Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-03-19
Earning the Right.

She was young and delicate, and fair
with the fairness of purity.
Mark Manner1ng stood by her side,
u world -worr man of thirty-tive not
necessarily man whom the world had
taught her cruel ways, but a man who
had butleted fortune, who had earned
his living from boyhood by close appli-
cation to work, that had left him no
time to become II pet of society.
Yet for all '.Brutus was in honorable
man, he felt so far the inferior of the
graceful girl beside him that he could
not summon sufficient nerve to tell her
how dear she was to him, and how he
wished to marry hcranl show the world
this fresh creature, with her frank,
speaking eyes, as the bright fairy who
was to lead him upward and onward
through all the future.
"Merlnellc." called high treble
voice, and the golden opportunity Was
lost.
Mermc,lc entered the sitting-room
whose pleasant white 'curtained win
dows opened upon the honeysuckle-
embowered veranda upon which they
had ,becn standing. She entered to
meet young, attractive man advancing
toward her.
nv. Tremnor nv dear, is not ac
qnainttl with Mr. Mannering," said
her mother softly, so thought had
b tier call you
Mermelle turned back to the piazza
with her graceful, frank air.
"Mr. Manneriug, let me introduce
you to Mr.. Trcmnor,'
The men bowed, but Mark Manner
Ing stood for moment, then began
making his adieu.
The young man had eyed him with
Il look bordering on dislike, and was
doubtless only too well pleased when
the first caller took his departure,
Theodore Tiemnor WAS cyIden; y a
a iavorite with Mrs Chesborough, and
OF this he was doubtless aware, since
her marked preference for the young
man as a visitor at her house was Npen
~ admitted hy the mother
Young Trcmnor knew why his at
tentions to Mrs. Chrsborough' $ daush-
ter were encouraged.
His father had recently died, and
he was repu'rd to be worth property
to the amount Of nearly half a million,
The Chcsboroughs were also wealthy
and of very good family.
Two weeks passed away, and in that
time Mark Mannering left the field
clear for his rival, for he abstaned from
again visiting the girl he loved because
he knew so well her mother destined
her for wealthy marriage, AMI he
knew his chances with MarInela Were
lcssened should his attentions become
too frequent and assiluous.
The gay season WIS at its height,
when one night party had been form
cd, comprising young Tremn'r. Mrs.
Chestor"ugh and Mcrmelle, to attend
the opera,
Mrs Chcsborongh, at the last min
ute. found herself unable to join them,
and Ire amor, promising to call and
take An aunt of his with hm in her
stead the mother at last consented to
allow Mernele to accompany him.
But his worthy aunt; as Tremn"r
was we'll aware. was large body who
not only moved slowly, but rarely.
Her opera days We're we'll over aud
though her nephew made Il feln' Of ur
ging her rhAperona5a, he knew we'll,
before entering her abode, that Meth
ing woulu induce her to leave her warm
tire,ide on this cold night.
The exclusive life Of the old lady
(Tremnor's only relative in the city,
prevented her from hearing the many
rumors current about her nephew
That he was leading the life of fash
ionable young man she was well aware;
but that runor accredited him with
large wealth she did not know.
Had any one whispered the wold
money in connection with her neph
ew she would have looked aghast.
Money! Don speak to ne Of his
money = would have been her emphat-
ic rejoinder. He raa through the
small property his father left him
speedily enough, and now the debts
his fashion and folly have led him into
have made HIM a disgrace to his fam
lily. What his wild course will lead
him to is only too PLAN. Never men-
tion his name ag,in to me HIS posi-
ton in fashionable society is frausht
with dlshonor-'
But the Indignation of this frank
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