Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-03-19

in the rear of the springhouse groaning
and gesticulating.
u wish Id ft him; VOW I wish Id
a ft him.
Dely watched him at first curiously
and no doubt. with certain pleasure.
He had had his chance and had not i'm
proved it. But her mood soon changed.
She began to CRY heartbrokenly.
Big Alec Penland grew as weak US q
baby.
Dely, if you won't come out hyar I'm
er comm in thar he cried, and in an.
other minute he had her in his strong
arms.
1t was oaly for q second, however.
Dely's sobs stopped suddenly. She
struggled to get free.
'Ain't yer 'shamed, Alec Penlan'. an
me most ez good ez married ter Bob
Wilson,
Alec released her instantly and stood
looking at her. his face drawn and pale.
YOU act like plum fool, Alec
whimpered Dely.
u reckon mabby do said Alec,
humbly.
He looked at her, his heart sinking,
but be saw that che Was trembling for
all her harsh words.
Dely, DEFY cried sharp, menacing
voice.
What's Ma exclaimed Dely, wildly.
'Oh, Alec, don't let her see ye. She'll
bang her head ergin the wall wus'n
ever she banged hit when Bob axed for
me an she banged hit ergin when Susan
Harris brung home my weddin gown.
Oh, Alec, why wont yer 60? She's er
comm
Alec went, seeing that danger was
imminent.
Mrs. Townshed called again. I'm
comm, MA, and Delv fastened.
What air you er foolin away your
time for down thar, and here's Jim Will
son been ter tell yer that Bob's took
powerful bad an the doctor aint no hopes
on him hardly. Er pretty piece of work
thet is, an you'll git talked about fine.
An yer got yer weddln' dress an ALL
Miss Dely grew sick all over. Was
there then no escape from this life?
Jim wanted yer to 60 over thar, but
telled him l wouldn't have no such
work as that-my da'ter runnin after
a man that away
They had reached the house now and
there in the living room was the we'd
ding gown Dely had been so proud Of.
She began to weep.
YOU shet up, Dely Townshend, cried
her mother. 'Efyer don't I'll bang my
head all ter pieces ergin the WALL and
she gave it hard thump.
>Ob, nav, don't, DON'T shrieked Dely
u won't cry, l won't do nothin'.'
The old woman sat down in her split
rocker.
>Yer'd better not then
The menace in her black eyes meant
business and Dely, choking down her
sobs, went about getting dinner.
PoorBob Wilson never recovered from
his sudden illness. He begged to see
Miss Dely and in the dead midnight she
stole out trembling and went and stayed
an hour by his sick bed.
v hate ter leave ye,' said Bob kindly.
But thar's Alec thinks heap on ye.
Twas mighty squar thing his givin
ye up ter me like he did,
>Oh, Bob, don't talk thet away ,'cried
Miss Dely.
Here was sincere soul and here was
Bob dying, but che was absolutely pow.
erless to tell him the whole truth.
We'll, it's all right, l suppose, said
Bob weakly.
He was so nearly done with his life
that its loves and hopes did not matter
much.
DeIy's wedding gown was presently
put away in the old family chest and
Dsly went about her duties with sad
der face.
"A widder 'thont ever bein' married,
sneered her mother, and the kind neigh
bors ADDED that it "peared like DEFY
Townsend was pintedly meant fer an
old maid
In the few weeks that followed Bob
Wilson death, Alec Penland did deal
of thinking and day dreaming. Pleas
ant thoughts and pleasant dreams they
were. too, one would guess by tho Sc
rene expression of his strong, kind face
He worked some at 'f1in' things around
home.
Alec had lived alone, keeping house
for himself ten years or more and it is
putting it mildly to say that the ap-
pearance of the house, both inside and