Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-03-24

very troubled lace. he hao n"''F''"
himself that his pastoral amnsr'ae"'H
had passed unnoiiced; and now he
WAS told that every one was talking
oftbem-tol1 too by Alice, Of all peo
pie, whom he had liked and admired
and been just little bit afraid OF
since his boyhood. There WAS on'
way out of the difficulty, however,
one way Of convincing her and stop
ping peoples mouths, ard, with his
usual impetuosty, Cecil decide ia
take it at once.
II wish | had you always to lecture
and keep me straight" he said soft "
"Alice you Of all people ought to have
known better. You must have known
long enough that the best love o! my
heart is where it has always been
since | was boy-with you
Now YOU are talking nonsense,
returned Alice with an impat ent toss
Of her proud head. "Of course
know You don't mean any harm; but
| thought it best to warn you how
people were gossiping. ShaIl We &c
| T. ., al, l,r
mot just yet" sad Cecil, hAn3'na
lower and oking softly into heI
bright eyes; you hav'nt given me
NV answer vel, Alice Could You;
You will think about it at ali ev'nts,
II WAS Mt aware you had asked nc
ANYTHING" replied Alice 'mp''en''y
moving away towards the houa"
"WclI, some day perhaps. when have
nothing better to do-not now Ger,
tainly.'
Cecil was obliged to be contented
with this somewhat unsatisfactory an
sWer.
1T would have simplifea matters
so much if she had said Yes 1T once,
he said to himself as be thougnt rath-
.r ruefn!ly Of an expedition he and
Lena had arranged to make or the
following afternoon.
1t WAS market day and John and
Agnes we're going into town, and
would not be back till late, AMI
Frank had paper to read at the
Farmers Club, so Lena would be
quite vt liberty. They had settled u
run down by the atternoon train to
Fensonham, spend An horr or Two IN
the woods, and return in lie evening
getting home about half P st eight,
"Thev wont b- back ill long a!t"'
that" Lena had said; so no one vii.
know anything about it. v
Cecil hestateh aud wav-r.d AL TIE
next morning, pulled one w. by dn-
~, another by incinatlon aud, a.
usual with him, inclination 'onqn"r-
ed 1t WAS such a lovely day, !;
would be shame, he Thought, 10 dis
appoint Lena, and it was too had hat
the innocent friendship which wa C
sweet to 10th should te hlerul bed hy
go.slping tongues He f.ncied that
the station master looked At him rath,
er curionsly whcr he joined Lena, and
with duplicity of which he was
ashamed, took ticket for Feu'onhA1r
for ner and one for town farti" on
for himself
When they had alighted Al Fen.
ronham, and were wliking mp the
. lane that led to the wood, h pir't.
revived After all, what ai' it mat
t., for once? After this one after
noon, he would be very c7' tons ana
circumspect, but, just for th~ once. h.
would cast all trouble TO tne "'nd>
and be happy. And Len" locked 50
rretty in her fresh hnNland dress
with her broad hat, and the feather
that lust matched the blue Of her eyes
dropping among her curls!
They laughed and chatte1, gath
cred flowers, and hunted for birds
nests like the careless children they
were. It was nearly FIVE clock
when they reached tho lake. OF which
Lena had heard so much. 1t lay
rather low, shut in from sight by a
broat: belt of trees-a broad sheet Of
watsr, dotted all over with white lines
with high receding banks covered all
over with ferns and forget me-nots
There WAS a far off sound of falIni
water, two white swans were sailing
up and dowo, ard o king.Gsher Fash