Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-09-24
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
A deer park at 5 o'clock Of sum-
mer's morning is beautiful thing, and
the deer know it as they wander over
the pearled grass and sniff up those clear,
rarefled scents that cool night has shaken
from her skirts when fastening away
from break Of day.
And young man who could scarcely
be said to have gone to bed all night
knew it, as he obtruded his unwelcolne
presence among the denizens OF tho
woodland, when scarcely blink of day
had come and he could barely see tho
white blind of distant window behind
which the apple of his eye slept
How could she sleep and he wander
ing out here alone? How could he call
so urgently to her to wake and she not
know it? Did not everything shout out
to her 1.-THE time is up, is up! and no
is ont yonder waiting? The time of trial
is over; springtide is here. Come out.
come out, to join your inpatient lover T.
The moments dragged like hours.
Long before the sun was fully up, Will,
his eyes glued to that immovable blind,
had in imagination seen it thus fixed to
all eternity, and Mamie passing through
the successive stages Of Blake Ire
lnwny's unwilling sweetheart to his
willing one, and thence by slow degrees
to the altar, where he finally took leave
of her, and all because an innocent white
blind refused to go up at all unholy
hour of the morning!
But was it all? A word in his ear
overnight from an old servant had set
torch to his fears and bred III him the
first real doubts be had felt of Mamie
since he had left her.
"My lord, Trelawny is great deal
at Straubcnzee, the butler said when
giving tho news of the country for
which his master had asked. Lady
Annabella and Miss Gregorias had been
at home some weeks now, the old man
concluded, and it might be fancy, but
Will scented something significant and
even warning in his retainer's tone,
who had also added that there was to
be grand ball to celebrate Lady Anna
bella's coming out in September, and
my lords sister, Lady Ll1ripcr, was
coming to do the honors,
Will had plenty Of time to digest
these facts, as at last, growing reckless,
he stood in the midst Of the great gravel
sweep opposite the colonnade and i'm
mcdiately below Nannie's window,
needless of early housemaids and gar
dencrs, needless Of everything save the
moment when that hideous square OF
white should give place to his dear lit
tie girls sweet face.
As the clock struck 5 it came Up
rushed the blind tho window followed,
and there, in her pink cotton frock, was
Mamie, who stretched out her arms to
him, all wild with joy, as if she would
precipitate herself bodily into his arms,
and for awhile they took their fill of
gazing at each other, while broken
words Of love fell from their lips. Then
the window yawned empty, and Will
rushed round in ecstasy to one OF, those
hooks in which the vast place ia5ounded
and by instinct told him she would
Join him.
She must have flown. He heard a key
turn, and III moment they had rushed
into each others arms.
The hens with large families who had
made this half ruined oolonuade their
special hunting ground wondered what
all the fuss was about and pursued their
daily avocations with unrutfled calm,
showing satisfaction, however, when
the interlopers retired to a sumptuously
painted and decorated room now used
BY the gardeners for their odds and
ends, and then sat down on two inverted
tubs that touched and gazed at one an
other.
lyon look much older, Will, and so
brown''
"And you are quite grown up, Nan
ME, and so pretty I haven't seen girl
fit to tie your shoestring. You haven't
been flirting?' he added taking her
face in his brown palm and scrutinizing
it narrowly.
II haven't had thought in my heart
you might not see," said Mamie stead
lily, though a rush of color dyed her
face. ave been a perfect nuisance to
everybody with my lovestruck condition,
and pray, sir, have you had no thought,
no fancy, may not know"
mot one,' said Will soberly, truth.
fully. II didn't want to go away from
you. I'm off my head with joy to get
back to you, and whenever did talk to
woman it was about YOU
"Oh, what treat for her" cried
Mamie, all her fears gone. He was here
and could shield his own.
"And Blake Trelawny," said Willie,
and the glory of the hour was over, II
hear he has been up here a good deal I
suppose he has not got over it?'
The girls fresh face went wan in
moment. She looked away and made no
answer. A moment ago how sweet the
geranium leaves had been, how subtly
satisfying the blending of colors on the
opposite wall, and now Blake Trelawny
had spoiled it all.
Wills heart smote him.
my poor little love-" he said, "ycu
can't help the man loving you; SO long