Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-03-10
Mehannsbwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday March TO- 1892

firmly on her pretty blonde head, anc
was gone through the kitchen door with
graceful speed.
'Oh, Mis- Merritt Mrs Peterman
begged, in scared tones, don't let her
l never dreamed of no such o'.-Fol
goodness sakes, that girl F.?
Let her 60, said her kinI-h eartcd
hostess, cheerfully, and with mother
pride in her tones. Rhoda isn't asham
ell TO do a kind turn, whatever it is
She's a woman, Rhoda is.
Rhoda went to where Mrs. Peter
mans old wagon waited, and mounted
to the high seat.
it was rattly affair: the horse was
twenty years old if a day, and furry.
coated; and the tin pals and measures
jingled together in the back with
alarming loudness.
But if Rhoda felt any faint. glrlish
qualms she WINGED none. She smiled
as she chirruped to the staid old animal
and hummed little, and strove to be,
lieve she was forgetting her own haunt
ing trouble.
Mrs. Whitaker, angling at the sight
of Mrs. Peterman 8 successor till the
tears came, bought eight quarts Of ber-
ries, and Mrs. Kelly, next door, bought
FIVE. The Steeles were next.
Rhoda's pretty color heightened a
little as she drew up at the front gate.
Not that she should ever love Ow al
Steele-no; but if he was to be her
husband
Owen was in the yard. 81 was an
elderly lady dressed in silk and gem
tleman in correspondingly imposing
garments.
All, yes. Rhoda remembered that
| Owen uncle and aunt from the city
had been expected that dAy--an uncle
and aunt from whom, Owen had in
formed her, he had expectations.
Owen, in his best clothes and looking
co'nplaccnt, came to the gate.
Great guns, Rhoda ! he uttered
shortly. what are you mp to-?
RLola coIored also, her red under lip
between her teeth.
Cant you see::' she queried. Sell.
ing Mrs. Petelman's berries for her
she is sick. Won't you take some? is
that your uncle and aunt, Owen? I'd
like to meet them
That's them, said Owen, in sort of
growl. For the lands sake, Rhoda,
drive along! You don't spose l want
EN- to see You this way or know who
YOU are ? If you ain t up to the fun
NEST thinge ever Il girl was. Rhoda,
see here. lid be rather ashamed to
introduce you to EN- like this. You
know how they are, from the city and
all, and--come now, don't stop here,
Rhola. We don't want any berries
'Don't you, Owen :? m selling them
for Mrs Peterman, you know, who
needs the money SO much Rhoda said,
slowly.
Her eyes, grown large and bright,
were fixed upon him with an odd ex.
preston which Owen was not shrewd
enough to fathom.
He felt uncomfortable under her gaze
and he wondered why she gave a pref
ty, ringing laugh as she drove away and
turned and waved her hand, laughing
still. But he was relieved that she had
gone.
What had possessed her, anyhow
He wiped his hot face-tor his vexatlon
and apprehension had been acute-and
went back to the visitors thankfully.
The lawn OF the pretty little East
hampton Hotel, the house which took
the maj ,rity Of Easthamptons summer
boarders, was well filled when Rhoda
reached there half an hour later.
The wind had rumpled her yellow
hair, ard her eyes looked clear and
bright. She would shrk nothing, she
had said to herself, firmly, as she held
to the resolution.
And she halted before the hotel and
turn her WHY'D face toward 1t.
Yes, he was there-she had known he
would be. She caw him first, though
there was porchful of bright gowns
and manly figures, and Il tennis court
full of lively players, and sparkling Of
parasols elsewhere.
And-yes, he saw her, and left, with
the shabbiest apology for bow,the lady
with whom lie had been talking, ant
went running down the steps and thu
walk, hat in hand, and brought up be
side Mrs. Peterman's wagon with ;
bound.
Why, Miss Merritt. he cried--'is i
YOU ? ] couldn't believe it at first, bu
it is! What are you doing? How jolly
His handsome young face was aglov