Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-07-26

and lie has no drawbacks such as he
has here. Il will go away"
ooh, Ernest, that will be dreadful" "
exclaimed Celestine, and the tears glis.
tened in her eyes.
at is best to 10 80, said Ernest. II
will 20 away. l shall not see you Or
write to you in six years from tonight.
If | succeed will come and claim you
six years from this hour. If | fail
will not return to you"
There was silence as if in the pres
ence of death. And they sat side by
side for many minutes without uttering
il word. Then Ernest Vance arose and
so did Ceestine. He took her hands
in his and said in voice that trembled:
"Well.'
at is best as you say. | will wait
for you
And they parted.
Five years passed away. Celestine had
not heard word from Ernest Vance.
But she remembered she had faith that
he would come and redeem his pledge.
Spencer Drake had been devoted IN his
attentions to her, and her father had
coaxed, commanded and threatened her
time and again, but in vain she would
not marry him.
She sat at on of the large windows,
and looked out upon the noble Fifth
avenue. 1t was the fifth anniversary
of the departure Of Eanest Vance.
Zone year more!' she sighed.
ooh How you startled me, father. y
My dear, | have sad news for you.'
"Pray, what sad news can you have
for me, father?
Before I tell you l shall ask you
again If you will not marry Spencer
Drake
"Father, ask me anything than that.
| cannot marry that horrid, idle, brain
less man
Her father sighed as the palencss Of
his cheeks were yisibly decpcned. IF
you will not marry Spencer Drake we
are ruined
"What do you mean, father p
III mean simply that for five years
all my investments have turned cut
badly, that am up to my ears IN debt
and that unless you marry Spencer
Drake within the next ninety days |
shall be a bankrupt in purse and in
character"
But what has Spencer Drake got to
do with your debts ?" asked the young
with fearful calmness.
why, his father is my heaviest en-
lorser. lie holds 100000 worth of
my paper. 1t will mature in the next
four months. and can't redeem it.
That what mean, Celestine."
Celestine was visibly shocked at this
disclosure, but, her answer was calm
and decisive.
II love you; I hate Spencer Drake.
And I would not hurry him to save
yours and my fortune from the whlrl-
pool of disaster. hate the man !!
The crash came. 1t was great sur
prise to everybody, and several small
firms went down with the Orman bank.
The wreck of Orman's business was
complete everything was swept away.
Mr.. Orman was Frustrated by the
blow and Celestine was compelled to
remained with her all the tune. She
longed to 60 out in cruel world and
help by her efforts to assist her father,
but she could not leave her mother
Her father never reapproached her by
any word, but Celestlnc knew that she
had panied him deeply and that he
blamed her largely for the disaster
which had borne him to the earth.
During the long, long year the Orman
family suffered the direct poverty. The
old man had the hardest possible time
Of it too keep his wife and daughter in
food and clothing and pay the expen-
sive doctors he was compelled to call to
attend his invalid wife.
As the day drew near when Earnest
Vance had promised to returned to her
Celestine's spirits rose to the highest
pitch. She had not told her father and
mother about it, because he might NOT
come.
When the night arrived the three
members of the family sat in u spare
room in which there was scarcely any
furniture. A dim light threw weird
shadows on the wall. Mrs. Orman sat
in an arm chair with her eyes closed
and her hands crossed on her lap. MIR.
Orman leaned his head upon a writing
desk, for his heart was heavy with null
tiplied misfortune and disappointment
lie was discouraged. Ceestine was In