Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-09-15

inaudible whisper Of a self-eviden
fact, namely, that he had LOOKED
in"
"Quite right; sit down. I'm busy
but Dolly can talk to you"
Very easily he approached doll,
and seated himself on one side of tn,
large work basket, hands folded OF
his knees and eyes resting in fond ad
miration on the heaps Of flannel.
always busy and always useful,
he mur'nered, gently.
Miss Dorothy s maiden hand twltoh-
ed, and she cut the flannel in a wrong
place.
Excuse me- she said. rising in
some confusion, Il forgot TO leave out
some medicine for Mrs Brown. | will
return presently"
The door had just been closed when
the recter audibly murmnred:
"Admlrable woman Invaluable y
"Eh @ said Aunt Crosby, sharply
turning round, and the light from the
fire made her spectacles shine as she
sat with raised pen did you speak p
"No-I, ah-merely was thinking
-ah-what loss Miss Dora would
be to you if-ah-she Was to leave
you !"
"Bless me T. responded Aunt Cros-
by, in a tone of slight contempt, Eve
won't trouble about that till she talks
Of going.
mo, no; very true, madam. You
have such an amusing way Of putting
things + And he ventured on little
nervcus laugh, from which he super.
naturally sobered down the next min,
ute, "perhaps-ah- she might mar
ry.
"Wha; is the idiot driving at p said
Mrs. Cirisby to herself, irate at SO ma
ny Interruptions. Marry, did you
say she inquired, aloud. About
twenty-five years ago Dolly was a fine
looking young girl. Still, she might
marry now, and 50 might 7, for the
matter OF that, if any one asked me !
Take look at the Times, Mr. Preedy,
they'll bring the tray in moment;
and the pen scr 'chel again.
"What 4 cruel old woman said
the rector, mentally. "She won't let
me speak III try her again, though,
see if don't"
And having manfully turned the
newspaper inside out, he gave pre-
paratOry cough.
Mrs Crosby, l have long wished
"Why cant he keep still?' mutter-
ed the old lady.
II say l have long wished and
he had attained the fixed high key in
which he intoned the services, and
the sound Of his own voice thus pitch
ed gave him courage-''to express the
admiration | feel for your niece.
"She's an excellent creature, Mr.
Preedy,' agreed Aunt Crosby, and in
despair at his pertlnaclty, she put
down her pen, pinched her glasses
tighter on her high nose, and turned
her keen face full round to await the
further remarks Of her visitor.
"What a wife she would make, Mrs
Crosby T. said the rector, enthusias
ticaIly.
A faint glimmering of the truth
lit up the old lady's mind and size re
pGed,--
"You would be a better jQdge Of
that than l, Mr.. Freely. Did you
want to marry her p
"Oh Mrs, Crosby, you are too good
May | hope them
With an odd smile on her puckered
old face, Mrs. Crosby said
Had mt you better ask her? I'll sc
ort AS she comes 10"
And suIting the action to the word
the mistress of the mansion left the
room as her niece entered.
That night, at about half-past Il
Mrs. Crosby heard iootstep on the
gravel walk below her window She
got up, lit her candle, threw on a
warm but faded dressing gown, and
marched along the passage and down
stairs to the room where reposed the
butler and the plate chest The
sound Of the old mans snoring show
ed he was undistuIbed. Ills lnistres