Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-11-22


seat at Lydias side on an ottoman and
gazed at the carpet Mr.. Freakc was not
altogether stupid, but even wits often become
rather dull when they are meditating an i'm
mediate proposal; and the situation Is SO try
ing to almost every man who finds himself
in It; that it amply excuses the exhibition OF
little uneasiness and nervousness. Mr..
Freake certainly was nervous, but he soon
recovered himself.
"vour father is ut the meeting, / suppose.
Don't you feel 1t very dull all by yourself
here, Miss Lirripip"
ooh mol have been singing; and all day
have been painting"
'But dull, mean, without societyf I know
that do, and have much more society, l
suspect than you have. Unless 60 out the
evenings, find, pass very slowly. cannot
get the excitement Of work, for, of course,
one can't paint by artificial light; and II l
try to read generally go to sleep over my
book"
II think that you must be difficult to
plecse, Mr. Freake You have lovely studio,
and you ought always to be able to amuse
yourself among such beautiful things as you
have in your house."
"Nol don't think that I am difficult to
please, Miss Lirripip, for l know exactly
what want. The fact is that bachelors
existence is not suited for a man Of my feel.
ings and sympathies. live wrapped up in
my selfishness and feel my heart growing
colder and colder every day. have beauti-
fnl things in my house, but they don't satisfy
me. want living beauty-something which
may really care for and do for--something
which shall make my life complete. And
it was to talk to you about this, Miss Lir-
ripip, that came to see you this evening"
Lyiia experienced curious sensation
which she had never felt before
"You know, suppose, Miss Lrripip," he
continued, "what l Inean You know that
since first saw you, three or four years ago,
I have loved you" And Horace took Lydia's
unwilling hand. "Can you," he won't on,
'learn to love met Will you be my"
Observation-Disclosures There was knock
at the front door. and Lydia was greatly re-
lieved.
"Is somebody coming upr' asked Horace
anxiousy "Oh, 80 much want to tell you
ALL Say you are not in. Send them away.
But let me stay. Promise to let me stay"
A voice. evidently Mr.. Merton Murley's,
was now audible from below, the drawing
room WINDOWS being open and the voice
being loud
II IL Ant. NluTioy, Sdiu LYuib Il expect
that he only wants me to give some message
for him to my father. He will not detain me.
But il | let you stay, you must not talk any
more rs you have been talking, Mr.. Freake."
At this moment there were footsteps on the
staircase, and Horace, without another word
fed incontinently into the back drawing
room md rapidly drew the curtains behind
him so as to conceal himself from the new
co,.,or who ip,ua1iotaly nftai-,uord uoo m
nounccd.
Mr.. Murley was not SO nervous rs Mr.
Freake had been upon his first appearances.
He shook hands with Lydia i'll an esxy and
lght-hearted manner, paid her an airy COM
piment, seated himself comfortably opposite
her, aud, without many proliminarieS,
revealed the object OF his visit II know
that your father is ont Miss Lirripip," he
said, "and may rs well confess at once that
l have deliberately taken advantage Of his
absence to come and see you upon a subject
which nearly concerns my happiness /
should have spoken about it last night but
that could not command your attention
save for few minutes at time Now, how
ever we are safe from Interruption"
"Bnt, Mr.. Murley," said Lydia, at would
be SO much better il you would call when my
father is it,"
'Oh, that is not important, my dear MiSs
Lirripp 1t is a subject that may DO settled
by you alone"
"Please, Mr.. Murley, do not tell me about
it now" pleaded Lydia "The windows are
open, you know, and there are servants about
the house and"
Observation-Disclosures!
This time Horace as we'll as Lydia, was
greatly relieved; bat Mr. Murley was furi-
ous "Let me see you tomorrow" he said,
hastily.
"Yes, moi moi" returned Miss LrrIpip,
thankful for any opportunity of getting rid
of him. "Goodby, Mr. Murley, good-byr
And the same servant who showed up Sir
Pertinax Popinjay showed down Mr.. Merton
Murley. who glared at the baIOnet with u
look which spoke volumes.
"My dear LYDIA" said Sir Pertinax as he
offered both his hands to Miss Lirripip; "you
were really charming last night never saw
such perfect syIph in my life, and many
people agreed with me. You were the belle
Of the room. There is no doubt about it,"
"rm sure it is very good of you, Sir Perti-
max, to say So" returned Lydia. "But l
thought that the countess herself"
"Oh, the countess! She and you cannot be
mentioned together, my dear. Every ono
said so. And beside, the countess of course
Is married She has met her fate. Ha ha!
But you-you are still-my dear Miss Lydia
may be a fool, but, upon my honor, have
come here this evening with the determined
intention Of asking you whether you will
have me- You know l worship the very
ground you stand on" And, to Lydia's great
CONSERVATION, the old gentleman. ere she
could prevent him, gallantly knelt at her
feet, and took her hand, with the evident In
tion of pressing it to his lips.
"Do get up please. Sir Pertinax. 4" said Miss
Lirripip, forgetting for moment that Hor-
ace Freake was within hearing but anxious
that the baronet should not make himself ,nl-
necessarily ridiculous even to her. "You
can talk Just as we'll If yor sit down; but
really you mustn't talk in that way. don't
want to be married; indeed, don't You
know like you very much, but could not
possibly marry YOU"
Sir Pertinax rose with dignity and looked
rather disappointed II had hoped, LYDIA
that you liked me we'll enough even for
husband. What you say, however, may not
be final, because nothing can alter my regard
for you, and perhapsin the future you may
think better of me-"
'I could not think better Of you than do,'
returned Miss Lirripip feeiingly, "and you do
not know how sorry am that this has hap
pened. We can never again be the same to
each other am so sorry"
Sir Pertinax began to feel sorry too, for,
up to that evening, he and Lydia had always
been like uncle and niece, and in an uneasy
way, he turned the conversation into another
channel. But he could not for long carry it
on, and in less than a quarter of an hour he
said good-by, like sensible man as he was
in spite of his weakness, and departed
No sooner had he quilted the room than