Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1893-06-29
Did you do that purposely, Marcia :?
she asked.

'Purposely, mother! Do you think
me utterly devoid of common sense? 1t
was perfectly dreadful 1T seemed to
me I was going down to the bottomless
deep ; and before | would do an idiotic
thing like that, l would stay unmarried
until old enough to be maiden aunt to
Methusalah.
Goodness, Marcia, | should prefer
drowning
You had better try it, then But
even If | had done it purposeiy, what
would l have accomplished: ! had
hardly reached the wafer before they
were all splashing around me in their
shirt sleeyes. They had better have
kept their coats on
You are more fastidions tnan CRATE
ful, my dear. 1t seems to me Can new.
er do enough for them
But the case Is just exactly rs it was
before. You will nave to make up your
mind to my being spinster, devoted
to womens societies and foreign MIS-
sions, unless you are clever enough to
suggest some remedv.-And now,
mother dear, am going to sleep
Tie next day she seemed as we'll as
ever. and in the evening a number Of
her young friends came to inquire con-
cerning her health, and congratulate
her upon her escape.
After good deal Of laughing and
jesting she turned to fine looking man
who watched her with admiring eyes
and said
'Mr. Waller, you did not make any
effort to save me. am afraid you con.
slider my lite Of very little consequence.
'Oh, Miss Harmon he replied, you
know that is unjust.
Unjust, when you saw me tall, and
never came to the rescue p
What chance was there Tor me p
Those three nmble footed Bayards
went oyer the edge of that rock us il
shot from canon, and | was afraid of
belnga hinlrance.'
That is all very we'll, but----
You haya no taith in me. see.
But propose anything you please. that
is brave and heroic, and see if do not
redeem my reputation in a way to re-
store your confidence. ! believe that
could outdo Hercules himself IN such
a cause.
Would you pnt girde round the
earth in 40 minutes? p
Yes indeed. And that reminds me,
Miss Harmon. that ! once made some
rhymes upon that subject. May read
them to You at any tlme:
Read them now. Read them now,
the others cried. ',Ne call for those
verses at once.
No, he objected. I am u very mod
est man. and meyer read efforts Of that
kind to more than one listener. May
| read them to YOU alone Miss Harmon
Yes, come tomorrow evening, and !
will listen with all the pleasure in the
world.
The next evening, therefore, the
gentleman made his appearance very
promptly, but before commencing to
read, he said to Marcia:
4 always like to act out what write.
Haye | your permission to do So:
Certainly she answered unsnsp!-
ciously. "A little action adds great
deal to the effect.
you will not think me presumlng or
bold =
OF course not.
You are very sure you will not be
offended p
offended am delighted, for |
meyer dreamed you were Il poet. Begin
at once, do.
Y will commence at the second
verse.
And he read the following lines with
soft and tender emphasis:
wilt try me them he pleads.
"Fain would Iprovc
Ny hearts true love and fcaty to thee;
Gladly indeed all pcrils would brave
BY land or by the loud trcachcrous sea
Thou wouldst :" she says, then show
like Puck thy power,
And grdlc thou the world within this
hour"
agreed" he quick responds with kindling
glance;
That awakes anew her mockcry and
mirth.
OFF then, she, laughing cries; "why daily
thus?
Thou shouldst ere now have circIcd half
the earth
"'Tls here III proye it, love, and only
here
The saucy eyes grow soft beneath his
gaze,