Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-03-18
MechannsOwL Frederick County, Maryland Thursday Mch 49, 1885,

man nature is human nature, and it S q
proud day for ould Terence Fortescue,
when be hears that his son, fine gen
tleman as ever was, is to be married to
real born lady
'Whatr cried Iris. 'You--rou are
his father
Don't let on to him, please, ma'am,'
said the clock mender. Its fine
spirit he has, and pride that always
knew would work his way. And fath-
er, says he, you keep yourself to your
self. If I'm to be gentleman says
he,' j can't be hamp,red by poor rea-
tons And it WAS gospel truth, ma'am,
don't you see, though III not deny it
hurt me little ut he time, for Id
pinched and scraped sore'y to give him
Il chance. For in the old country we
were only Aedgers and ditchers--ap
now see where me boy is--clerk i" a
mixers Office at IA salary Of six hun
dred dollars a year
Still Iris listened in mute amaze
ment
so, if yon phase, ma an, not 10 men,
tlon it to ortescue, said the Old man.
/ ,liun't name to sly all his when |
came IN. I just wanted to ct
glimpse at the sweet face of the grand
lMv my spn WAS to marry. But some
how the latch Of my tongue goG loIsed
and couldn't help sayin nv say
He'd be fit to murder ne entirely if he
knew had took the liber y but after
all, mt'am, he's my own son And
blood's thicker than water, we all
know. Thankee ma an, kindly, as
Nora brought in the cup OF steaming
coffee The Lord loves them as is
kind to the oaId and poor. And shall
90 about my busin SIS now, with all
easy heart
lie carriel tn. clocks away. still
with the same tlruoping gray head and
slow uncertain m)veu 'ntS-thuse Of a
man who mas been bound down by t,ii
all his life-anl Iris her heart full of
conflicting emotions, hurried to her
room.
80 this was the foundation Of Mr.
Fortescr Bennett Fortescue's ia rily
title in Tyrone his ruined cas- le. the
grand Cd lineage in which Iris had so
glo.ie |. An ungrat-ful son II dehb
crate sche uer-;l f,lse IIlr AMI Iris
Dale shuddered at the fate she had 50
narrowly csc 'pel-the fact Of becom-
ing wife to viIltin.
The engagement WAS broken off
is scarcely necessary to a Ia tn 8 act
Miss Dale re urned the dia anond ring
TO F1rte>cus Bennett Fortescue with a
brief note, m which she stated that she
had changed her mind, anil had deer,
Mined hencpfo"th, to LEAD single life
For she would no, bsirav the poor old
clock mender, and so she preferred
leaving herself exposed to tn Charge
If caprice-c quetry-w whatever Mr.
For -scue chose toc,l it.
Mr. Fo,te>cue Bennett Forte,cuc
was furiously angry, Of cour,e, ard
consulted lawyer to know whether
an actiun for breach Of promls" wo1|d
lot lie But the lawyer advised hlm
not to try the experiment, so the dr>.
appointed sw lin pocketed lis wrath
and looked out for another hei ess
Mrs North rejoicrd greatly.
My dearest Iris. sad she, I was
qui'e convinc- d that you would not b"
happy with that man. And | do be.
Il We vor have drnr wisely il rej citing
lin. But | d mt under tand why YOU
broke 1t off 50 suddenly.
Oh, aid IRIS, laughing i alw'ys
was creature of impulse, YOU know,
Northy.'
A. for the old clock nender, he onI'
sighed when he heard that tie engage
ment had beeA abandoned.
I always feIt it would be TOO good
luck lor he likes of us, said he But
I'm sorry she changed her mind, for
it's a sweet lady she was
Joshua could successfully command