Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-05-04

! sick woman. 80 that bv the time
came in sight Of roy home the evening
shadows were falling low and long
); The sight | SAW there qn'ckene'
my steps, and mads my heart te"'
with unwontsd agitation.
A large t avsl'ng carriage afo"" os
fore the gate. The driver, sss's'e
BY one mai, WAS carrying luggage IN
TO the c. t,age, and dnskv, sh''ll
voiced maid WAS busllv unpacklnH 1T
interior, and t.|k,ng all the time il
scolding tones to Il burly, red face
m~n Of mid'll- age. who leaned id'y
against the & 'rdrn pa'i"gs
/ Here vonr masters drsssing'css-
I heard the brnwn maiden s,v. as
approached II SUPPOSE YOU wo"
feel above carving that into The
house -suppo-e it is not too heavy tor
vour delicate hands
| The nan moved lazily from his
place, took the dres-ing-case, which
h- drpo.it-i under one arm and tn-n
as he ruru-I !, caught &. glance OF me
standing al most by his SHE and hit d
his hat, while the girl stared at me
an instant with her larg.. tn urnln'
eyes and dropped ~. aIl'''e courtesy
There was no need OF Questions, !
knew nv aunt hid cone. and though
/ wondered what II child Of four could
want Of that splendid dressing case,
| presumed that I 4honIl soon have
my explanation; and AS I followed
the ...n, wondering that it had not
occur. 4 to me before tina! it had been
the property % my deceased uncle
The lra..as room wasslmoSt dArk
4s ent red It My mother. b-*il-
d-red b.ing suddenly ronsed from
he, sI--p aud with all her gr'el re
npwsd By the sight Of my aunt. WAS
sobblng upon the .ola where the Nv"
widows in their sable garments sat
encircled in each other Sarms.
NY aunt rose as ! approached her
and folded me in her embrace A
sunbeam entering between the qniv'
sring vine leaves showed me her no
be face-n softsned reflex Of my "a
theirs, vet with a calm. steadfAs'
strength shining from all its llnea-
ments, such as I had never seen IN
his Ny heart wept ont to her IN
deep ,ov- and trust At once, and lhr
yiss that W. exchanged Wan the kls
Of heartfelt sdop,i"n. Ny mother
had always lsared upon me. but sud
denly the strength that had almost
fuled beneath the bur len was re-
newed A stronger and more ste 'd-
last nature hal come TO nv ali.
But where is my cousin - | asked
when tn. fist sentence OF we come
aud i.qniry had been uttered. Dear
boy. | AIN 10 anxious to greet hl'u.
Here he ls--by your side. and
waiting for his Welcome, said u rich,
manly voice at my ear.
turned and confronted-not tie
child l had pictured--not II b"br
Charlie, a pet and plAything, but II
tall young man, whose years probably
exceeded mine by three or four, whose
dark, handsome face WAS brilliant
with smiles and whose outstret ch-d
han6 waited to press my own. | WAS
positively ashanpd Of the emb ,rrass-
ed greeting which alone, in my sur
prise was able to sjtcuiate, hnt the
laugh that followed my words Taught
me that the cause OF my emb"rrass
m+nt WAS understooh.
Your mother. my good aunt, In
anired very kindly for The baby as
soon az we arrived" continued that
pipas.pt voice Il AID sorry for vonr
disappointment, but if 4 fnll-grown
cousin Charlie will in any degree CON-
pensate you for the loss Of your ex
pected PIT, here he is, quite at your
service, and ready to receive and to
bestow all the affection which he
learns you have been anticipating
! We shall be friends as well as cousine
trust"
He looked 80 handsome and winning
as he said this. that could not resist
putting my hand again in his, noI
turn from the kiss he pressed upon my
cheek as tho zeal Of our compact.
believe | wau, even then happier Than
| should have been with baby cous
in.