Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1891-11-26

age about showing the house to the Gag
er sightseers who would be sure to be
attracted by the legend "To Let" on
the morrow.
!, Can't go in dat ar room" said Dor
Gas, interposing her stcut figure between
a hard featured house hunter and the
door of Mrs. Spencer's boudolr. Oats
private, dat ar is
Anything wrong in the room ?
sharply questioned the woman.
NOM stolldly responded Dorcas.
Ceilings cracked? Water pipes
burst?' @, .
Nom '. -.
'Then why can't I see lt:' with a
sudden push in that direction.
She might AS we'll have attempted to
charge a battery of artillery. Old Dor
caa stood immovable.
Lady ain't. we'll, num-, said she.
Can't nobo"y go In dat room. Tole
you so afore /
Anything contagious p
Nom
.Sure?'
yes m, sartln shuah = ....
very we'll; said the house hunter,
with "a forward Jerk of her chin, L shall
take no house that | CAN'T see every
inch OF ! and she founced out.
All day long Dorcas fought the army
of investiga' tors valiantly. and at night,
us she observed, she was irs' as tired as
if she'd done double days wash
Stout ladies peered INTO the sub cellar
and denounced the drainage; lean la.
dies poked their parasols into the kitch.
en- sink and tore off strips Of the hall
paper. Deep voiced men parleyed as to
the monthly rental fat old gentlemen
asked questions in husky accents.
I shall 60 crazy. said Dorcas.
The next morning. however, dove.
winged Peace once more settled down
on the field of action. The agent came
up and removed the bill.
The house Is taken, said he.
Who's took lt?' demanded Dorcas,
who CHANGED just then to be securing
the brasscs. But the agent either did
not know or would not tell. Dorcas
heaved a deep sigh. 'Den,' says she,
we've got to cla' out
The landlord sent Selma polite note
in day or two. lie had concluded,
he wrote, 70 accept her offer of the fur
niture and belonging as an equivalent
for a certain portion Of the unpaid rent.
Now, said Dorcas, what are We to
do:'
Poor Mrs. Spencer was all in futter.
The Newport scheme delighted her, and
she was very busy looking oyer her
wardrobe with reference to the coming
visit. Selma had written to the aunt
of an old schoolmate Of hers, who kept
boarding house in the fair seaside
city, asking her low est price for com.
Portable room. Dorcas was to 90 with
Mrs, Spencer as attendant and maid,
and SaIna had resolved to hire room
in New York and board hersalf as we'll
as she could.
But this has been a dear home she
murmured. I wonder who will sleep
in my room; l wonder whose hands
will strike the keys of mammals old pi-
ano and dust my flowing blue china and
arrange the old fiddle backed chairs
The purple sunlight shone softly i'll;
the scent of Il stock of hyacinths in
glass on the mantel brought back rem
iniscences of the old southern flower
gardens, and all of Il sudden voice
which she had last heard in those very
gardens struck on her ear.
'Sellna-have | startled you?'
Mr.. Berkeley!
He extended cordial hand.
Perhaps you fancied that 1 could not
trace you out ? said he. But / am
better at hide and seek than you
thought
She courteslcd haughtily. His hand.
some countenance fell. Evidently he
was deeply disappointed.
"Are you not glad to see me, Selma :
be exclaimed. oh. Selma. | had
counted 80 much on this interview l
had planned to renew my sult-to ask
you once more to be my wife.
She drew her slight figure up.
'Yon are presuming too much on my
very evident poverty, Mr.. Berkeley,
said she. I refused YOU when was
Miss Spencer, OF Spencer Vale. What
sort of a woman should | be If | were
now to accept you-simply as protect
ion against adversity?'
But, Selma -
Pray excuse me from any further
discussion on the question, SAID Selma.
MAY | not hope to see Your mother z