Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-05-19

brow. courage, noIloT ahu t'o'a
CLEANED in his eyes, and though tE'
great expression Of bis face was stern
This smile could be as gentle as WON
ans, and this man loved pretty
tchildisl! Renee with all the strength
Of his heart, and she-wsll she lovee
Lester Sinclair.
He threw away bis half.burned CT
gar and turned toward the cottage
This face still grave, stern.
Renee came to meet him.
"Oh, Victor, can, 70 down to Ra
mond's this evening? Kathie is 60
ing to bsve croouet match. Mar
garet says'no, but you-oh! Victo
may I go? You might come with nj
Victor. Kat.ie asked you"
Ke looked at the pretty, childish
face. Yes / will go, Renee" hi
|said,
Two hours later Renee came dowr
looking like wild rose in her pink
muslin robes, with clustering flowers
iu her breast and hair.
They were rather early on Che Gro
que grounds, 50 Kathie and Renee
Itlaved a game by themselves.
Victor Gray WATCHED Renee with
passionate, plying eyes, knowing the
pain in store for her, which he had
been too coward!y. be thought bitter,
" to warn her OF
II could not tell her" he aaid, "and
yet wish | had"
IIe watched her eyes wander to the
gate.
She had thrown her hat aside and
the soft breeze lifted the shcrt, dark
curls OF her low brow and decpenea
the rose tint on her cheeks.
He sa@ the red Ii ps part in smiles
and the lovely dark eyes deepen, and
turning toward the gate he saw Les
ter Sinclair coming to the pathway a
lady leaning on his arm
The one look Of Renee>s face told
Veto. that she never SUSPECTED the
truth.
Her faith like love was unwaver-
ing. She believed in Lester Sinclair
ss she did in her own royal love.
The lady on his arm WAS a delicate
little thing, with certain kind Of
banty, Of the wax dell order, with big
blue eyes. dainty features and cluster
ing aaxen hair.
They catae forward to where Renee
stood
"CIare," he said,>'this ia The yothg
lady I told yon Of Miss Coartlaud-
Renee-Mss Courtland my betrothed
wife Miss Duvane."
His betrothed wife
The words rang in Renee's ears,
thai seemed to die away with a faint
moaning sound.
Remember she was only seventeen
and childish for her age.
The bright, young face grew pall;d
as death and all the sweet light seem
ed to fade from her eyes.
Victor strobe to ber side.
Take me houe. Victor. IL
don't feel welll Please take me.
The words died away on her lips
and the reat moment Victor held her
white and senseless in his arms.
4
A magnificent toom, large, lofty
and furnished with almost Oriental
'plendot, from the velvet carpet, In.
to which the foot sank noisely, the
silken lnlaid furniture, the wondrous
gstrs OF art that adolned the Wall, the
rare statuetts that filled every con-
ceivable nook, to the most minute DR..
ticles in the room.
At one Of the windows tall sleh-
der jeweled hand. the foaming dra-
peries-a woman radisntly, rarely
beautiful, that even the casual passer
by half paused with a look Of iuvol-
untary admiration on the face.
The low, white brow, the great
dark eyes, the curving crimson lips,
and waving masses Of blue black hair,
made picture almost perfect III itt
rsre loveliness.
And yet it was not satisfied face
there was look Of past pain and
present longing, strangely mingled
resting upon it. Where the expires.
sion lay you could hardly tell, only il
\ vaa thora