The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-09-15

I'm glad to hear you say that,
Bess." was the rCioinder. Next to my
own happiness l have that of Madge
and Chester at heart. | know he loves
her, and l think she cares for him."
Indeed" she laughed. Il must com
plimrnt You on your remarkable in
sight into the love affairs OF others
while you are so blind to your own"
And with this parting snot Mrs. Hurst
rose to go and make some slight toilet
preparations for dinner which was
just thc2 announced.
1t was a rather quiet little group that
assembled ONCE more around the coy
dining table in the Miranda that night.
Gh' Interior Of the car was positively
brilliant by all analugies the gather
Ing should lave been merry one, yet
both Madgc and Florence were unusu-
ally quiet Perhaps it was the natural
relaxation after the unnatural excite
ment Of the past few days. Mrs. Hurst
saw and noted the signs of the times
and openly expressed her intention of
retiring early, saying, with meaning
glance at her brother:
I'VE shall feel better ana brighter to-
morrow after we have become used to
the old routine again." SO Draper and
Ives were left to their cigars and some
desultory talk over Fillcy's vllainy.
There is nothing to equal Il sound
beauty sleep for composing ones
nerves and clearing away the over
night cobWcbS. The two girls We're
positively blooming and bubbling over
with life and gaycty when they cmerg
ed from their boudoir at the tinllling of
the breakfast bell next morning
Madgc was full of mischief, and even
the usually staid and dignitied Flor
cncc caught the infection, and together
they alternately bantcred and bullied
Draper and Chester until Mrs. Hurst
came to the rescue.
They fingered long after the meal,
and in after years both couples looked
back with fond rccollcctions to that
memorable morning. They We're speed
ing over the level Nebraska plains, rich
with the lush green promises of the
coming harvest. For miles the prairie
farms spread out on either hand, dot
ted with white homcstcads and quiet
village stations, past which the train
tore with ceaseless and steady energy.
Breakfast ended, Mrs. Hurst found
an excuse for leaving the saloon on the
plea of 'tidying up the boudoir 4
few minutes later Ives invited Madgc
TO inspect the view from the rear door
of the Pullman. So John Draper and
Florence Granniss were left alone. The
moment for them had come!
Florence lay back in her seat. toying
idly with some triAe of needlcWork,
but her eyes were often turned to gaze
windoWward at the moving panorama
without John watched her all the
love in his great heart showing in his
face.
Suddenly he rose and leaned over the
back of her clair. 1t was Il prosaic
wooing. amid prosaic surroundings, but
with him it was now or never!
Men never know exactly what they
will do or say ut such times. The most
carefully prepared speeches are apt to
fly away when the supreme moment
comes. In fact, John Draper had made
I'm 49,, 49,, ' -. ""'',N" ~
w. r,tl. ,,.;ei -, .;, ,,'',' " '''N ''y' ~
way, as became his whole nature. and
then to listen to her answer and abide
by it,
/, me N'"i Sli' ''e Ees''n an"
''''i SUI ''''
W h"t u ~ She liqulleu' ne l"u
'a"o" '"F manu. ana rs Aer upilltca
eye" '"'t MS sue must nave F'"u ms
H''I'' wiz" "o''I''' " 'nluIl'oh' ior
rosy H">i swept from throat 10 lore
l'"u anu 'h''' az quickly laued. bUt
enc co''u i'ot hcip lL'lli-uot yet. lie
ot"i'p'" ''ot nan" anu TOOK lie" taStE
NicpS ac'"SS the car ana uack again.
,"'H' u'aN '"1 UP MS c'l"lF ieHiur hrFH'
ne LOOK l''' ulllrSlStIh% mama AGAIN.
~! U'"i ''.'.u' ne S'Iu' we nav"
""""" '"cIi "liicF Il Eooo man! years
50 ''""H t''a' sometimes rear you
oHiN r'S"f'l "'' as Il grim ana gray GA
lSIlo"' WIN no part nor purpose III
!out !""''% me OUT 'laV o. mere
BUSINESS Fria'"N'
say la'nt'' lhe "'SI ana h'huest
M" 'ru'St FRIEND nave ever hhoNn'