Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-12-18
M1hanIbwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday December 49, 1890

tremDleu SIlCe Ol lcf CllOILS 10 COnCrOl
them. "No-a thousand times no
He raised her hands 10 his lips and
kissed them. 1t was the first time his
kiss had touched them.
"My FRIEND" he whispered, low, you
have guessed my secret, have you not :?
You have seen it? How could / hope
to hide it except from her? She sus-
poets nothing. Tell me how | shall
approach that may not startle her
She is as yet but chlld. You are a
women Dora. Help 1ne!'
Was she still standing upright? -?
About her were the crushed ruins of
her castle, which scarce sixty seconds
before had lowered to the clouds. The
noise Of the falling fragments had stun
ned her. Had he not heard ? The
dust which had arisen therefrom blind
ed her. Could he not see?
"You are a woman, Bora. Help NE !
These were the words ringing in her
ears. Oh God! had she no greater need
for help:
you love Cara'''
How calm and quiet her voice sound
ed, even to herself
"Love her: All, Dora, you who
haye never loved can little guess how
much y
She laughed then. Something In the
words amlsed her: something that
shove! her how we'll she had kept her
secret--an old maid s secret.
"Tak to her." he went on. "Tell
me if she feels, it she ever will feel, for
me that for which l long"
NAY, speak to her yourself,' she
answered. She scarcely can deny you,
pleading your own cause
"You think so? Then will come
to morrow. Good by! God bless you T.
At last she was alone. The knowl-
edge came with a long sigh of relief, as
some hours later the "Good-n,ghts" had
been said, and Dora could face the mis-.
cry the morning had brought her. How
Iong-how very long ago it seemed !
She drew a chair beside the open win
dow, and sank into it heavily.
At that moment faint tap sounded
on the door, and golden crowned head
pushed itself through The space, where
it was held aja:.
please let me come in, dear Miss
Dora I" said young voice. 81 can't
sleep and | want to talk to YOU"
Then without waiting further pei
little white robel figure gld,
ed in and sank on the stool at her
feet.
The moonlight showed the fair, up.
turned face, and was in only the shad.
ow resting on her own soul which made
the Older woman fancy that Sraver
expression was upon it than its wont :
She softly stroked the bright hair.
I'll have something to tell you
Miss Dora,' the girl went on, after a
little pause II love you so much that
| would like that you should hear it
hrst-am I still Il child !? And do you
not think that children, as Ronalds
calls me, can love?
"You love, then:
Almost breathlessly she put the qucs
ton. Her own pain was swallowed up
in the Joy that, at least to Ronald, his
love would not be returned to him as
bitter Dead Sea fruit.
Yes, | love-" said Cara, "lt W s
such funny accident, our meeting,
1t was two years ago. His regiment
was stationed at the same town, where
was at school. lie is only lieuten-
ant, but he is 90 brave, so handsome
MY own dear father was an officer, you
know. l think remembering that
made me first care for him."
Then Mss Deane recovered her
breath.
"a lieutenant. WHO is this man OF
whom are you talking ?"
ellis name is Harry Llnden. He
will be here next week. He is coming
down, he writes me, to ask my guardl-
ans formal permission to marry me.
Oh, Miss Dora do you think he will
refuse or be angry He is so old, per-
haps he will have forgotten that he, too
once was young
Btterest mockery Of fate So old,
she said, and not yet had forty years
crowned his brow.
Once again she met Ronald Ray
alone, as he came next dav to plead his
cause. He listened, with a white,
drawn face, while she told him Of the
other secret with which she had been
meanwhile sparing HIM. in
the telling, all she could.
In her tender ritvinp for his wound,