Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-07-24
Mechnhsbwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday July a. 1884,

she confessed with brave candor. IL
only wished to come to you here, once
more in this place, that has been as
pleasant to me as to you. 1t will new
er be the same to me when you are gone
even if you are SO proud and cruel,
she added in a soft reproach, that he
could not understand.
He could have no doubt of her love
now, and she had all the enthusiasm
and independence Of a woman-this fair
child, who had given her heart into his
keeping, defiant of opposition and fear
ing no rebuke.
Il should be more cruel, yielding to
what would estrange you from your
friends, to what would take you from
comfort, pleasure only to requite you
with want and humiliation," he said
brokenly.
81 fear no want oflove," she return
ed, quickly, "no humiliation butthat OF
being despised for what" she added,
half rougishly, yet with dignity, "is in
special contingencies, only q womans S
privilege
ut is that Of noble girl reverence
he answered gravely; "of one whose
happiness is so dear to me that l must
not bind her bright young life to that
of man who can give her nothing
nothing but a vast and useless love, my
dearest
He bent as if he would have kissed
the innocent upturned face, restrained
himself and turned away, and the next
moment pretty Fanny Grlmshaw was
left in the school room alone.
And there she sat down in Johns big
leathern chair, before Johns familiar
desk and bowed her lovely, distracted
head upon the books that the touch of
John dear hands had made sacred tc
her.
The first sun of the glad New Year
came up in triumphal spIendor Of
purple and gold, and she sat still there
as motionless as an image Of marble.
Life was over for Fanny Grlmshaw
if she could not be given the man she
loved.
Presently the door was pushed noisi-
ly open, and little, wheezy, pompouS
gentleman hustled into the room.
"What on earth are you doing here,
child ?' her father inquired, with gen.
uine anxiety in his small, rasping voice
But she never moved nor uttered Il
sound.
"What ails you. Fanny? Do you
want anything?" he asked, with In
creaslng uneaslness.
Then she lifted face SO white and
haggard with anguish that he started
aghast.
Il want John, papa; only John,
she answered simply,
Good gracious p the consequential
little old gentleman calculated. Are
you really SO fond of him, child? Well
have never denied you anything yet,
he continued with a peculiar sort Of
fatherly satisfaction, "and | had rather
crafty you now than have you make an
Orphella of yourself. And, beside, the
handsome tutor will not be SO bad an
ACQUISITION for the Grimshaws after ALL
- He is fine, cultured, knowing tel-
low. and he will now possess the hall
million or so of which he was de-
frauded by knavish brother, who
was obliging enough to die last night
1t was an unfeeling way of putting
things, doubtless. But when an evil
soul is summoned from the life it has
dishonored, any pretense Of regret seems
unnecessary and hypocritical.
And SO Fanny felt. And when pre-
sently John appeared she went to him
in smiling sympathy.
81 AIN so glad for you" she said
brightly although" - she supple
mented in charming embarrassment -
had | guessed you were ricner than
myself, | should have forborne the wo-
mans privilege"
And so the New Year brought the
blessing and the shadow together-the
knell for the dead and the chimes for
the living; and the tender girl and the
gentle master who loved her were con-
tent.