The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-08-13
THE SUNDERING
OF THE CYCLE
BY MARGARET HUGHES.

The Professor pushed ;Silp his vG!umc
of Chaucer to make room for h.,' SlrH
der young daughter on the arm of his
chair. She tiuttercd over to him i'll her
soft, white gown, its cut revealing the
curve OF her firm, fair throat and tho
artistic lines CT her refunded arms.
"Where to tonight, EStelle
TO the senior ball, with Mr.. Drlton
and Mrs. Mills" she answered. blthely.
With Mr.. Denton Isn't Teddy
Nariel goinug 2"
| suppose So-ycs.
Her tone was Indifferent, but her nor-
vouSnoSs under her fathers gaze betray
cd II sthed uneaSinesS, Il silcnced strug-
gle
"1hey tell me this Mr. Denton's Il
very wealthy man." he slid.
"Oh its true. He hats riches beyond
one,' dreams"
The note of personal triumph in her
voice was harsh to her fathers listening
ear. He regarded her thoughtfully.
"Sit here on the hassock, dear. / can
see You better. You are sweet and pref
ty and pure. The soul of your mother
shines in your eyes" He lifted his head
land his strong, pale face, with it's soft
framing OF wavy gray, was profled
against the vivid velvet of his chair His
voice became almost whisper. "rhis
is the anniversary"
'Not of your marriage, father {!
No. My marriage Wits a subsequent
date. You do not know Ihave never
told you-that your mother was married
before she became my wife: married and
widowed"
why no, father, dear" said the girl
with quick, sympathetic interest.
II never care to speak Hf that: yet to-
might | see | must tell You the story.
must give you a message from the dead"
Il shouldn't have made this engage
mcnt. You are sad father: I'll stay
with YOU"
"Nc. | want you to GO. I'll have time
to tell you before they come" He car
es3cd the hand that sought his. and
unused a minute in silence.
"On this night, years ago. E,stcllr.
your mother first went ont of my life
She was placed very much ~ you. in II
comfortable home. in "a little college
down where her father, too. was Il pro-
fessor The miniature that hangs be-
side your bed fcchly pictures her beauty
1t tells the outward lovelincs>. but only
hints at her inner grace All. There
Were many who sighed for her wonderful
smile"
"She arl | had disroycr,I the purnle
twilight. In every Blossom | saw her
face; the drwtlpD cleaned with the ms
tire of her ryp<: her voice was in the
walilirg Of the birds; her smile was in
the sunshine. S,,mChpw. ! feel. Estelle
that is the way 'lcllJ' Nariel thinks of
YOU"
The girl mt rl a protesting hand
Her father smiled and resumed his
story.
''Hrr mother +, rhlI,p GIN. engagement
] was only a struggling student. and
though her f%tn,r believed that | should
win fame. his counsel did not check his
wife. ambition for her child
"Th,rc came t. thr town, very much
like the ccmir:!- of THIS younp Derton. n
man with gracious pcrSG;ral riffs ord
riches, which II tllt time seemed i'm
mensc. he had int come into his in
heritance
"Thpy mot-arl h, loved her. At first
she world not l;,t,1. but her nature wa.
gentle, her motnt; determined. and her
father, porting aver ancient tragedies.
overlooked ore orr sl,'ug into his home
/ WIS pDHtrIps-. SEp ccnld not receive
me when | called :I.l at the functi0rS
where we met. She was zealously guard
cd by her mother ,.i.ll the man.
"Shc accert,! him the night Of the
Senior ball. Sh, told him frankly that
her love was mine: that in promising
him she wua acc, ling to her mothers
will. But he WAS nworantly confident
that love would come. They were mar
Iied. and he took her AWAY to a mansion
filled with treasures of art. She had