The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-02-15

Come, Courtney, lend me your ears for
half an hour, for | am in a pickle ex-
claimed Fred Sawyer to his friend. Come
up to my quarters. | have something to
show you, and--no joking need your
advice"
''If you will take it, it will be for the
first time, laughed the Sood-natured Court
ney. LEAD on, and don't lose any time
in relieving this suspense. Pm not fond
of riddles, you know"
"Why yesterday dropped into the
saleroom at London station. You know,
they sell off the uncalled-for luggage at
intervals, and a sale was just going on.
A number of the boys were there, and we
each CONNER ced to bid for trunk.
selected rather small one, and-here we
IRE, Come right in, and view the burden
of my woes. y
He led the way into pleasant apart.
ment and pointed to small lrathr' trnn"
which stood in the middle of the room.
l
had enough of the COMPOUNDED thing,
It's full of woman $ stuff, and what do you
suppose can do with it? | haven't an
aunt or a cousin in the wide world"
"keep it till you're married, Fred.
"These seem to be good Clothes" said
Courtney, peeping into the box, and
lifting dainty garments with Il half
reverent touch, in spite of his laughing
face.
''fIumph. The idea of such advice from
you. Why, old boy, shall not marry for
ten ycars-tive, anyway-and Pm not
going to risk keeping these things here and
being taken for a lady burglar Mrs.
Mctailrey would find them in spite of
everything murder in the air and
hunt around for the skull bones. No, I'll
dump the trunk into the river: that's what
I'll do"
"Pshaw. You're too sensible for that
These things cost money--lots OF it, |
imagine-and you paid for them in the
bargain. You might sell them to the
secondhand No. I've got IA better
scheme than that Why not 60 through
the trunk Systematically, find out the
owners name and address there are
surely letters or something-and write to
her. Offering her thr whole thing for a
reasonable sum-
do an act of charity. and yet turn an
honest penny. Any one would know You
are Scotch. But | must 20 back TO the
store. and-IIcre you have all the time
there is; suppose you 90 through it for me ?
All ask is that you will keep Mrs. Mctiaf-
frey ont. Fare-dieu!' And off he went
Courtney laughingly locked the door:
but the smiles soon left his face az he pro
ceeded with his task. He wondered if the
little battered trunk had been lost in some
of the dreadful catastrophys he had read
of; he imagined tie owner killed and her
body as well us luggage unidentified in
the horrible excitement.
They were girlish things-danty wells
and ribbons. ginghams, silks and snowy
linen. He fingered over a small worn
slipper, and felt thrill akin to that
awakened in Cinder ella 5 prince.
''No clew yet he murmured. Perhaps
there are letters in this box.
Its catch was bent, but he wrenched
it open. md out llew-his own photo
graph.
He sat down plump in a box of lace
and stared. On the other side were his
initials. and date he had been trying for
three years to forget, "June ,, $500"
"Nell Burr's trunk he exclaimed.
son. my little girl, what has happened to
you? May be some one-No, here are
your initials on this belt buckle, and your
gloves were No 6, and this slipper would
Just fit your dear little foot
The young man grew excited and rap
turous over each article; presently he lifted
a package of lette.s from one corner.
my own--and they express the greatest
happiness life ever brought me. They are
like the leaves that nuster down in the
November rain. | wonder Why she kept
them. How many there are"'
christening the cord, he turned the
letters over and found many of the en-
yelopcs sciibhed upon hy fanilia! hand.
There were items inttcd down to be re-
memhered in answering, and scraps of
poetry which had not long since reached
his eve, and been ever since cherished in
his memory. Upon the last one for they
were all numbered--w written in ink
this girlsh confession: al Courtney,
love YOU, but will never marry any one so
inconstant.'
Resting his head on the empty tray in
silence, he exclaimed
II was a fool-a consummate fool
and now, perhaps, she is dead -
\ noise outside aroused him. and in Il
bewildered way he surveyed the garments
strewed ON every side and gazed mourn
fully at the beautiful hat through which
he had run one foot and the box of laces
he had unconsciously used for Il cushion.
Fred would be coming in few minutes
He began rcpacking the things with ruth