Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-05-03


the consent l so unwittingly gave
The house shall be closed at the usu-
al hour, and if you do not happen to
be at home at II o'clock, we do not
sleep under the same roof this night"
And in high displeasure DR.. Morton
left the house; nor did he return for
more than couple of hours, during
which his mood had more than once
changed. The first irritation over,
he felt that it was hard upon his pet
to deny her the pleasure to which but
the moment before he had assented.
How would he bear to spend the long
evening opposite that disappointed,
wistful little face ? 1t began, too, to
dawn upon him that "the whole can
tonment which in India, where
private life IS more distinctly public
property than in any corner Of the
world, stands for our esteemed old
friend, Mrs. Grundy-might, as has
ever been its wont, put an unklnd
construction on motives it did rot un
derstand might hint that he was not
so much standing by his principles
which in fact, he had yieIded-as
avenging his own offended dignity
! he result Of all which cogltatioD was
that if on his return home, he should
find that she had accepted both dis
appointment and rebuke in a proper
spirit, much, indeed all, dependent on
that-she should go with her friends
to the ball; or even in the probable
event of their having already called
he would show his magnanlmlty by
taking her himself. Just then a car
riage drove swiftly past his; he recog-
nized it to be the Hills, and in it
could he credit his senses all radi-
ant with smiles, wrapped in her new
cloak, sat his wife, who, in merry de-
tian"c, kissed her hands to him as
they passed
Botn bah and theatricas were de-
hghtful, and none enjoyed them more
than the volatile and fascinating Mrs
Morton In the gayety Of her spirits
she conhded to one after another of
her dearest friends her husband =
threat. and to one or two who eX-
pressed some fear that ne might car
ry it ont she laughngI = replied that
she did not think that that would be
at all likely; but in the event of any
thing so improbable, she had still! her
palanQuin in which she could rest
ull gun-fre, when, of course, the
house would be opened.
am told that nowadays palan-
q0ins are in as little request in India
as sedan chairs in England; but in DR..
and Mrs Morton time-for know, O
reader, that my story is founded on
fact they We're, except in the even
ing drive, the most general mode OF
carriage. In the veranda OF every
horse one or more might always be
seen, with their bearers at hand,
ready for instant service by day or
by night.
1t was past clock when Dr. Nor
ton heard, coming down the com
pound, the moaning monotonous cry
of the bearers who carried their mis-
tress to her home Placing the pa
lanquir in the veranla, they called
loudly for admission, striking the door
with their hands, in no small wonder
that it had not, as usual, been thrown
wide at their reproach. Expectation
of the coming triumph had driven
sleep from his pillow; and he now
turned his head with grim smile, for
his revenge was at hand-the little
rebel should learn lesson never to
be forgotten.
To the bearers voices was soon
added that of their mistress 8. indig-
nantly, entreatingly, coaxlns|y she
called in turn. She reminded her
husband that their veranda was over
looked from the road "Let me in, |
beg, | entreat of you, William 1t
will be gun fire in couple of hours
and if seen here | shall be the laugh
ing-stock of the whole station. Oh
William, dear, do let me in ~
To which her husband answered
sternly, 1--WE shall not rest under the
same roof this nigh and he chuck
led to him self, for he only intended
10 Ay6p : : 1'2'...; ~ ~. -.t3.