Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-06-02

place for the young. Have you nc
friends, child, with whom you could
make q happier home during your
husbands absence7"
shake my head.
"Ycur parsnts?'
II don't remember them. Only
their grave was shown to me at
Farmcroft once"
"Farmcroft |" he exclaims, seeming
struck by the name. Did you live
there?"
"Oh, mol" I explain. "My aunt
took me once to see the place because
they died there
"And your name ?"
my aunt WAS Mrs. Brand. She
adopted me and l was called by her
name; but l believe my fathers WAS
different 1t wa. not upon the head
stone only the date"
"And that?"
repeat it, puzzled by his eager
ness. l am still more puzzled when
without another word, he turns back
into his room and shuts the door
Perplexed, and fearing ne is for some
cause displeased, return TO my own
apartments. Heartily do I wish that
my curiosity had never led me to pry
into that old room and vex my host
as | seem to bave done.
l* x
The days pass on, and now l feel
no more the dulness Of my late quiet
life. Oh, why did I murmer against
it? Willingly would | endure an exist
ence even more monotonns could
enjoy the peace of mind which mas
hitherto been min,. bewailed my
anxiety for my husband while I re-
ceived his letters regularly. Ungrate-
full that was Now have my pun
ishment-tEey have ceased al,ogeth-
er,
The days have become weeks. J
have given up reckoning time. 1t
seems montos to me since | heard
from him. Hitherto I have not felt
the want Of newspapers in this out-of
the-way country place Franks let
ters told me all the war news I cared
to know; but since they have ceased
have chafed and yearned for intelli-
gence.
Some time ago I subscribed for a
newspaper on my own account, but
Franks maine has never been in its
columns. Mrs Norris has promised
to try IN the village if the blacksmith
or the doctor-the two literary char
acters-have back numbers Of any
journal Of about the date when Frank s
letters ceased to reach me. She has
as vet been unsuccessful in her quest
all she can obtain are of more recent
date. | ski'n their papers, pore over
the lists of killed and wounded, and
feel relieved not to meet Frank Il
name-at least the uncertainty leaves
ne hope.
Yet the suspense is mvre than can
we'll endure. | become thin, white
and nervous. Yes, | who scarcely
knew the meaning of the word nerve"
have come to start at the least sound
to find presentlment in every triv
ial mood, a warning in The smallest
daily accident. My nights are sleep
less; spent in coniuring up thousand
frightful visions Of my darling-dying
alone i'll an enemy's land, wounded on
some battle. field, amid CHASTITY heaps
Of slain, or dead in SONS rude hospit
al, with none to close his eyes tender
ly or kiss his brow, l am ready to
start off to ZuIuland to seek my Lua.
band or learn his fate, but a helpless
clinging to the one thing1 have left
forblds me to leave my child.
| Old Mr.. Eyreton has changed
wonderfully y towards me since the day
on which he found me quitting the
desel ted room. He Sc ms to have
compassion on my lionel ness and anx
iety, talks kindly when we meet, and
more than one evening he has made
himself my companion in the nursery
speaking such kind words Of consola
tion and hope, that, though I cannot
always comprehend his strange
speeches and sharp, curious glsnces
am quite ashamed ever to have sus-
pected this kind old man Of insanity
! hro Norris ia rouoh otrucb ,uif h