Catoctin clarion., 1892-08-18
hlpchnctown Frederick County, Maryland Thursday August 8 1892
After three years of this hard, poorly

good fortune that had befallen them
A rich uncle had died in Mexico leav
ing his entire fortune to his sister
children, and through the efforts tha
had been made to find the two orphans
foster sister CT their father had beer
discovered in the Northern part of th'
State, and already she had sent lette
instructlng the two girls to come a
once and make their home with her.
How grandly tortupate,' Janet hat
cried, when the good tidings were made
known to them. It's good by once auc
for all to that miserable little shop, anc
as soon as we can get a few decor
things together we shall take the train
for good old Aunt Barton's.
But what is to become of dear o}C
Uncle Dunkin p Lou asked.
Oh, I don't know, I'm sure. liz
cannot expect us to chain ourselves
down here to this life just for his sake.
Perhaps not, Janet, but l shall not
leave him after oil he's done for u.s.
We'll, you can do as you like, Lou
as for me, I'm going at once.
But there was no need of worrying
over Uncle Dunkin, Cor the very next
day he was found drowned IN the river
and the girls left the city within a
week and We're whirleu away to the
North through the great open country,
so tul of freedom and beauty. dotted
here and there with clean. sunny villa
ges, and within few hours were safely
lodged at Mrs. Barton's dear old home
-,picturesque Oakview.
Once during the journey Lou had
turned to her sister, and, with her
voice SO soft and trembling, said:
Janet, how l wish good, old Uncle
Dunkin could have lived to see this.
should have enjoyed it more if he could
haye been with u.s.
I'm glad he isn't, Lou. He was
we'll enough in our old life, but he
wouldn't do now.'
From the date of that speech Lou
had felt pang of sorrow that was new
to her, and as she sat in the shade Of
the elm tree down by the bridge the
change in her sister came back to her,
and she sighed.
Robert Barton was Mrs. Barton S
only Child, young man of 70, who
had been abroad for year, and Was
expected home that evening. The car
rage had already been sent to the sta
tion to meet him, and Janet. having
made up her mind to ensnare and cap
ture HIM and become the mistress Of
Oakview, had been practiclng the art
of luxurious leisure from, the day OF
her arrival.
Lou had remained by the bridge al
most an hour when she saw carriag'
rolling along the lane, and she watched
it until it rolled up to the gate and
disappeared among the trees that lined
the drive. So intent was her gaze and
so absorbed her thoughts that she
started with little cry of alarm when
she was suGdenl y awakened by the
sound Of footsteps on the bridge close
behind her.
Beg pardon, said a dusty, travel
stained man with IL tanned face. as be
lifted his hat, Il am sorry that | fright.
ened you. used to like this walk, and
especially at this time Of the day, since
it is so quiet and restlul, ana then the
clover scents always bring back the
days of my childhood, and when we
reached the turn over there | left the
carriage to walk across to the house.
Then you are Mr.. Barton ? Lou
said.
Yes excuse me, l should have in
troduced myself. But when one has
been away so long and is getting home
again he feels wild with pleasurable ex-
citemcnt. You, | presume, are Miss
Harding?
I am Lou Harding
Oh, indeed! Well, Am anxious to
meet dear mother, so if you are going
to the house we will walk back to-
gether.'
But little was said by either of them
as they walked back across the sward
but Lou was conscious more than once
of the handsome man s eyes being fixed
lntently OIL her.
When they reached the house Janet
affected manner so cold and distant
and so listless that Lou looked at her
in surprise.
That night when the sisters promen'
AIDED arm IN arm across the lawn Janet
asked
Lou, what do think of Robert? =
\ do not know that | ought to ex-