Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-11-19

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drunken mood enoapger that poor moth
er's life by the sudden shock Of his pres
ence2 She would agree to anything; she
would follow him, slave for him, stafVe
with him, be his wife or his handmade
ANYTHING to get him away---far away
from the sunshine, the smiles. the hopes
and joys and blessings that had been
bcrs at old Fort Frayne.
One other plan. She had but little
money, and in their flight much might
he needed. She must obtain it, for that
drink sodden wretch would surely have
none. Go she must and would. Go ne
must and should, for any day, before
the whole ga1rison-oh, shame unutter'
able-he might take the notion boldlyto
throw off all disguise and claim her as
his wife. Possibly with money she
might bride him to take kindly to her
proposition and agree Then, before he
could spend what she had given him,
she could escape, return to the east. and
somewhere, anywhere hide her head
from him, from friends, from the world
and all. Home she had none. That went
when her father died, lonely and heart
broken, two years before.
And in all that garrison to whom
could she appeal, upon whom could
she call? One man there was who. we'll
she knew, would open his hand as he
had his heart, and its uttermost treas
ure could be hers for the mere asking,
and that man Of all others was the one
who, she prayed, might never know the
miserable truth that this was Royle
Farrar-that she was Royle Farrar's
wife.
Another there was, generous, helpful
and kind, who, did he but learn the
identity of tho man Sinking here un-
der that disguise given by years Of drink
and debauchery, would aid her to his
uttermost farthing, aid her as he had
before, out of pity and compassion, aid
her now with eager hand through
thought of the shame that would come
to the girl he loved, the shock that
might be in store for her beloved moth
er. There was the hanback, Ormsbyl
But how to sec him, and when, and
where! Not a moment must be lost, be-
cause, now that Royle's presence was
known to her, his wife, any moment
might bring on the further catastrophe.
She had never known him to stop until
sodden and stupetied.
Drink, drink, drink. In some form
he would find the poison and gulp it
down, waxing crazed and nervous If it
were withheld from him, turning mad
and reckless if it were given. Drink he
surely would all through this blessed
Christmas eve, and at any hour, any
moment ON the morrow she might ex-
pect him to appear before them all, in
the midst of their joyous Christmas
gathering in drunken exultation, de-
manding his seat at his wife's side, at
his mothers board What that would
mean to that gentle mother, whose very
life seemed now hanging by u thread,
God alone could say.
And here she lay, hesitant, inpotent,
cowardly, when the lives and happiness
of those dearest to her We're at stake,
shrinking even now from an appeal to
Ormsby, who alone in all the garrison
probably was competent to advise and
help, and Ormsby had already suffered,
and suffered much on her account. In
the loyal observance of his promise he
had brought himself under the ban Of
suspicion, and with half an eye Helen
could see that Ellis looked upon their
relation with utter distrust. Great
heaven! Was she to be curse to every
one who had been kind to her? The
thought was intolerable.
Helen Daunton amazed her friend by
springing from her bed and throwing
up the window sash. "Air, air'' she
moaned Il feel as though Iwere suffo-
eating" and, leaning far out into the
wintry twilight, bathing her aching
head in the cold, sparkling air, she
gazed wildly northward toward the
bluff Aye, mutfied in the heavy canvas
overcoat, the fur cap down about the
bloated, bearded face, slouching along
the sentry post was the form she dread
ed, hated to see, yet sought with burn
ing eyes. AS she gazed he saw and
stood and, leering over the intervening
drifts Of spotless snow, kissed his fur
gloved paw and tossed his hand in half
defiant, half derisive, all insulting salu-
tation.
MRS. Farrar," she cried in utter
desperation, turning madly away from
the hateful sight, I'll must get into
the open air awhile. You won't mind,
dear. must walk, walk, run, rush in
the cold. No, don't come, and pray let
Ellis keep with you. In 10, 20 minutes
at most, I'll return"
"Ah, Helen, wait until Willy, until
Malcolm Leale, returns from the stables.
See, they're coming now. They will
walk with you.
"Oh, no, no, no! Do you not see?
must be alone. cannot talk with any
one. Let me co." she cried. Then, be-
fore either the mother could interpose or
Ellis, who came hurrying into the room,
could urge one word, she had seized a
heavy wrap and gone almost bounding
down the stairs
At the threshold she recoiled, for
there his honest face full of eagerness
as the door few open, stood Jack Orms-
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