Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-11-06

those crumbllng walls Win nome once
comfortable and pleasant. But you
must bear IN mind that this portion Of
the parish was settled by class of peo-
pie very simple and primitiye in their
mode oe living.
They were under the impression that
they had been blessed with the good
things OF life, and they accepted their
lot with contentment. Old Mr.. Jacob,
the owner of the place, was man of
that sort. Although uneducated and
somewhat uncouth in his manners, he
was kind. hearted and soclable, and al.
ways anxious to have his friends about
him. He took particular pride In a
flower garden, where jasmlnes and olives
embalmed the air, end where choice
roses and variety of shrubbery flour
ished in reckless profusion You now
find no trace of this old fashioned gar.
den; shrubs and plants haye all been
swept from existence.
"All but the Cherokee rose," | tease
inglv suggested. WAS that classed
among the rare plants?'
THAT thick growth which you have
taken for the Cherokee continued
Estellc, "ls species of climbing rose,
much like the cloth of gold. 1t once
trailed over a summer house, and is,
perhaps, the only relic left of the pleas
ant past. 1t is evident that the rose
has grown wild. for it is rioting over
the premises. Cecilr, that ancient
dame Of yours, was the youngest of Mr..
jacobs family. Just at the close of the
war she was in the bloom of youth and
splendid type OF Creole beauty-tall
and 1.-the, and the grace Of everv motion
gave one an underlined impression of the
Incidence aud voluptuousness Of hel
nature. She was brunette with rich
color, and her dark eyes were us melt
ing as those Of q gazelle.
"The girl was not considered intelli-
gent and her education had been sadly
neglected but there was in her man
ner native refinement which gave her
entrance in the best society. lrcmcm-
Der 50 we'll her appearance at Il party
given in honor Of q company Of recruits
on the eve Of their departure for north,
ern Louisiana. Ball costumes in those
ltavs were not elaborate affairs, nor had
fashion much voice IN our little conmu'
nity. Estclie wore SATIN robe some
what antiquated IN style, but it fitted
her nicely and brought into strong re
lief the freshness Of her beauty.
"You may imagine the disastrous
effects of such combination Of lowell,
ness on. the rest Of us maidens who had
been less favored by nature. That
evening Cecle received the homage Of
many handsome and gallant cavalier.
Among the number was Capt. Lymon
Texan, whose regiment had done some
service in the state. The reason Of this
officers return to the parish was mat
ter of conjecture. He fingered, how
ever, under plausible pretext, spend
ing most of his time flirting with the
grls.
"But after his acquaintance with Ce
cile he changed his conduct and devot-
ed himself exclusively to her. He was
a man of education and apparently o
high standing in life Cecile was ella ted
and accepted his attentions with un
ftiyned satisfaction. She renouncec
her life of frivolity and wrapped hersel
in mantle of reserve at the approach
of her former admirers. You must
know that some time previous to thlE
she had either engaged herself or glyel
great encouragement to a cousin oil hers
Creole youth, also an officer in the
army.
"Victor wis dark and of small sat
ure, but he possessed a sort of wil'
beauty which fascinated most people
There was CLINT in his black eye
which reminded one of the leaping li9h
in Algol. The boy was madly in low
with his beautiful cousin, and there hal
been time when she had given hin
every reason to belieye that his aflec
ton was returned. But since her lat
lnfatuation she had grown cold, an'
would turn from him her luminous eye
each time he sought an explanation o
the change which had overtaken her
lie was determined not to rellnquish hi
T prize without il struggle; hence ther
were several meetings at the paterna
home, where the antagonistic propensl
ties Of the suitors were exhibited II
personal remarks. Capt. Lymon
, assumption of haughtiness in the pres
ence of his r,yal irrltated Victor beyon'
endurance and aroused the demon 0
jealousy in his breast.
zone evening, as it often occurred