Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-02-04
MechaDstown Frederick County, Maryland Thursday February 1892
NORRBL'y VOCATION.
BY EVELYN THORP.

two years.
:. Why? asked the man, who had not
Tt WAS stonily--or so Sorrel thought
A third little white pebble followed two
others, and dropped, neatly aimed into
the ripping blue of the lake. sor'e
co!ored. Hardwicke saw the color
though his glance was fixed on the ap
rrox1mate spot where the three pebbles
had been lost to view. He had way
of seeing out of the corners of his eyes
directed elsewhere. He now thought
that waye of color very becoming. lie
was almost on the poiut of saying so
but he was saved in time By Sorrel her
self speaking.
because | walt the cultivation Of
another year of travel and study and
observation.
lIardvicke stopped throwing pebbles
INTO the lake. lie leaned back against
the old stone wall, drew his hat lower
oyer his brows and plunged his hands
into his pockets
What unmitigatcd bosh.
This time he had certanly gone toe
far. The girl started to her feet on The
grassy slope. The book in her lap;
bulky volume-fe] to the ground. He
could see that she was trembling slight
", aud she held her head high, Yes,
she was deeply offended. llsldwlcke
started up. too.
oh, you must forgive me- he said.
But you cannot realize how exaspera-
ting it is to man. with a man's pulse
in him, to think Of girl like you mis-
taking so radically the essential occa.
sion Providence sent her INTO the world
to fulfill. You were made to render
some good man divinely happy, not to
waste your youth and sweetness in stri,
wing after a career and all the rest of
that nonsense. Lord what has come
over the nice girls? All bitten by the
same mama. Writers they want to be
and artists and lecturers, and heaven
knows what. Anything and everything
but the one thing worth being-a sweet
wife.
lie hal talked AS he followed her
and the close of his harangue was nd
dressed to her giclish back and shout
lers as they became ensulfed in the
wide Swiss doorway. She had not even
vouchsafrd a glance.
With IL half laugh he retraccd bis
steps from the old inn to the village
square overlooking the lake under its
centenary chestnuts. The higher peaks
of the snow clad ranges were flushed
with the sunset Alp glow.
"A precious, inspiring moment said
a voice behind Hardw1cke. 1t was
Sutterel!, the artist. With him was
Miss Ker, Sorrel's chaperon. She smil
&c. acidly upon Hardwicke. Suffered
ylared Int remained silent. Hard
woke and Miss Ker exchanged a few
commonplaces, if any speech Of Miss
kers could thus be qualified. Their
Hardwicke had perception that she
appeared to be lingering. Sntterell
though not dehcately lutuitive, appear
ed to feel the same thing. He present.
" strolled off Immediately Miss Kol
spoke.
You asked Sorref-Miss Fletcher
to walk ont with you this afternoon
Mr.. Hardwickc 2
| did Miss Ker.'
And if | am not wrong it waa Will
the view-the intention-'
OF urging her again to marry me
You are not wrong my dear Miss Ker
| know that you feel me an interloper
You have very exalted views for Miss
Fletcher. But l think 1t a quite good
enough fate tor any girl to be an honest
mans wife. And so, as | love Miss
Fletcher and as | consider myself an
honest man ! must warn you that
shall continue bo,h to urge myself up
on her and to discourage her masculine
ambitions.
A darkling flush mounted to the spin
ster's faded cheek.
You are at least frank, Mr., Hard
woke. Whether you merit other com
mendatlon leave to you. Mss Fetch
er was u mentally uniformed girl when
brought her abroad, though Il very gift
ed one. She was an orphan she had
no relative who could discover or de-
velop her great capabilities: | DID
both. | am an ardent crusader for g'o
rious causes in which women's help Is
needed, but | recognize that we need
young, fresh spirits. Here is one that
| have formed. You come abroad, just
for an idle summer; you see face that
takes your fancy you follow US every
where you ridicule the ideals dearest
TO ,5o1rcl t'i.tcher's soul sind lnine, and