Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-12-12

have told, but when he led her back,
with the light Of the setting sun on her
pretty, porcelain tinted face, and gilt
tering in her shining hair. he had not
spoken, and her red lips, smiling good
bye, had given him no pledge.
After that. Mrs. Powell was i'll for a
week, and Elaine spent most Of the
time with lcr.
Ray saw, with grateful heart, the
girls tender care of his mother, and his
anxiety WAS such that he rarely sought
Leila.
At the end of week his mother was
convalescent, and one evening in the
cleaning, she bade him take a message
from her to the girl he loved.
Tell her that my son loving her, she
must be dear to me- faltered the inva-
LID. BID her come to me, Ray; | fear
that have not been just to her. because
-because | 80 wanted you to wed
Elaine
TO we'd Elaine I
The words rang in his eers as he
went out to the falling height. Some.
how they brought him vision of
Elaine's tender face as it bent above
his mother. They brought him men,
orlcs of the sweetness OF the glrlish life
which had grown so near his own, and
yet he WAS going to offer his hand and
heart to one whose face he had not
seen four months before.
He entered the Arnold grounds, and
low musical laugh struck on his ear.
Lifting his eyes, he saw two girlish
figures directly ahead, and hastened his
steps that he might come up with
them.
Leila was talking, and her voice, clear
and musical floated back to him
Better is she l thought she was 90.
ing to die. She Is hateful old WON.
an, and | for one, should not mourn for
her
OF whom was she speaking.
He was not long left in doubt.
Elaine voice, with ring in it he had
never heard before, cut the still air a.
bout him.
How can you talk in such manner
about Mrs Powell? She is as dear to
me as my mother, the sweetest and best
friend of my life. I thank Heaven she
is not to die!
A sudden chill had fallen over Ray.
monds heart as he listened. His steps
slackeued inyoluntarily, his lips tight
encd.
Going to her with his mothers ten
der message, he had her regret that the
loying, tender woman, whose soft voice
and light touch his life would have
missed forever, whatever new ties or
new loves Came was spared to him.
Love is often of sudden growth and
fruit. AS suddenly CAN love droop its
soft wings and die in heart that has
cherished it.
The dart of death was in his love for
Leila Cranston, when other wor ds from
her dainty lips sent it IN deeper.
oh, she was bent on giving you hel
son. She wanted you tor daughter
in-law and so you have reason to care
for her. But since preferred to choose
his own wife, | found favor in his eyes
she made herself distinctly unpleasant
to me and I have thought that if she
would Only die now, | would be spared
the trouble of insisting on separate
esta blishment for her, when | marry
her son. | don't mind speaking plain
to YOU, Elaine, for you have seen how
desperately Raymond Powell is in love
with ME. He is quite wealthy enough
to give me all the luxury | crave, and
when he asks me, mean to say yes tc
to him.
'But-but you love him. Leila :?
How panied and sweet Elane's low
voice was as, it faltered forth the ques-
ton which Ray himself had come to
aek, but, but now knew would never
cross his lips to Leila Cranston!
love him Why, sometimes he
bores me unutterably. l don't believe
in loye, us you do, my dreamy cousin
No man will ever be the god to me that
Ray Powell is to you. l read your Sc
cret long ago, Elaine, but
Hush oh, hush He loves you. b
content with that, and spare me-
Through every nerve of his body
thrilled that low, PANIED cry, and a twig
breaking under his foot moment af
terwards made his presence known to
the girls, who, as they turned to greet
him, did not know what he had over