The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1901-07-27
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the eyes. And the little world of their
acquaintance knew it all.
Who then could blame the male Gym
les for their snccrS ut Womans tickle
ness when little Grace, after her IN
clc'S death, with the long longed for
fortune at her disposal locked up the
old house and disappeared without Il
word to John, without word to any
one? Poor John! He did not know it
until he had been cropping about the
closed doors for full hour.
And no wonder that the news of her
return quickly sped among that score
of aquaintanceS and that speculation
was busy as to where she had been,
John or to any Of them or Whether sho
would deign to remember him or them
at all.
Johns parents had died while she
was away. He had sold the old house
and was living In humble lodgings and
supporting himself by the composing
Of speeches for public men, calling
which he originated and which is more
generally followed than an admirlng
public supposes. He dictated the
speeches to an amanuensis, fair girl
whose face had glory celestial in it,
whose form the classic divinities might
envy and whose every movement was
grace. OF her perfect beauty, alas and
helgho, her handsome, sightless en-
ployer knew nothing! Jennie Tasker
was her unromantic name.
Hes gone out, sir" said Jennie Tas-
ker when Willis, in his office on the
morning of Grace's return, called for
Richard, his boy guide, to lead him to
the old Acliley mansion. It'll go
with you If you wish, Sir" she added
timidly.
'If you don't mind; I'll be very CRATE
full, for I'm impatient to meet Oracle
again, and her letter intimates that she
won't be home after H." In Il few Inin-
utes they were on the street, she lead
ing him by the hand.
Half an hour later John Willis climb
ed the well remembered steps OF the
Acliley porch, accompanied by Jennie
Taskcr. y servant opened the door
and ushercd them into the parlor, John
having insisted that Jennie must stay
and be introduced to his friend, as he
styled Grace.
A slow, light step was heard in the
hall. and presently the most repulslvn
looking woman that ever Jennie Tas-
kcr bcheld entered the room, calling
out in voice which Jennie had to adj
NIT to be sweet: "Oh, John, dear, how
you have grown! You are to forgive
me now for running away. | know you
will when you learn why did it, dear
John" She caught the hand which he
held out in her direction, and she press
ed it between both of hers.
Jennie Taskcr had suspected It all
morning, but now she knew IT. The
lovelight in the eyes of the disligured
little creature and the smile of JOY on
the face of John Willis told the story.
Naturally gay hearted, the contrast
between the two would have provoked
her mirth, but somehow a pang in her
heart left no room for frivolity. She
long had known that she liked her en-
ploycr, but the exact nature of her af-
lection for him she did not know until
now.
Miss Tasker was introduced as a
dear, good friend, and the two women
went through the conventionalitics
with Il GOODNESS which astonishcd John
Willis. The amanuensis presently beg.
gcd leave to take her departure, OK
planning that she had few purchases
to max" in the shops and promising
10 send Richard for Mr. Willis ut any
hour he should set. But John Willis
dcmu"rcd, pointing out that Miss Grac,
evidently wished to 90 out ut II. ard
that, while Miss Grace declared that