Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-04-21


what they have brought hi ia. Poor
fellow ono can scarcely oH"r him
charity, and yet, what is to h1 done.
Aud cropping bis way into thu h'l'.
wher. a sort of Cimmsrinn dark ness
reigned, h. managed to inquire hi'
way to the floor whore Mr. C.stle,on
lived.
The majestic Old artist came for
ward to receive him. in = 'at,ered
dr..4ing.gown which had once been
ruby velvet, a cnp Of thu same mate
rial on his head An.i a luahl-sti;k in
h,e hand.
"Ah, Msyrll, my old friendI' he
cried, gr~sping the hand Of the nnex'
pected gue,t-"or rather the young
friend Of my old days-you are w-l'
eonel You lind me rather indiff-r.
en,lv situated: but we alt know that
genius is, At times Under cloud.
| Walk in-walk irl Here ia Mrs Cas-
.leton, and B-atrix INV cid. st dnngh-
ter. But whore is Miriam?-lIltle
| Miriam, the beauty and the runaway
Of tho aock Call her Trix Tell h'r
to get II. some supper. She will lie
here directly
Mrs. Castleton, n little old Lady in
n lac. cap who had lost the use OF her
limbs, sat knitting in vheaIel ch 'ir,
by tina sadly insufficient, Ave Her
poor more MAS blue, and the h nj
which she held out to Ciarenc- May
oil WAS cold as al icicie.
Beatri1. II pale, Young wom+" Of
twenty. drew an old screen before the
table, on which WAS plate Of cold
much and pitcher OF thin tea, An !
made haste to adjust tho easel 20 as
to hide tho cot bed in the corner
Mr.. Cas,lelon pointed TO the easel
with grsnde seiyueur flourish If the
hani.
You sve, Msvell,' .ai1 he. that
I still cling to the old habits NJ.
hand is .xrc-ly AZ steady now az |
could wish, but it seems necessary 10
sell . picture now aud tbe,. Tux
where is your sister Why does not
Miriam come in? We have some
wealthy acqraint~nces, M'y-II, ~,o
decline to buy my plrtures and who
con,rive systematically to ignore US
But am told that Miriam frequent.
ly goes to them. Well, well. ! can.
not wonder--,he child is yonng and
this, glancing cou' esuttuo'I,l' .'on.d
tho room "is hardly the pls"' :" ~.
tract q girls c"ur'cious fancy. Tx,
here is true to her old parents
Papa" said Beal'x, co'orin "do
not blame Miriam. She
Have I blamed her. The old
artist shrugged bis shoulders "She
is yonng-shs Is very young-that is
all. Asl WAS saying, MayelI, ! sci!
picture now and then, and so we
manage to keep alive. Just let me
show you some OF the ideas have
sketcheI on canvas"
And while Captain Maye!l tarned
over the old mans portfolio, and cog
,tate'l within himself how he might
hes, offer to purchase a picture with
cut hurting the sensitive pride cf the
artist. the silent Beatrix put NOR
coal on the dying FIRE, spread clean
cloth on the table. and set forth a
meal which had evidently been pur-
chased in haste from the sbelv-. Of
the nearest cheap restanrant-half OF
skinny, cold dnck,a little dab Of
muddy currant jelly, pile OF bread
and a potato tsiad.
And when the unspretiz'no meal
Was over, and they sat ~h'verI"g by
.,s FIRE, the door opened and IN XII
dsd slight, small 6gure, like = snail
ow.
"1t's Miriam" said Mr.. Cas,leton;
my youngest girl. Cone in pet and
speak to Captain MayellI'
Miriam stopped abruptly in the
DOORWAY. and turned FIRST red, then
pale, before she advanced and held
ont an unwilling hand.
Maysll rose and bowed owe, it; but
~ ths,r ., q ns, he smiled little.
Mrs Castle,on." said be, I'm
very happy to meet youl
And Miriam hid herself away be-
hind her mother chair. close 10 b.