Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-06-17

Commons" she asks, provokinglv.
lie smiles as he looks at her.
L will tell you some day.
Not long after Coniston rides with
Miss Grcy-a long afternoon ride on
the road by the bay and through the
woods and past the farms busy with
their Autumn fruit-gathcring.
They chat of commonplace things
the flowers, the birds, the clouds, the
blue Of sea and sky, and they come
home soberly enough, too soberly he
thinks.
There is a ball that night, the last of
the season. Coniston is not dane
ing man, so he has the satisfaction Of
watching Miss Grey floating about the
ballroom principally with Bradford--
lie stalks out on the piazza, brilliant
with lanterns, and then saunters to the
other end, where it is comparatively
quiet.
Polly sits there, and Bradford
Bradford lis bending above her he
even has her hand and now he goes
in and leaves her.
Coniston is a madman as he rushes
into the other mans place, and leans
trembling over her chair. She is quiet
silent
1T is /, he whispers, brokenly.
I know she replies, softly.
oh, child !! crles he, you must lis
len to me am a good-lor-nothing
sort Of fellow | have had no rclig-
ion, no anything, until I have known
you, and now you are my shrine. 1t
seems to me at your feed ! should lay
rare spices, perfumes, flowers, jewels
and all | dare lay there tonight Is a
human heart-a human life, Polly, he
says, lowly, STOPPING his blonde head
to hers. Will You have me:
He sees her face as she upturns it to
the flare Of the last lantern it is as he
has never seen it-pale, stricken. aw-
ful, calm.
We'll : sAc says, at last, with that
clear, bright voice Of hers, q trille hard
tritc matter oftact.
Oh, love you, my soul my queen,
love you and need you, cries he,
overcome by the sight Of her pallor.
4 know she answers quietly. 4 ap-
prcciate, value your love; / should
have been disappointed always if YOU
had not loved me. Ah": burying her
white face in her hands, I revel in 1t "
And he had once thought this wom-
an cold, superficial, unhkabIc,
My darhng" Coniston says, reach
ing out his hand for hers.
But whispers the girl, drawing
away into her silken wrap, 'I-1-am
engaged 20 be married to Eugene Brad.
ford. have been for two years
Sir Campbell Frazer had arrived
from the West. The Arizona was to
sail Tuesday, and both he and the
Earl Of Conston were booked on her
passenger list.
1t was Monday night--mllsummcr
come again, people said ,Iouuging about
the piazzas Of the big hoteI-warm,
sultry, with great banks Of blue black
clouds lowering above the golden rim
of the west.
Bradford was up in town, detained
by business, as Coniston had discover
cd. Miss Grey was sitting at the cor
ncr of the piazza. lie went up to her
for the first time since the night cf the
ball.
May | sit down: y
She looked assentinsly.
4 am going tomorrow in the Arl-
zona.'
L know, she answers. whitening.
lie wonders why, and, Heaven help
hun he gets up and goes away, when
he would rather far have taken the
frail, vivacious, alert little woman to
his heart.
Presently he saunters back.
Would you take ride with me to-
niqhtr You know we shall never on
earth see each other again. Would
YOU p
Her eyes flash, her lips culver she
turns the ring on her finger back and
forth,
YES she says quietly, 4 will. l
will get on my habit and be down pres
entity
They ride ofr-olT into The green and
silent country lanes, where the dew
damps the air, and where the scent of
the homestead flower gardens mingles
with the breath of the sea as it comes
TO thpm