The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-11-11

number OF friends OF my own sex.
Lest this should lead people to give
me an undue amount Of credit for
amiability and sweetness OF disposition l
may as well state at once that have a
manageable brother.
Being possessed also of fair amount OF
brains, was never for moment deceived
as to the nature of the affection lavished
upon me by most of my female friends.
But when my dearest ohum, the girl |
really thought loved me, for myself alone,
told me she was engaged to be married to
my brother Fred, my grief and anger knew
no bounds.
l had gone over to stay all night with
Maud and had lain awake till 3 a. M, ex-
changing condolences, and all the time the
sneak never said word about Fred. AT
last dropped off to sleep and was just in
the midst of glorious dream, in which |
was leading the cotilon with magnificent
man with soulful eyes and a bank account
in seven figures, when Maud suddenly
threw her arms about my neck, entirely
shutting off my wind and soaring me alruost
into nervous prostitution, and with burst
of tears confessed that she had been keep
ing secret from me for two whole days
and that we were to be really, truly sisters,
not Just sisters in affection, rs heretofore,
etc.
\ . 10 ,rIf
Maud's arm, and then sat up in bed and
said things don't remember exactly what
they were, but they must have been pretty
bad, for Fred didn't speak to me for week
(of course Maud had to tell him), and
Maud herself went around looking like a
suffering martyr whenever we CHANGED to
be under the same roof.
| was convinced that | was the most
miserable girl in the world after that, ard
the worst Of it was that everybody, includ.
ing Maud herself, Thought that l was only
mad because she was engaged first, an i'm
putation which need not say was entirely
unjust
L
done that was so wonderful anyway. Fred
is anything but brilliant, and | never cor =
sidered him even good looking, while az
long as mamma lives he hasn't penny to
his name except his salary, which is by no
means pIinceiy-
But Maud ! You'd have thought she'd
landed Vanderbilt or poet laureate the
way she acted.
pretended not to notice her airs and
nursed my grief in proud silence, but had
no doubt that | was the most wronged and
unhappy creature that ever lived until sub
sequent events taught me that our affairs
are arranged by an all wise Providence in
whom we may safely trust, no matter how
dark our way may seem at the time. l
shall never doubt the wisdom OF Providence
again.
To begin with, found I was likely to
get lot of amusement out o, this engage
ment, Fred was madly jealous of Maud
all the time, though any one could see with
half an eye that she was simply mad about
him and in deadly fear of losing him her
self.
He would come home at least three times
week, pale, haggard and wild-eyed,
man bereft of hope. The rest of the time
he was madly joyful and talked about
Maud as if she was several degrees higher
than the seraphim. 1t was enough to make
St. Bernard dog laugh just to see him.
also found further consolation in the
fact that bis suit Of mind interfered seri-
ously with Fred's appetite, that 1 got all
the extra.pudding and things that had al
ways fallen to his share Erred was always
greedy thing, and then Percival Jones
came from abroad.
Percival was millionare's son, with
face too beautiful for words and a taste for
Ibsen.
OF course all this made him desirable he
You'd most other men, but | must say the
way the girls of Archervile made different
kinds of fools Of themselves about him was
enough to disgust even woman's rights
advocate with her sex.
| need hardly say that ! was smart
enough to treat Mr.. Jones with marked
GOODNESS. The first time | met him my be.
havior seemed to puzzle the pampered
youth. The second time he appeared dist
inctIy grateful. ca the third he asked
permission to call and ! went home ct
peace with all the world, ev, Fred
For five consecutive afternoons after that
l sat by the tea table in the back drawing
room, attired in my best gown, expecting
Percival--in vain.
On the sixth he came.
''What delightful surprise, | said
gushingly. | was trifle nervous from wait
ing so long.
"Ah, thanks !" be remarked looking
disappointed.