The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-03-17
BY PETER M'ARTHUR.
Copyright, 1899, by Peter Macarthur.

they be mustered out without delay.
and that meant that she must settle
down as being engaged, thing she
had no intention of doing for at least
another couple of seasons. SO when he
found he couldn't have his own way he
retreatcd in good order and intrenched
himself in Il dignitied military reserve.
Whenever he passed by her window, as
he was obliged to when going to the
postotlicc, his head was carried shade
higher than would be demanded by n
martinez, and the set of his shoulders
would have satisfied even the critical
Mulvancy. He walked with "eyes
front" though it is Just possible that he
noticed the fact that the curtains usu-
ally shook rs if they We're being moved
aside Il tritle by some one who was
pecping from behind them.
\ week of this mastery inactivity
made them both very unhappy, and the
lieutenant was showing signs of at
tempting conqucstS in other quarters
before Gladys realized that something
must be done. though she didn't exact
!
send for him and tell him that she was
now ready to become engaged. and. If
he wouldn't come of his own accord,
how could Il protocol ever be agreed
to? There were no open hostiliticS. ii
is true. but neither was there Il siege.
The little war of hearts was in danger
of ending of hamilton. without Il victo-
., ,;t l,r, 70,
both. so Gladys thought it all over and
racked her mind for some plan that
would restore the status quo. 1t was
then she remembered that one evening
when Lieutenant Holloway was laugh
Ing at her supcrstitions he told of an
old one that was very prevalent in the
time of Catherine de- Mcdici, when peo-
pie found it necessary to sway others
secretly to their will. He told her how
the aStrologcrs used to make figures of
wax or any substance that would melt
readily and then destroy the person
picccmcal by piercing the etiigy at
whatever part they wished to affect.
While she was thinking Of this she
was looking idly from her window at
the boys of the military academy, who
had erected a snow fort, on the top of
which they had built a square Shout
dercd snow man. When they complet-
ed the figure, they placed a military
cap on its head and attached to it a
placArd bearing the name Lieutenant
Holloway" Here was figure that
would surely be melted in Il few days,
and it was ready to her hand. OF
course she did not wish to destroy her
hero, but she was very anxious that
his hardened heart should be material
~ affected, ana what she should do at
once became clear to her.
On the following afternoon Lieuten-
ant Holloway was passing the snow
fort on his way to the postotficc. lie
stopped to view the Notifications, in
tending to give his pupils a lecture on
military engineering, and presently he
noticed TIE placarded ctligy of him
self. 1t was rapidly melting in the
afternoon sunlight, and while looking
at it idly he noticed something pierre
where its frosty heart should be. Step
ping nearer, he pulled out an arrow
which ne ut once recognized as one of
half Il dozen ihat he had made for
Gladys little brother, and finding it
there pcrplcXcd HIM. He knew that the
little man was one of his most ardent
admirers and besides not wishing to
do him injury would not wish to lose
his arrow. While he turned ii over
in his hand the truth suddenly flashed
on him. He remembered having told
Gladys about the superstition of be
Witching by ctligiCS, and the foolish
little minX had evidently acted upon
it, Laughing softly to himself, he put
| the arrow in his pocket and went his
way.
That evening Gladys was both sur
| priscd and delighted when the servant
| brought to her Lieutenant Halloway's
card. But of course it would not do tC
| let him know that she was glad to sec
| him. Anyway he was under the in
| tluence of the spell, and, being sure OF
| him, she could afford to punish hin
| somewhat before consenting to make
him happy Summoning all her state
| illness she went to the parlor and bow
| ed stiflly in response to her visitors
| CHEEKY greeting He had been think
| ing the matter over ever since finding
the arrow and was glowing with sell
satisfaction owing to the conviction
that she really loved him after all. Blu
her GOODNESS disconnected him triic
OF course the evidence was solely cir
cumstantial but still he didn't fee
that he could possibly be mistaken.
81 thought that you had forgotten
your old friends she began.
'Not at ALL" he replied. Il was sim
ply waiting for them to show flag o.
truce"
"Why, l thought heroes never wait
ed, and that above all they didn't ac
cept defeat readily and beat a retreat
But | am glad to see that you have evi
IDENTIFY accepted the terms of peace ant
have modified your claims. For m,
part. since we were good friends befor,