The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1901-09-28

81 WAS JUST GETTING READY TO CO."
men became the greatest of cTOnies and
spent. many evenings together discuss
ing the degenerate times in which we
live and mourning the good days before
organs were introduced into tho church
es and when even ChonS We're I'M
known. The secCdCrS and the L. p.'S
iUnitcd PrcsbWcrians) were the sub
ject of many scathing criticism that
must have given red ears to more than
one member of the general assembly.
Hardly Il night passed when one Of the
worthless was not at the house OF the
other, and to all appearances thor
thoughts were constantly sat Upon
higher things of. both state and church.
Both their daughters We're "doucc de-
cent bodies" and went about their
houscwork unObtrUSiyoly while their
fathers talked. Thcy appeared to take
no notice and thought themselves
equally unnoticed, and in their own
way became as fast frienas'as their
fathers, though there was something
liyclrr in their relationship. They liked
to discuss the events of the nci.hbSr-
hood and often did much surrcptitiOus
goS%:ip.mg about the dances that were
forbidden to them. Both had been
brought up with the utmost strictncss,
and many things that to others would
be merely Il matter of'cCurSc to them
savorcd of wickcdncsS. lettGr behaved
girls We're not to be found in the whole
province, and that is exactly what got
them into trouble.
One evening i'll the late autumn Me
Ph0il arrived at the MacFarlanc home
stead Il tribe earlier than usual. and, to
his surprise, his greeting was not en-.
tircly cordial
II was Just getting ready to go over
to your place" said MacI'arlanc. They
both spoke in the highland Gaelic, and
this is consequently translation.
"Wcll. l thought | would save you
the walk tonight
"Rut | was rather looking forward to
the walk myself" glumhled the host.
"And YOU We're over here last night"
"1'uSh, man; don't let us quarrel
about little matter like that, for ]
have come over to talk to you about
something that a man usually likes to
talk over in his OVID house"
MacFarlanc elevated his shaggy eye
brows and waited for his friend to ex-
plain.
''TO tell you the truth at once, | have
come to ask you for your daughter Ell
len in marriage. am still only young
man. not 60 until next January. and 1
have n good home to offer her. and she
and my Christy are such good friends
that am sure they will get along well
together"
"But-but," stammered MacFarlane,
81 was Intending to ask you to let me
have ChriSty"
The two griZZled Romeos gaZed at
each other in speechless surprise, and
1t dawned on each simultaneously that
the others interest in the affairs Of
church and state had been largely SIM
ulated and that the real reason for
many visits and discussions was q de-
sire to be near the girl that each loved.
at first they blushed like a couple OF
schoolboys caught in a foolish bit Of
mischief, then McPhail eyclaimed:
"Why, that will make things just
right! Neither will lose a housekeeper,
and each will get wife,"
"Ye-es," assentcd MacFarlane
thoughtfully, "but are you sure it
would be right? If l married your
daughter Christy, she would then be
my Ellen's stepmother, and you would
then be my Ellen's grandfather by law,
and it would hardly seem right for a
man to marry his own granddaughter"