Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-04-10
No. 5 |,

udI ldoSuACu1.
we are going to haye fine night af-
ter all, she remarked, the stars are
coiling out
The little face in the white hood was
upturned to the kludIing sky. And
then, very suddenly, he did an extuor.
dinarily strange thing for basAful man
to do.
He never afterward could compre-.
hend how he had been yalorous enough
for such IN act. He bent and kissed
the girl beside HIS.
She drew back trembling.
You have no right to do that : she
cried
Give me the right be pleaded. grow
ing bold all at once. i IN uwlully in
love with YOU, Sylvia. Give me the
right.
4 Cannot, size whispered.
why not:
She was silent. Distinctly sounded
tie clatter of the horses hoofs on the
hard white road. Onward the sleigh
sped, by farms and fences and few
red gold window panes.
is there he asked any one else p
She hes:tated.
Yes
His heart sank like lead. There was
no hope for him, then. In silence they
droye on. The moon had risen and
was swinging up the sky, q globe Of
pearl. Evidently they were late. When
they reached the small wooden school,
house where the reunions were held,
they saw several teams hitched without.
From the windows of the structure the
light streamed. They could catch a
pleasant murmur of voices.
Brighter the moonlight had grown.
AS Bassett assisted Sylvia to alight,
she started. cried o1t.
What IS i'll he asked.
His face waa pale and she fancied
rather stern.
Is 1t you" she painted, Reuben Bas.
sctt..
Who, he asked, a quiverln IN his grave
voice, did you think it was?
She had not Withdrawn the hand she
had given him when about to descend.
How it Autteled in his like captured
bird.
/ thought, she filtered, \ was with
your cousin I
'Bob Bcnham ?
yes.
lie went step nearer.
Sylvia, he questioned, q queer, wild
hope tugging at his sorrowful soul and
making him desperately brace, did you
mean no to him ?
lie could hardly hear her low as
sent.
And the-the man you cared for
He broke off She leaned toward
him. She held ont her little mittened
hands to him. Blushing and fearful in
the radiant winter moonlight, her ten
der young face smiled down upon him.
Never word she said. He nesGed
none.
Darling" he said, and sprang into
the sleigh.
You don't care to 60 i'm
'No-oh, MOI
Just then the door Of the schoolhousc
was opened. Light billowed mellowly
forth. Those within called to them to
hurry, that debate was in progress.-
But Reuben snatched up his reins.
shouted out a laughing refusal and
turned his horses homeward. He was
not at all timid now. Indeed, it was
astonishing how assertive and master
full he had suddenly become.
Why did you ignore me so? You
never were civil to me, dearest.
The idea Of reproaching me. when
you used hardly notice me-
That was because loved you 80.
We'll, perhaps was afraid you
would think that | actually liked you 7
And then they both laughed out hap.
PLY like the blissfuI and ridiculous
young people they were.
Such splendid drive as that vas
Surely never the stars shone 30 superb
", or WAS the ar SO sweet!
The following day Reuben went to
see his cousin.
Hello he cried. why didn't you
tell Sylvia that you could not 60 last
night ?
Had no chance. Got stuck in a
snow drift, and didn't get home till
nine. What's up"
For Reuben was beamng &
Congratulate me !,
lIr held ont his hand