Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-09-17

hood, and at the same mOmeut NdunAo
opened her brown eyes.
what are you quarreling about" she
said, looking up anxiously at the face
above hers, for, if the school adored
Mamie, Mamie adored Hagar and no.
body else.
Hagar laughed again, but differently
There was that in Mamie which made
Rentler all who approached her, though
few could have told why. Perhaps 1t
was the intense femininity Of her, q wo'
manliness that was like perfume
breathed on all who drew near and at
traoted to her the strongest and most
manly men.
martha was saying Miss Gregorias
can suit herself out Of your castoff
lovers" said a girl who sprawled at a
distance, "but that's absurd. You re
going to marry Will Cassilis straight
off and'-
But Mamie had started up, and like
some frightened sprite vanished.
Its too much" grumbled another
Rirl, "looks, money, position, and to
marry the man she loves at II! II she
weren t such real good sort. I'd loathe
her"
Don't envy her," said a curiously
quiet voice. "You see her now, but her
life's not done yet. Something may turn
up that will make everything she's got
dust and ashes. It's the biggest mistake
out to count up your own or any other
PERSONS blessings. Providence has got
mean way Of overhearing the counting
process and docking you Of half OF them.
There's an ugly cross In Nannie's hand,
and perhaps long after we've settled
down to our potty little lives, quite
happy in them, she'll come to envy u.s.
Don't you suppose that other women
will try to get her adored Willie away
from her? He wouldn't have caught
Mamie if he hadn t caught lots OF other
women too"
Hagar raised her brows.
What have you been reading" she
said, "or hearing, since newspapers are
forbidden heref"
She had risen and now stood confess
ed in all her magnifcence of feet 8
above the lounging, commonplace fg-
ures around, and as she put up her
hands to smooth the plaits that coiled
heavily into the nape Of her neck sud
den premonition, a fear, seized upon
Martha Cane.
II wish you weren't going home
with Mamie" she said slowly. You
have far too much influence over her.
and you may use it for harm yet. Sup
posing You fall in love with Will Cas-
silis yoursef?"
Hagar paused, door handle in hand
"Or he with mei'' she said and passed
out.
II hate her." cried Martha, sitting
erect as the door closed. 1T can't be
right for her to get every one, body and
soul, under her thumb that she chooses.
I'm the only one who has stood up
against her, and she can't forgive me
never will. "
"Whoever marries Mamie marries
Hagar Gregorias," said the quiet voice
ct distance, "but am by no means
yure that man will be Will Cassilis
Les absens ont toujours tort, and Blake
Trelawny is great deal more in evil
dence than the banished one. Do you
remember how Mamie used to hate
him, and now his portrait is in her
roanep''
''Their room, put in Martha. "Hers
apd the Gregorias'. That S not Nannie's
doing"
And she positively smiled when
she saw him In church last Sunday. A
year ago she would have got under the
seat rather than look at him, and this
is Hagar's doing. wonder what her
little game is? But with such over
towering influence as hers over Mamie
it should be the easiest thing in the
world to marry her to any man her
satanship pleasos.
"Ahl' cried Martha. $50 you agree
with me. You don't believe the indu-
ence is exactly holy one that she exer-
discs over Nannie?" cup to a certain
point, )" said the quiet voice, "it will do
no harm. For instance, those headaches
that Mamie always suffered from and
which Hagar can soothe away almost
with touch-to be saved those hours
of suffering is distinct gain, and must
honestly say that have never seen that
influence exercised for evil. Still, II it
comes to parting Of the ways, If, foe
instance, both fall in love with the same
man, Mamie, not Hagar, will 90 to the
WALL
Therefore she is no true friend"
said Martha. Tomorrow they both re-
turn to Straubenzee, and Will Cassiiis'
exile is not up till Sept. !, which gives
four clear weeks to Blake Trelswny.
She will zee him every day, just as she
met him at balls, at her fathers hunt
breakfasts, at dinner, everywhere, in
short, during the Christmas holidays,
and she will have the aregorias to aid
and abet him in every possible way,
and I shouldn't like to bet on the re-
suit
Mamie is the stanchest, dearest lit
tie soul in the world" cried out one Of
the girls stoutly. Horses wouldn' t drag
her away from her Willie. Don't you be-
lieve itY That's her charm-that she's
60 true hearted. And she is only civil to
Trelawny to please Hagar."
"A man might we'll be civil to him
for his own sakei" said the quiet voice.
drawing deep breath. "There's man
for you if you like When I look at him.
feel as if all the other men are pin
cushions or walking sticks. Trelawny's
alive, and let's you know it.
"Well," said Martha" I confess I
like that sort Of man, anything that rep
resents movement, life, motive power
a man who makes you realize something
Of the forces that rule the world, and Is
always moving, living, fighting, aohiev-
ing, never standing still and rusting
like students and women"