Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-12-19
A LOSING GAME.

WOIQS III tue IlCu, OIWIcul, OSNcSO DdaS
voice, which fitted his throat SO we'll.
Yet, withal, there was faint tremor in
that voice--a tremor such as quivers
upon the air tor several moments after
the dinner gong in a lourth-rate hotel
has received the final stroke. Roder
ick had practiced the tremor many days
for this occasion and had got it down to
a fine, delicate point.
Going away SO soon?' sighed rather
than spoke Giadiola Clingstone.
Then for long time neither spoke.
and as everything else was also still, ST.
lence relgned.
The descending sun of late August
day shot w!thering glanccs through the
overhanging branches and the two sat
deeply immersed in such thoughts as
they happened to have handy.
From affair." borne on breeze so gen.
tie that Gladiola's sigh would haye been
hurricane in comparison, came the
fervent exclamation Of some honest, cal
lous palmod farmer addressed to the
nigh horse which showed a disposition
to lag. A small, thin voiced mosquito
winged its flight on gauzy wings from
the nei ighboring swamp and a)ighted on
the end of Gladioa S nose, whence the
insect rose again with tiny shrek of
liendi-h Joy as it nimbly lodged a right
handler aimed by GIadlola, which now
spent itself upon the nose and crcum
ambient AR in about equal parts.
Yes can stay no longer l must
return to my duties in the city. l go
away tomorrow, reiterated Roderick
after few minutes.
Both We're playing a waiting game
from much perusal Of the ephemeral
literature Of the present time each had
| learned that when a young man states
to u young woman in whose company
he had spenta a large portion Of his sum-
mer vacation that he is going away
again, and does it, with the trcnulo
stop out to its full extent, the young
woman may be prepared to hear Of
something to her advantage if the man
is eligible.
Gludiola was waiting for Roderick to
say something additional. Roderick
WAS waiting to be encouraged to 90 on.
'Coulln' t you stay two or three days
| longer??' asked GlaloIa at length. At
the same time she sighed so violently
that Roderick involuntarily pulled his
hat down more firmly. as he would
! have done had breeze suddenly sprung
ny.
Would you be pleased to have me?
10 have you? Why, Mr.. Sweetwil-
llan, L
To have me stay, mean?
what do you think | thought you
ueant?'
Nothing.
What you say often means nothing,
Mr.. SWeetwilIiam remarked Gladlola,
who was quite an expert at repartee.
! You ilatter me, Miss Clingstone, but
few of US have nothing. But suppose
should say something that Gid mean
something suppose should ask you
to be-
There comes papa, Mr. Swectwilliam
ask him, in addition to her many other
accomplishments had acquired the art
OF miul reading and could tell before
. hand what Rodelick wanted to ask.
With your permission, desire to
make you my father-in-law,' calmly
announced Roacr!ck, when Giadiola' 8
father, the owner of vast estates and
oceans of watered stock, approached.
Ha! ha.' laughed Mr.. Cingstone.
without changing the position of sin
gle facial muscle. And what are your
prospects in life, young man.?
Prospects? | daily no longer with
prospects. I live on the proceeds Of
the past, My uncle was worth q NIL
lion when he died. am his sole heir.
See
Prasumptuous youth! Begonc from
my sight How dare you ask me for the
hand Of my daughter? You the rep
resentatve of plutocracy. My daugh-
ter shall we'd q poor and worthy young
man unencumbered in wealth and pos
se.sed OF nothing but his prospects,
Begone /! | say.
How long has your unfortunate Ia
ther been afflicted with paresis ? asked
Rodcrich, who dad failed to begone,
when Cijhgstone had vanished from
view.
It isn't that, murmured Gladioa.--
Papa wishes to be considered eccen-
| trlc.'