The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-08-22
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

on, she felt somewhat nervous though she
was conscious she was looking remarkably
well-as indeed, she was. Quite picture
was the pretty young figure in the clnging
gown OF pale yellowish satin, picturesauelv
pulled and quantity fashioned The cors-
age, cut roundly, revealed the firm, full
throat, Dainty mouse-skin swathed the
arms, which, if slender, were also exousi-
tely rounded: and the small, olive tinted
face was lit to loneliness by pansy black
eyes, A flash of alteration succeeded the
serene nonchalance of Cyril Rodney's
countenance as he caught sight of her. He
made his way to her side.
Queen Rosine! he mumured "Youre
by far the prettiest girl here tonight. Poor
Uncle Albert! How completely will be
his surrender"
She swept him hooking courtesy.
"Ahn' she said, smilingly, "if that con-
vction were but mine
The sentence ended in long, soft sigh
Isl tie pas gagne," he began. "Con-
found it, l never can get my tongue around
your creoleisms! The saying is, however
that if there were no signing in the world
the world would stife. Now prepare to
face the music!'
And off he went. He soon returned.
By his side was sturdy old gentleman.
Rosine's heart beat more rapidly.
"The dragon"' she said
Silvery hair had the dragon. A dark
mustache had the dragon. A ford COM
plexion had the dragon. And a manner
that was grave, dignified courteous.
Uncle Albert" exclaimed Cyril, with
boyish eagerness, this is Miss Rosine
Wilde ~
"Wilde!' The old gentleman started
perceptibly. He looked at the blushing
girl, at the yellowish gown. He bowed
and" avowed young Rodney, sending
his sweetheart swift smile of encourage
ment, 'and, the young lady of whom l
spoke to you"
"Oh"' exclaimed Albert Ellsworth.
Then, interrogatively, "Wilde? Was your
fathers name Clayton Wilde?'
Rosine assented.
And your mothers maiden name was
Magnolia Kingsley"
''Oh, dear, no!' Aunt Magnolia was
never married. My mothers name was
Madeline Kinsley."
OH" cried the dragon.
The florid color had faded from his cheeks
He was Juggling nervously at his dark
mustache. He looked agitated and pre-
picked
"My mother died ten years ago." said
Rosne, ''and since then | have lived with
Aunt Magnolia.
Mr.. Ellsworth regarded her grimly.
us that" he asked, abruptly, 'your
aunt's gown you have on?''
The soft rose fire in the girls cheek
deepened.
"How in the world did you know" she
c unter questioned.
A queer, waveripg smile was his only re-
ply.
A constrained silence ensued. Cyril
gave his uncle an astonished glance
$50 Magnolia is an old maid?" said Mr..
Ellsworth, abruptly.
''If she is" cried Rosine stung to de-
fence by remark she considered rude, 'it
is because she was true to an unworthy
lover"
CHI calculated Mr.. Ellsworth, more
sharply then before And suddenly he
turned and walked away.
The following day he insisted on ac.
companying his nephew to the gaunt, ram
shackle, once aristocratic old house in the
French quarter where Rosne lived.
As they were passing the vaulted en-
trance to the little tagged courtyard, AL
bert Ellsworth caught sight of familiar
figure moving among the potted palms and
boxes of blooms.
"Go on, lad" he said to Cyril. He had
paused. and was looking through the brief
avenue of gloom to the brightness beyond.
Cyril was about to question this new
vagary, when he thought of a peculiar
possibility made him catch his breath and
do as hidden. He knocked at the barred
back door, and was admitted to Rosines
radiant presence And meanwhile his
uncle went into the courtyard. The little
old lady standing by the banana-tree looked
up at the sound of the step on the stones.
"Magnoliaw he cried.
Miss Magnolia gazed at him in dazed,
half-frightened way. Did ghosts ever ap-
pear in the daytime? Stouter than he
whom she had known, and with hair grown
gray; but the same. Around her, in a fan
tastic dance, the broken fountain, the long
leaved banana-tree and the giant oleanders
went whirling. She didn't faint but she
came nearer to it than she ever had come
in her life
"Did You think | had deserted you.
Magnolia? When l left you to 90 North
on business, believed in you as I've never
believed in any one since And while