hoIiic III d ioilIlSlp az tlc ldltucSl' Dut
the fortnight passed and she was not at
home. Christmas came and went, and still
Hattie rusticated. 1t was the oldest thing
in the world, Hattie's mamma said; what
could keep the child in the country? or,
what charm was there to keep the gay city
@irl so long? If it was August, now but
December--only fancy. And all her num-
erous admirers began to echo the excama-
ton and turn their thoughts to an investi-
had they only known what good times
Hattie was having sleighing all over the
country with Kitty and brother John, and
out skating every evening on the lake, and
going to quilting frolics and surpsise
parties, and doing everything else she
liked-free and Independent for once in her
life; quite forgetful of the existence of the
terrible lady Mrs. Grundy; and finding out,
too, what poet brother John was and how
beautifully he could read aloud stormy
evenings while she and Kitty embroidered,
and how he knew Latin and lots of things
nobody would ever suspect. All, it was
all delightful and the only pity was it
could not last forever. But New Years
was at hand and there was a peremptory
letter from mamma commanding an Instant
return home for the grand reception of that
day. 1t was the evening before her depar-
ture-l stormy December evening, with
rain and sleet lashng the windows and the
gale sobbing and surging wildly around
the old farm house. But in the sitting
loom, where the hemlock logs roared and
blazed, flooding every corner with rosy
light; where the crimson curtain were
drawn everything was delightfully."- warm
and coy and Hattie sat alone at the piano,
the open letter lying on it, her fingers
straying over the keys und one bright drop
after another falling unheeded on the
POLISHED ivory. Presently the door opened,
some one came in and stood beside her, but
Hattie never looked up
where's Kitty" asked brother John.
Hattie had to cough to clear her throat
before she could speak
''I'p stairs helping Betty to strap my
trunk.
"Gou are going away tomorrow them"
''les. very family.
won't you play for me once more be-,
fore you go?'
The restless fingers were still for an in
slant, then Speed the Plow" rang gayly
through the room.
Brother John looked down at the little
white hand still once more without ver-
turing glance at the downcast face.
Speed the Pillow" is a very pretty tune;
but plows are extremely vulgar things in
reality-don't you think so?"
Mop
care you not glad you are going back to
the city and your gay life there?'
No answer.
"lou must have found it very dull, | am
afraid, in this quiet country place for the
past month?
Still mute.
''Mr. Duval is coming for you, | think
Kitty said"
"Yes."
'You will be very glad to see him again.
will you not?"
mot particularly"
81 suppose you will forget all about us
old-fashioned country folks before you are
home week.
"Iou know better than that
How Johns heart went humping against
his side and what torrent of words wcr,
on his tongue if he could only get them off
1t might be presumption; it might be folly,
but he felt he must say it or die in the
attempt. To say he was blushing would
be mild way Of describing the fiery tide
he felt ebbing and flowing in his face
Even that wac drawback. Could the
self-possessed young lady Of the world ever