Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-10-13
A GENUINE HERO.

"A SKY OF opal ana golu' deep trel'
lished veranlu, novel, and hammock
slung at the most comfortable of angles.
With these conditions its was scarcely
strange that Halcyon Hartford swayed
delightfully."- between dreamland and the
real world that June afternoon, with
the fleecy gold Of her hair, all guiltless
of pin or comb, and the bell sleeves,
falling enchant,ng'y away from her
round white arms, while one trim slip
pered foot hung from the edge of the
hammock.
'Halcyon Halcyon Where are you?'
1t was one Of those exasperating voices
which once having been sweet, had now
Il vibrant jar to its tones, painfully akin
to shr'lness.
Hnlcyon trowned IL little and raised
herself on one elbow.
Oh Aunt Hal, don't scream so! l
was Just in dream of delight
We'll, you should have answered,
then!
Aunt Hal came out Of the vide, shady
mall with an ELUSIVE swing Of her drap-
cries and seated herself in the bamboo
chair close to the hammock.
She was comically like her neice-at
least as much as woman of thirty
eight could be like maid Of eighteen.
There was the same yellow luxurlance
of hair, but harsher, drier and suggest
i've Of dye; the same pink and white
complexion, artltically heightened !;
similar features, cruelty sharrened by
the inexorahle hand of time, and teeth
Just one degree too white and regular
to be real.
The white dress she wore was pain
fully trying, and she was compelled to
use gold trimmed eye glasses as she held
up a letter to the view Of her neice.
What has happened? drowsily de-
manded the latter lifting pair OF blue
eyes, frlnged with dark lashes.
The strangest thing!
Another offer Of marriage?' hazarded
Halcyon, settling on the unl.keliest
thing which could, in her opinion, hap
pen.
How did you guess p with little
exultant cacNle. Exactly. The dear,
foolish lad-and he so much younger
han | Why, lie couldn't have been
twenty one when he went to Bombay,
and | was at least thirty then -
Thirty five, Aunt Hal, said Haley
on the merci!rss.
Was il as much as that2 Well, he
>eemcd desperately in love then, though
of course | never took any notice of the
child. But suppose in that country
Of blackamoors one can IT help thinking
about all the omen one has ever known
at home, and he has written me two or
three letters ---
Has he.
Halcyon sal straight up III the ham
mock how. Her blue eyes glowed.
The heat had brought a flush to her
cheek which all Aunt Halls carmint
saucers could not rival.
But | never told you, said the elder
beauty, because | remembered that
there was sort of boy and girl affair
between you and Charlie Blessen when
you were at boarding school, and |
thought you would be nettled. And
here's the proposal at last, dear-wilh
his photograph lnclosed.
Let me see it,
What brave, good face it was
slightly older and sterner than she ha>
looked upon when the Avancanion
sailed away three years ago, but yet so
strong and manly
Size laghed hysterlcalIy.
Shall you aacept him? :?
Aunt Hal nibblcd coquettishly at the
edge of the envelope the new false
tee'h cleaned in a smile.
'I-thlnk-I shall !!
And you fourteen years older than
he is !
People don think about such things
as they nsed to do, reasoned Miss Hart
ford, the elder. Eros is immortal you
know
lIalcyon sank back into The hammock
and reopen. her book.
You must do as You please, of
course, said she. After that quotation
about Eros, have not Il suggestion to
offer.
jealous, poor darling ! thought Aunt
Hal, with thrill of pity.
While Halcyon thought on her side:
THE silly goose He has done it now
He has been making loye to Aunt Hal,
thinking he was courting me-
i *
81 you're back again, Colonel {? said
the Old cab driver ut the station. We'll