Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-08-07


her young girlhood over again, as it
were, under her fathers roof, but
somehow it was not like the happy,
joyous girlhood Of memory. 1t was
sober and quiet now, and Nettis fell
into trains Of musing, and every now
and then passed through her mind a
certain sad thought-she was neither
maid nor wife.
She avoided the vicinity Of her late
home, nor had she ,een Harry since
the separation; but she had heard of
him occasionally, and knew that he
was a changed man. Still, this knowl-
edge brought her out a melancholy
satisfaction. The reform had come
too late too late There was a
wide gulf between them now.
But one evening IN the golden Oc-
tober, Nettie found herself rather
obliged to pass Harry's farm. 1t lay
between her fathers house and the
village, but she | ad heretofore taken
roundabout way in going to and
coming from the village. On the
evening in question, however, she had
been detained in the village uncon.
sciously, till it was nearly dark, and
she determined to hazard the nearest
road home. 1t would be fully dark
when she would pass his house, and
the chances were that he would not
see her. She wouldn't have him see
her for the world.
When she wss opposite the house
she perceived that there was light
in the little sitting room. Her first
impulse was to hurry by, but more
powerful influence prompted her to
stop. She did SO and stood timidly
at the further side of the road gazing
longingly at the house that had once
been a home to her-ilrst of hapri-
ness and then of misery. by and
by she felt an irresistible ysarning to
see the room once more. He was ev-
identity within, and there was no dan
ger that he would see her. So she
walked hurricdly across the road, and
stepped into the lawn. Another mo-
ment and she was at the window
looking in. What singular behavior !
but she could not help it.
The little room was as neat as
when she herself had watched over
it. A cheerful fire was burning in
the CRATE, although it was not very
cold, and a lighted lamp stood on the
table. 1t WAS there that harry was
sitting. How her heart bounded as
she caught sight Of him! He held in
his right hand book from his scan
ty library.
She recognized it at once but he
was not reading now. HA had al.
lowed it to drop, with its pages look
ing mutely to the ceiling-and his
face was supported, half concealed, by
his left hand, the elbow resting on
the table. Was he asleep, or was he
buried in deep reverie' Nettle
thought the latter was the case, and
her heart was touched.
I wish I could have borne with
him, she said to herself.
But in moment her heart was
more touched, when she was sure she
saw a tear roll down his cheek and
fall upon the book. The lonely man
was not asleep be was crying.
She could not help it. All that
was womanly in her was aroused, and
she was at the door in a moment
Nor ceremony-she burst into the sit
ting room and was at his side.
oh, Harry
Her voice quivered with emotion.
why, Nettie ! he exclaimed. try
ing to hide his tsars-men are
ashamed of them-'is it you ?
Yes, Harry hiding her face in
her hands. I was passing-1 looked
in-I saw you sitting here so lonely,
and could not help coming in. I
thought of the time when we were
happy here, and
Then her womanly tears could be
suppressed no longer. There was no
use in trying to hide them. Besides
her voice broke down, and she could
say no mo.e just then.
'Nette?' he arose and took both
her hands from his face and held