Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-09-09

| leather ian. VOlCeS ana suDuueu
laughter came from the other end Of
the piazza, mingled with the strains OF
the waltz then in vogue. Up in the
sky Il full moon was hanging and low
wind blew from the south.
1t was very pleasant, altogether. So
pleasant that the city, with its hot
pavements and its din, its harrassing
documents from picture dealers and its
unpaid bills, faded quite away into the
dim recesscs of "Beauty Vain's" MEM
ory. His momentary complications, in
fact, seemed to assume far less press
ing aspect-in the propinquity Of an
heircss kindly disposed.
There are certain potentialities of
riches in the atmosphere that make
poverty, to the most indignant artist,
appear altogether far less present and
personal matter.
Not that Vanc Stephenson directly
contemplated the possibility Of his ever
being untrue to Bell. Bell was dear
little thing, and there was world of
character hidden beneath that delicate
beauty of hers. She was wrapped up
in her love for him also. No, he would
not wrong her. But his ease and
plsasure.lcving artists temperament
was agreeably caressei and stimulated
by all that atmosphere Of luxury and
fashion and articality in which the
Lawtons and such as they moved and
had their being, The hattery his tai
ent and his personal good looks brought
him in such circles fed his vanity de-
lightfully. 1t was IN his nature to 60
with the current. And the current
here happened to exercise a particularly
pleasant compelling power.
The next day was one of those vouch.
safed occasionally to mortals that they
may know how the earth looked when
the world was young aud "sans with
her sister spheres.' A day of long,
rare, dream.like hours. A bright blue
morning, with hazy veil over lakes
and mountains; drowsy noon; still
afternoon, spell-hound under its slant
ing shadows; pale moonllt evening,
redolcnt with faint odors and full of
mysterious sounds, as of a myried voices
Of whispering nature.
They had been off on a coaching
party and gone all day.
When Mrs Lawton went to her room
that night she was pensive and ah-
structcd.
Don't hirt too much with Vane
Stephenson, l>hoda,' she said to her
daughter. OF course he s a charming
fellow--in this way-and all that. But
don't push matters too far.
'Flirt with him repeated Miss Law.
ton in wide-eyed wonder.
Yes, hirt with him. Don't play in
nocence. You hirted outrageously
with him all day. If you lead him on
in that way he will be proposing next.
And you know how your father would
approve your marrying poor man.
Miss Lawton made no reply. She
smiled little behind the shielding
screen Of hair the maid was letting
down over her shoulders.
Miss Lawton was that not uncom-
mon product of American soll--a
daughter who did as she pleased.
She had had number of seasons
out and exhausted very much Of her
capacity for receiving fresh sensations
from the round of experiences her So
ciety life afforded Vape Stephenson
was different from the style of men
with whom she came in customary con.
tact and she had fallen in love with
him. She had heard in a vague sort
of way, that he had been attentive to
some unknown girl not in society, but
she did not hold there was any definite
engagement Stephenson had been
rather careful about leaving her unen-
hghtencd on that point. do not know
whether it would have made any differ
ence with her if she had known, Her
belief was that any woman was entitled
to fellow if she could get him.
For her own part she did not dispair of
getting this particular one now. She
was clever enough to know what she
was about in suggesting his coming to
the Springs. The hourly propinquity
of a fashionable hotel at IL country re-
sort, the horseback rides in common,
the rows, the moonlight saunter1ngs-
thev were doing their accustomed
work.
And Bell-Bell at home in the hot
city with complaining Jessie and Tom,
who could get nothing to do and all
the chldren-Bell with hollows deep