Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-08-16
Mt in Politics. Devoted TO Literature Local and General News
Mechancsovn Frederick County, MaIand Thursday August 6 1885,


ternoon they are to ride together, and
as he sits stroking after the ladies have
retired, he reflects on the Most approx
ed method of asking a certain question.
Up to this moment Clement Lascel-
les has not any necessity for putting
his fate to the touch, because he had
been absolutely certain Of whiting, but
now that for the first time lie has a ri
4al-a rival who is progressing BY leaps
aid bounds in his lady's favor he sees
that something must be done. lie can
not have been befooled. She loves him
Or he, an adept at reading the secrets
of souls, must for once have been de-
luded. Perish the thought!
With gloomy brow and stately re-
tires from the smoking room, and seeks
the solitude Of his chamber, but not his
couch. The dawn has not long broken
ere he courts repose
"Marion :" cries Dolly few hours
later, bursting into her friends room,
whilst that lady--no early riser at the
best of times-still nestles among her
| pillows, "rcad this T. and she seats her
self on the bed in state of great ex-
element, whilst Mrs Dalton lanyridly
peruses the letter thrust into her hand.
81 call it great impertinencc. she
remarks, returning to Dolly,
Impertiuence y with wide open
eyes.
"Certainly !" and Mrs Dalton, taking
it back, quotes from it:
"'lhough cannot pretend to offer
gou the one great passion OF lie
sad passages beyond the ken Of other
mortals have tarnlShcd the pure luStre
that once surrol.ndo( my soul Us with
halo yet, if you will taAc a Heart
weary with the SORROWS Of the ages,
| dmmed by the darkling doubts with
in intimate knowledge of humanity
clouds the spirit, ia Ike me to your ten
der breast and let ME find shelter there
from He's gricfs and diSappointments.
What recompenoe heart blighted as
mine has been can hcstoW | will strive
to make to your angelic sympathy and
goodness.
at is not beautifully cries Dolly, i'll
an ccstacy. II wonder what he means :
| suppose some horr'd Woman threw
him over 5nce ??
al think it is exceedingly :mpertln.
ent, and hope you will resent it.
Resent 1t " almost shrieks Dolly
"Why, it is declaration -
"Get me my blotting. book of that
table" cottiltands Mrs. Dalton resoIute
ly. Now" she SAID beg'i to Write,
"you will answer it in this way, or |
wash my hands of you, and to morrow
he will have reduced you to ablect mis-.
cry agAlh.
She writes hurried for a few minutes,
and then, with heightened color, reads
the dreft aloud:
Dear Mr. Laace,les,-I have rece;v-
ed your melancholy letter and am tru-
ly sorry for nll you seem to have suffer
ed. But, for my part, | look upon the
world as - very pleasant place, and
have made UP my mind to en- joy my
self as much as possible so, as could
not console you, and you, with the
ideas you express, would make ME mis-
cradle, | think you, had much better
look for somebody whose temperament
is more like your own. ! suppose you
meat r1e to understand that you have
been much more in love with some one
else than you are with me, which, to
say the least, is not very t'attoIlng.--
Ms. | must havo IN undivided heart
tn none at all.--Iour sincere friend.
D.S.'
There is a desrcfate nght Between
Mrs. Dalton and Dolly before the lat
ter can be persuaded to copy and for
ward what she considers hcartless and
hippaht missive. In the end Marion
triumphs. Mr.. Lascelles does not ap-
pear 1T breakfast, and Dolly, though
her soul quakes within, laughs and
talks to Dick.
Later in the morning, when they are
playing lawn tennis, Clement La"celles,
feeling much smaller than he has ever
done IN his life, seeks council from Mrs.
Dalton. With an angelic smile She
alternately pr,cks him with laggers and
makes bin gulp down bowls of poison;
but she does him an excelcnt turn ty
taking good deal Of the nonsense out
of him. He confesscs that he adores
Dolly. How, O how, is he to win her :.
Has he the ghost Of chance ?