Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-11-27
NO. 32l,


The town had grown out around tic
old Philips mansion but it was still q
stately residence standing in he midst
of generous grounds, with the same ma
jestIc clms sweeping It's roof. As Her
bert walked up the path to The front
door between trim rows tf old fir trees
the years since he stood there saying
trembling farewell words to Margaret
were crumpled up to nothing. lie had
I discoved that she WAS Margaret Philips
still, and he wondered if she remember
ed that parting. He feared she did NOT
| for she treated him with an easy fAml-
larity. He wished she would blush and
look down when he spoke to her, as she
did In the old days.
The fragrance of Thanksgiving g.cco,
ed them as they entered the hon @.
When the family were ali seated around
the loaded table, Herbert accustomed to
the dainty courses Of city dining ro)ia,
maryeleu at the amount Of turkey,
chicken pie and boiled ham which H:as
heapel upon lis plate, together with
every vegetable native to the s2li,
Somehow he ate it all with IL keen rel
ish, ard had appetite lett for plun.
pudding and numerous pieces Of pie.
Mrs. Joe laughingly declared that the
rule of the house on Thanksg sgiving day
was that "everbody must taste of every
thing" and Herbert had no inclination
to rebel. He wondered that he felt so
much like boy. There Is nothing
more contagious than the hearty cheel
Of New England Thanksgiving.
Herbert was impatient for a chance
to talk with Margaret, but not until
evening when the young folks went 10
party, and Joe and his wife were en-
tertaning neighbor, did he find him
self alone with her, and then lie did not
know what to say to her. He was
skilful in the art of making pretty
compliments to women of society, but
in the presence Of this calm, beautiful
woman he felt bashful and awk wa.d as
youth Of 20.
Margaret haye been IL fool all my
lite T. he exclaimed suddenly.
81 am very sorry to hear it. Did you
come back to the old place to confess
::' she said, laughing.
He grasped her hand, and all the
pent vi feelings Of years, the struggles,
the indifference at times the loneliness
always, the wish and the hope for the
future, burst from his lips.
margaret do not scnd me back to
my lonely, dreary life. Help me to
forget it, Margaret, and-forglyc me.
"uerbert there Is nothing to ioraiye,'
she said, drawing away her band. My
life has been very happy. | have never
wished to change it. do not wish to
change it nov; it is better as IT is. You
must not feel lonely or dreary. You
have friends here who will always well
come YOU, who would have welcomed
you before had you come"
She smiled us she spoke, and Herbert
saw that his passionate words had made
scarcely ripple upon her heart. For
the moment he felt as if he had been
shipwrecked on desert island, yet at
the close of the evening" as he Walkod
back TO his hotel, he whist'ed an old
love song and was in a high good hut
NOR with himself and all the world.
lie was determined to work with all
his heart and soul to win her.
1t was II long and desperate struggle,
but in the end Herbert gained bril-
liant victory. There was a grand we'd
ding at the old Philips mansion on the
next Thanksgiving day, and now Her
bert insists that Margaret was waiting
for him all those years, while she de-
clares that she was not.
That Is the onl ly point upon which
tlcy do not agree.