Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-02-18
&" You tantilize me-
d" How p


Because you know that my admi-
ration is not Of the ordinary kind"
Up to this time he had been ban
tering, now lie grew suddenly earnest,
as he drew the girl passionately to
his breast, and continued:
my admiration is but a part Of my
love for you, Coral
The blood mantled his face as she
disengaged herself. The suddenness
of his avowal had taken her by sur
prise, but she was quick to recover
her self-possession.
Really, Mr.. Lantley," she said,
pettishlv, you are not fair to take
advantage Of our Imprisonment by
the ram. And see, you have terribly
rumpled my collar
"Cora, you triae."
"Trihe, indeed, when it's the last
collar I've got that isn't soiled, and l
go away tomorrow
You 60 away tomorrow p
Yes"
"And is it to end so ~
!" Is what to end so ?"
Don't Cora, don't act the part Of
a child? ?" And he spoke calmly, but
with great dis inctness. "You know
as we'll as if had told you hundred
times that l love you. You have
given me your society for month ;
you have seen the growth of an ab-
sorbing passion for you you have
passively aided and nurtured it you
have allowed me to believe that you
turned my love-
II never said SO, she feebly inter-
posed.
Not in words, but in all else-in
a thousand things that speak louder
than words do
The sound Of wheels interposed,
for the shed in which they stood was
on the road to the hotel. A carriage
came in sight-near the shed. From
it sprang, at sight of Cora, a young
man in travelling duster. He kissed
her with the air of a man who pos
sessed the right to do so, and inQuir.
ed after her health.
"And what are you doing here p
Il was caught by the shower, and
this gentlemen is in the same predica-
ment. Allow me to introduce to you
Mr. Lantley, my husband"
Cora saw the slight rallor that
spread over Maurices face at this,
and she knew the agony that she
had brought to him. How bitterly
she repented of the part she had
played--a double dealing that had
commenced with harmless Irritation
to end in the racking Of two hearts ;
for her love for Maurice Lantley had
grown with his, and had been as pow
erful as to seal her lips to the truth.
After a night Of mental torture,
Maurice made his way out into the
cool air. His brain seemed whirling;
the old weakness asserted itself, and
it was only with the greatest effort
that he could think clearly or collec-
lively. He strolled aimlessly along a
zig gag path that led up the rrecipi-
tous side of mountain, until light
footsteps and the tlutter of skirts
caused him to turn abruptly. Cora
stood before him-lovelier than ever
in her white morning dress and flow
ing hair; but all gayety was gone
Her cheeks were pale and her eyes
slightly red.
Maurice, she said, breaking down
with sobs and tears, forgive me. !
am sorry. Maurce-I am heart
broken.-I couldn't go without seeing
you again, and so l have followed
you.'
She raised ter head and looked in
his face. An expression there-some-
thing that she had never seen before
and that startled her-met her gaze.
But his voice was calm enough when
he spoke, although he seemed to make
an effort to collect his thoughts, and
more than once he pressed his hands
to his head.
"Then you do love me ?" he asked
Better than my own shattered
life," she replied, clinging to him in
frenzy of grief an excitement.
would you make a sacrifice for
your loves sake? Would you never