Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-12-30

press.
She fingers a little in the porch
where she and Ralph. have spent so
many happy hours.
Leaning YEARLY against one Of its
pillars, she sends her wistful gaze far
down the street where bis form has
so lately disappeared, but nothing meets
her eyes-uothing but trees and shad-
ows, and other forms fitting about in
! the white moonlight, but never his.
How dismally empty and lonely the
whole world seems. And yet she was
with hlm-laughing and hooking at
his love-only a few short minutes
since.
ooh, I do love yon. I do love You -
she cries out, in a passionate under.
tone, as the bitterness Of his loss already
comes home to her. ooh, Ralph my
darling, I never meant to send you
from me
There is thrill Of unutterable
p~thos in the low voice, and, signing,
he turns to 90 in.
But strange weakness seems to
chain her limbs; culver runs through
the slender, willowy figure which the
pillar has upheld, and she sinks down
with q low, dry sob, upon the floor.
"Why bless my soul, Maud has faint
ed, for the first time IN her life !" ex-
claims her mother, in great alarm
when, going to the door to her. she
finds her lying there. What can be
the NATTER
But Maud by and by finds plausi-
Die excuse for solitary fainting spell,
and that is her last hour Of Weakness
outwsrdly, at least.
Raj ph does not return.
She kne. from the first he would
not--he is 50 different from all the
others.
Even the little half formal note
which she decided to send, in justice to
herself, came back unopened and
short time Atterward she learns indi-
rectly that be has left the town.
When she knows that he is gone
and not beiore-shc suddenly gives up
her flirting, her wild, half-gypsyisi
ways, and that ver.rnsdy mocking
laugh which had driven so many lovers
to distraction, aid has smut her out, at
last, from Ralph Piormont's heart.
81 have my uusic, and I shall live
for that, she says to herself.
And 80 she throws heart and soul in.
to the beautiful art which is hencetorth
to take the place Of all she has loved
and lost.
why, hello. Ralph Piermont, as I
live. calls ont jovia voice in intense
surprse and good deal Of pleasure.
and where, in the name Of all that's
| mysterious, do you hail FROM
Germany" answers Ralph as he
cordially shakes hands with his qucs.
toner, an old friend. who has just run
across him in the city street. 1--WE
been abroad Tor the last three years;
didn't You know that Studying"
"Mediclne? queries Ed Butler, try
ing to recall Raiphs predictions in
the past.
Fremont shrugged his shoulders
somewhat contemptuously.
No, thank YOU ne responds I've
h1rd!y sufficient philanthropy for that.
dou't feel bit like relieving other
peoples Suffering I've had plenty Of
my own and nobody helped me to
bear hem. I'm an engineer"
Cynical fellow.' laughed Ed. you
give TO one chance to help you bear
them, hiding yourself in foreign land
for three whole years But come with
me this afternoon to my sister s-you
remember her? She gives a brilliant
musicale, aAd she'll be delighted to see
you. You'll have the privilege, too. Of
meeting the latest sensatiou; Miss
Miss Can't think Of her name ust
now, but charming violiuist. Plays
at al the recherche affairs. Great card
| assure YOU
Ralph gives little start at the word
violins:.
His thoughts 60 back to those even
ings long gone by when Maud played
her sweetest airs on her beloved violin
, Tor him.
Il knew a girl once who played the
VIOLIN" he rem0rks, rather modify,
card l cant say that | believe in
women who choose that Instrument. -
She was the most dangerous, most
heartless coquette God ever made" lie