The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-04-30
AN
NOMINATING
PIN.

then, as we sat at dinner one evening, Ella
startled me by saying, hotly:
81 hate Mildred Ravensdale, and
| could almost kill Lena | won't 20 near
| either of them again till Arthur comes
home. They don't want me and their
wishes shall be respected"
"Have you been offended so deeply as
all that, dear?" 1 asked, after brief
pause.
eyes" she replied; "my advice is ig-
nored by Lena and scorned by Miss Ravens
dale"
"When is your brother Arthur ex-
pected ?''
Not till day or two before the we'd
ding"
ooh! Have you heard anything more
precise about Ravensdale's property yet 2"
'Not word"
Nor where he proposes to live ?'
lie talks about leaving that question
till after they return from their honeymoon,
which it seems is to be long one "
| said no more then. felt instrinctively
that Ella had not told me all that she
knew or suspected, though she had revealed
enough to render me profoundly dissatisfied
with the condition of affairs. But Lena was
no longer child; she was 81, and her
proud and headstrong temperament would
l was aware, lead her to resent any inter-
vention on my part.
The wedding was fixed to take place on
Thursday, and, on the morning of the
previous Tuesday, Ella asked me to inspect
the present which, despite their disagree
ment, she had purchased for her sister.
This consisted of very handsome Russia
leather lady's case, containing hand
mirror, pair of brushes, two combs and
requisites, all in ivory. Then she men,
toned that her brothers ship was not ex-
pected to arrive till next day, but that she
would depart from her resolve not to visit
Lena before his return, so far as personally
to take her the present in the course of the
afternoon.
My wife looked pale and tired when
early in the evening, again saw her, SO
that was hardly surprised when she told
me that her interview with her sister had
been far from pleasant. ''I-I never gave
her the present, after ALL" she exclaimed
II put it down on the hall stand, and for
got about it. We both got angry, and
said things about Mr.. Ravensdale and his
sister which Lena declared she'd never
forgive. Perhaps l was wrong, but have
every cause to dstrust them, and so has
Lena, but she won't see it. Oh, she is
mad"
Are all arrangements made for the
wedding?"
II think so. They don't want us there,
, though. It's fixed for 8 o'clock in the
morning, and they're going to drive
straight to the railway station from the
church,
well, dearest, we musn't intrude upon
them. It's certainly strange, however,
that your sister should slight you in this
way"
Elias hands twitched nervously. Then
she burst into tears. "I-I don't mind
for myself, y she sobbed, "but it's deadful
that Lena should have let that horrid
woman get such an influence over her."
why do you dislike Miss Ravensdale
SO intensely, dearest?" l asked soothingly.
"Why2 Oh, for one thing, because |
believe in her heart she hates Lena and,
for another, because because something
she's done to me-"
81 suppose you won't mind telling me
what it is?''
II cannot. have promised to be
silent"
said nothing. She seemed greatly agi-
tated. Then she cried suddenly:
And yet, I'm not sure. think Pm
Justified in breaking my word; Miss
Ravensdale has broken hers. Yes, yes, I'll
tell you, Aubrey; you ought to know.
The day after that woman came before
grew to distrust her, she asked me if
could get her some poison"
what" | exclaimed
'Some poison" she continued, "that
would kill dog. She had favorite ter
rier, she said that had grown old and
blind, and was suffering greatly, and she
wanted il poisoned, but couldn't bear that
it should meet its death at the hands of any
one but herself
"Well, WE'LL"
"When she asked for the poison sud
denly thought of the stuff you had spoken
Of on the night first heard of Lena's en-
gagement."
"Curare?'