Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1894-11-29

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'You would have been at sea- by this
time had I not found you. l hope you
do not feel put out because I was SO ab.
rupt. I had to hurry
'Oh, no. Gertrude fastened to say,
puzzled, mortified and ready to cry, u
assure you I feel deeply grateful. It's
only that you act so queer and that
there is 80 much that you ought to ex.
plain
u will explain anything you like, miss
Il beg your pardon. but may l KNOW
your name ef'
Has it come to that Must you ask
my name =? This 10 indeed, too much
u beg thousand pardons, but real.
ly cant see the harm. There is no one
to present US, and we wish to talk. My
name is Page Turner. and l should
u cannot bear it | cannot bear it I
cried Gertrude. starting abruptly away.
Page watched her graceful form hur-
rying oyer the rock strewn sand, climb
the steps to the walk at the top of the
sea wall. and round the point.
"A beautiful creaturev be said, but
a little over, strained in her notions Of
propriety. I shull see her again; l
shall be-who knows?-perhaps her
husband
Something white auttered at his feet,
blown about by the wind. He stopped
and took it IN his hand. 1t was dain-
ty handkerchief, marked in one corner
Gertrude Morey.'
This is no doubt hers he said.
NGertrude Morey.' l shall surely find
her.
Gertrude reached home with flashing
eyes and flaming cheeks and her moth
er, her brother Jay, and her sister Ell
len, all agreed that the sea air had been
very beneficial.
u shall never go to the sea again.
declared Gertrude, and evaded cues.
tions by fleeing to her room.
The next morning a cal|er-Page
Turner-was announced for Gertrude.
She was in such glow of happiness
that she could scarcely brush her own
hair before going down.
All will be explained at last she
assured herself. 1T was a wager per.
haps.'
When she entered the parlor, Page
advanced to meet her with open arms,
and held her close while he showered
kisses upon her lips.
AT last, my love I he breathed, >at
last we look into each others faces How
long it has been since we were together
But it must seen longer to you than to
me, because
Gertrude drew away from his arms,
and said coldly:
'Do you think so? But why do you
say it has been long since we met :? You
saw me at the seaside yesterday
YOU are mad, Gertrude! This is the
first time Ihave crossed the bey for four
weeks
Truly you think have great stock
of credulity. Is it a jest or wager?
l never knew you to deal in either to
such foolish extent before
Gertrude, I will take my oath that
that this is the first time l haye seen
you in four weeks
by the way, l must have carried off
some of your property when I was here
last, for | found handk ksrchief in nay
pocket this morning, with your name
upon it. Here it is.
Gertrude Immediately recognized the
one she had lost on the beach the day
before.
Will you still deny that you saw me
vest erday,' she said, her voice vibrant
with scorn, when you, yourself produce
the evidence? I dropped this very
handkerchief on the beach yesterday
afternoon. either just before or shortly
after I talked to you.
Talked to yssterday afternoon?
Why, | was in my room at the-my
God!
He was overcome by sudden hor-
rible suspicion.
u think-I thlnk-I will return now.
1 will see you-perhaps tomorrow he
said.
L haYe no desire to see you again.
You cannot mean it, Gertrude
Ido mean 1t. Inever wish to receive
another call from you or to see your
face again.
"Then all is over between usF
Yes she said huskily, her face ashen,
her hands clinging to the nearest
chair.
How could she ever believe in Page
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