Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-12-09

have concluded not W 80 W Cuu'en'
'Non,euse Zoe' I see no reason
why you should not &c..
i see no reason why l should 50
when l do not want to, SAID the girl
contemptuous|y, and followed her
friend to tho door, Then she went
back to her room.
oh Howard!' she almost screamed
at sight of him; what avis you?
Expelled Zoe, at last. WAS the an
swer, in voice unlike the boys own.
The fact was too terrible for words,
and Zoe could only stand gazing at her
brother, until hs exclaimed huskl y
For Heaven sake don't look at
rne like that, Zoe, but tell me- what |
am to do.
Come with me- to papa, Howard,
said the girl with the resolution OF
desparstion. Tell Em your story
first, before she knows it, and he car
not condemn you so cruelty.
The boy raised his haggard face to
his sisters.
Tell him, Zoe? toll you, child
before | would 90 to my father with
the story Of my disgrace, after the
Way he has threatened me, | would
put this pistol at my head and blow
out nv worthless brains.
And the silver mounted pocket pis,
tol pressed against the boys fevered
brow, CLEANED in the moonlight. But
Toes hrm hand WAS upon it, and he
resigned it listlessly to her keeping
While they stood in a painful still
ncss, distinctly to Tie ears Of bolh
there came the sound Of cat|lke tread
IN the hall outside, and the rustic of Il
trailing silk.
Zoe eprang to tie door, hsr eyes
blazing with passion, and thre" II
open; bat only tie wind rustIcd the
cur aims Of the window.
The trasl Of the serpent u here
Howard, SAID she picking up lace
handkerchief that lay at her feet.
And it is too late for YOU 10 see OH
father
Give NE the pistol, Zoe, and | will
end all this trouble caicd the boy
i have sworn to kill mvself rather
than be djsownei by my father.
Zoe fixed her clear brown eyes
upon him.
'lIowarl-broth.r,' she sa!l, do
vou know it is only the coward who
culIs death to his al? Are you q man
with all the world before you; afraid
to face the world? Even if papa dis
owns you, you yet have your future
in your hands.
4 tell you Zoe. am not like you,
7 cannot bear trouble
And then bis voice was lowered, i,
for they again heard footsteps in the
hall; this time a firm, decided step,
that paused at their door.
I will see him first brother, said
Zoe, and ir another moment she stood
face 10 face with her father.
Go down stairs Zoe, he said rough
ly throw ing tie cinging hand from
his shoulder. 1 will see your broth
81 alone.
One word, papa, she pleaded, but
he almost lifted her aside, and enter
the room, locked the door behind
him.
Clssping her trembling hands to-
gsther, still holding the pistol, Zoe
crouched bv the side Of the door.
listening TIL her brain reeled and her
heart grew sick, so well she knew the
nature of the two.
Presently hand fell on her shoul-
der.
oh, what is it, Zoe?' asked the mu-
seal treachsrous voice of her step
mother. I was so frightened! Your
father heard VOICES in your room. |
tried to prevent his coming
| Zoe sprang up, her eyes blazing
with almost the ferceness Of insanity.
Don't touch me woman, and dou't
speak to mel she almost hissed; or |
shall be tempted to kill youl | Won
der why | don't, as you stand there
4 W a