Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-06-16

Tom called Helen to come and take
turn With him. | rose to follow, but
hand was laid upon my own, and
the voice that. brought the quick blood
to my face whispered low and earnest
ly-
"P,ease stay; have something to
say to you"
Then they went; and we two were
left alone. in the fading twilight.
| Later in the evening He!en came to
my room and kissed me, saying
"Oh, Nora darling, | am so glad |
Harold has just been telling US, and,
dear, he is so fond Of you !"
I dare not trust myself to write of
those days Of more than happiness,
when to fulfill my lightest wish seemed
the sole desire of brave noble heart
those days when, side by side, We
paced the shady lanes and thought
that life itself was too short; for love
gilded all, and earth to US seemed
nothing short Of Paradise. That hap
py time of light and sunshine, how it
seemed to hy-hoH the glad sunny
hours glided byl But afterward they
dragged slowly and YEARLY enough
those long summer days and still long
er nights 1t seemed in the dark still
hours that the dawn would never
break and dsper.e at least the outer
darkness, and in the long warm days
| used to think the sun would never
set behind the purple mountains; for
the lengtheniug gloomy twilight was
more grateful to my weary heart when
the sun Of my life was set forever.
Yet for all that followed can blame
no one but myself; never, even In my
inmo,t thoughts, have | suffered my
self to cast a doubt upon hlm. The
fault, the folly, call it what one will,
was all mine. And surely | have sut-
fered enough for one foolish word!
1t was all chapter Of accidents from
beginning to end; but 1t blighted two
lives aud struck the death blow to all
our bright hopes and fancies,
We were payinga spirited and long
contested same of croquet one lovely
afternoon, Helen and Harold against
Tom and myself; our side was nearly
victorious and Tom was triumphant.
He was bad player and being
rover, was helping on my unIucky
partner and taking peculiar delight
in sending Harold, the rival rover,
bowling to the other end Of the
ground.
There is no need to send me quite
SO far, he said, laughing; II AIN quite
tired of walking up and down after
nv ball. Now stand back every one!
Here comes the winner J.
"Weil done There's good shot !
cried Tom, as Harold ball came fly
ing over the ground straight as a die,
and hit mine, which was unfortunate.
near the winning-oos
!, Now, then. shall put this dan
eerous character out of pain. and
then, Tom, you had better retire
gracefully from the contest" said
Harold, hurrying no.
"No, no-dont; it is not fair
Herold, it is horribly mean OF you to
put me out +
But l pleaded in vain He was
merciless, only saying, as my ball hit
the stick and bounded off
Cant help it Nora; all is fait in
. love and war" Then Suddenly, with
) a laugh that had more OF annoyance
than mirth in it,; he added, 81 wish
we could put An end to all doubts
, and difficulties as easily as have put
an eud to this game.
! What did lie mean? His eyes
were fixed on me so earnestly that l
colored beneath his glance and turn
, ed away, saying. as l knocked about
the balls uneasiy-
{ Don talk nonsence +
"Perhaps it g not nonsence," he re.
/ Piled.
"Now, Tom, confess that you are
, thoroughly beaten !" interposed Hell
en-, coming up triumphant with sue,
cess and quite patronizing. "Here
are Nora and Harold fighting over
f the rules Of croquet. But never
, mind, Tom--if your poor little "ro>
vel" had not been finished SO cruelty
D you would have won"
1T is all unfair" I said, half CROSS,