Catoctin clarion., 1890-04-24

ptOUUlOl uhA oVSSVSA AoA otiS 'aioIb "'ASA
was not quite dew, fingered upon ltet
eyelashes. We supped en- tete-a-tete
and sat out on the porch until bedtime
watching tho moon rise and mount
the crystal white light driving back the
shadows from the wet grass and ribbon
like graveled paths winding away into
the sErubbert enjoying the scentireight
ed air throbbing and cooling before the
river breeze, and talking, talking, as
only two girls who haye been bosom
friends from infancy can talk after
nearly six months separation. Angus.
ia bore her part gal,antly, and I quite
forgot the passing clouds that had dim
med her eyes and shaken her voics.
When we were ready for bed the cloud
returned and broke. I saw her kneel-
ing form trembling from head to foot
while she was saying her prayers, and
heard sti0ed sob. Arising, with aver.
ted face, she went to bureau on the
far side of the room, took a miniature
from drawer, kissed it twice and fur
lively slipped 1t under the pillow
When we had laid down and the light
was out l knew, gentle and gradual as
was the movement, that she drew the
picture from its hiding place and press.
ell it to her bosom. Passing my hand
caressingly over her cheek I felt that it
Was wet.
Augusta" l said, softly, cannot l
comfort you?' What is It. my poor
dear: Surely you are not grieving
over a sorrow that will soon be cured so
soon as will Mr.. Deanes absence?'
She clung to me in wild storm of
tears. She vas but twenty, and had
not had secret from me in ten years;
so l got this one.
Law business, imperative and not TO
be deferred, she SAID, had called Frank
to Richmond. With all her sweetness of
temper his wife had been spoiled child
in her fathers house, and her husband
had never crossed her. She especially
desired that he should be home while
was there, and could not be convinced
that the matter in hand could not be
transacted as we'll by correspondence
as in person. From pleading she pass
ed to remonstrance, then to indignant
protest. The result was that reef of
horrors to the newly welded, the first
quarrel. Frank told her that she was
unreasonable and childish, and asked
her how she expected him to make a
llying for herself and him If she kept
him tied to her apron string.
'And l called him unfeeling and cru.
ell and-brutal + confessed the peni-
tent between her sobs. Il have cried
myself to sleep for two nights over. If
I could but see him for one minute
long enough to beg his pardon-1 could
let him 60 again for six months. il nec-
essary. II you had seen his face when
| SAID that last wicked word He turn
ed as white as death, and bit his lips
hard to keep back the bitter answer |
deserved. How could l do it? How
could 1 do it?
1t did seem inexcusable to me-a
slightly priggish damsel with a we'll
formulated creed Of wifely department
and duty-but l lectured her mildly in
consideration of her genuine distress.
ale has q generous heart" con-
cluded. "He will rot bear grudge,
you may be sure, and his very soul is
bound up in you"
The newly cut plaster did not draw
the lips of the wound together. Indeed
it bled afresh.
ole never said an unkind word to me
In his life, my suffering, patient, ill-used
angel! And : wor1fdn't walk down to
the boat with him, although Knew he
was longing to ask me to do it. l didn't
even 60 with him to the door, and when
be kissed me good-by just let him do
it and stood like dumb block while !e
walked out of the house-oh, Nancy !!
so slowly and unwillingly! 1t wasn't
a bit like his step. 7 didn't stir to go
to the wr,tow, where / had always
stood every morning to kiss my hand to
him when he went down to the Office
But watched him from away back in
the room where he couldn't see me,and
saw him 60 down tire patti and stop
under the honeysuckle at the gate to
look lib at the wirdow. When he did
not see me his face turned absolutely
dark-the most awful thing! and he
rushed off down the street with never u
glance heh1nd him. That was our first
parting! We parted under thunder
cloud, Nancy l have lived in the
heart of it ever since. If you had not
nornn I think I must have zone crazy