Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-10-01

acter do A fair, curly poll, brown eyes,
delicious dimples and perfect figure
on a childish scale have reduced the
strongest man ever knew to drivel.
ing imbecile.
"You forget her skin," put in Blake
drawlingly; "it's like white velvet,
and you've forgotten her ways-her
dear little ways. She is the brightest
little companion in the world when she
chooses, and comes out with the quaint
est, most delightful things It's as
much as ever can do to keep my hands
off her when she is within arms
length"
'She's a little fool" grunted Lady
Lirriper "She is walking out of all
this''-she waved her hand comprehen.
sively round her-"to 90 to place
positively beggar]y by comparison be-
cause she happens TO like the shape Of
mans nose, or his choice of superla
tives, or some other girls mad reason
for flinging herself away. Now if she
had gone to YOU
ooh, she isn't married to him yetr
said Blake, with imperturbable calm.
"That wedding day may yet be post
poned sine die. You'll see her at Ire
lawny yet. "
Lady Lirriper laughed.
1.-THE women have got no eyes in
their heads any more than You men,
she said, cor else the two good won't
pair off with the two wicked ones. It's
my belief Miss Gregorias prefers that
sunny, good temperd stripping, Will
Cassils, to yourself. Perhaps they're
afraid Of hurricanes and siroccos. When
was girl. l loved 'em." "
Her wicked old eyes flashed, and
something of the vim Of youth spoke In
her voice. Then she sighed.
"And Of course never attracted any
thing but tame souls" she said, with
all impatient groan. "That's one Of ma
ture's maddening little yokes. Only Lir-
ripper was obstinate as we'll as tanc-a
hopeless ombiuatioll, my dear Blake, l
assure you. BY the way, that was not a
bad speech you made in the lords this
summer. Why not give your mind to
politics and let namby palnby school
girls alonc?'
"If | We're in the other house, /
might" said Trelawny indffcrcntly.
1t was characteristic of this mans
strength Of character that his title was
altogether obscured hy it, and he was
seldom spoken of in the county as lord,
but almost invariably as Blake Trelaw-
ny. tout court.
They were sitting in the picture gal
lery, AS indeed they had lately done in
almost every room III the house, for
Lady Lirripor called constantly for the
excitement of Trelawnys presence as a
woman of another sort would for red
lavender and was only able to support
existence at Straubenzee under the
stimulus Of his frequent visits.
This comes Of living in the coun-
try she said; ''no ambition, no self
control, muscles, morals, intellect, all
fabby, all detoriorating. Those eyes Of
yours Will be dead as fishes soon If you
go on like this. Wake up, man! Throw
open your old barn in Berkeley square
Got some bright wits about you and
measure swords with them. Don't dis
solve III Nstlessness or rust your life out
like my brother Straubenzee.
He laughed and got up stretching
his supple limbs, upon which the mus
clcs stood ont like cordage, for he had
not an ounce Of supertiuous flesh Oh his
body. Even through his coat you might
see how vast his thcws and sinews were,
and in all Devon and Cornwall there
was not Il wrestler who would try con-
clusions with Blake Trelawny. Lady
Lirriper laughed, too as with her
witch's stick tapping OH the polished
floor she strolled with him toward the
hall, where they came suddenly upon
the lovers, who tried to etface them
selves, but We're just too late.
Come here, Nannie,' cried her
aunt, and very unwillingly, with
backward look at Willie, Mamie came
A lovely wild rose color glowed in
her warm dimpled cheeks, her fair cur
ly hair made gauZy framework for
her brown, tender eyes, the frillS OF her
white frock were little crumpled. so
were the white roses at her belt and
even without that devoted, lowering
figure in the background she looked love
incaruate as she stood before her aunt
and Tlelawny, waiting for them to
speak.
Good morning, Mamie" said
Blake, and she gave back "Good morn
ing" without looking at him, uncon-
sciously clasping both hands behind her
back.
"Where's Hagar?' said Lady Lirri
per sharply. Tell her want her."
And Mamie was running off, delighted
to invoke Wills assistance in her er-
rand, when that young man found him
self collarcd by the imperative old la
dy, who beckoned him sharply to her
side.
About the Bachelors cottage, WILL"
she said, "did you really mean it--that
/ could have it for a month? The work
men won t he out of the house in South
Audley street before October, eh?"
ooh, certainly" said Will, looking
round distractedly, for Trelawny had
vanished; "have it by all means, Lady
Lirriper. 1t will just hold You and a
couple Of men and your maids. Excuse
me. " And he dashed off like one pos
sessed.
Cracked! They re all cracked! !!
said Lady Lirriper, spreading out her
hands disgustedly. But the little
housewife suit me very well, for as to
settling here mum chance with Strau
benzee after the wedding, eating din
hers that are never properly hot, as they
have to come from kitchens half mile
away. and without SO much as game
of cards to keep me awake of evenings,
l should go melancholy mad, and it
won't take long to beat up the few