Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-10-29
CHAPTER XXXIII.


Il became clear that short Of breaking
down the door no entrance would be
effected she wrapped her heavy CLOAK
about her, and scorning to retreat to
the shelter Of the carriage outside the
gates sat down fair and square on Ire.
lawny's inhospitab]e threshold to wait
There he saw her when after leaving
Mamie he looked out from an upper
window, and being man the sight Of
the old lady sitting there In the chill
dawn of an October morning vexed
him, for they had been excellent friends
always. and he knew very we'll that she
had not come here as his enemy, but in
very real friendship.
Trelawny went swiftly down stairs.
crossed the hall, and for awhile stood
parleying with the resolute old soul on
the other side Of the oak door, to whom
his voice was sweetest music.
"I'l admit you, Lady Lirriper, no
said, "but Cassilis doesn't enter here.
Lot him give his word not to attempt
1t, and I'll open the door,"
He heard the protracted murmur Of
their voices on the other side aud called
out impatiently to them to speak up,
and naturally it was the woman who
did first.
"All right, Blake" she cried out.
"I'll go bail for him-open.
Trelawny let fall the changing bar
and faced the two who stood there with
even more than his usual arrogance,
yet the man inwardly knew that his
heart was broken. In those brief mo.
ments Of descending the stairs he had
seen the inevitable, and knew that once
moro fate had tempted, Knocked and
derided him. Yet what he held, that
would he keep.
Perhaps his face told Will more than
be guessed OF, but when he had pulled
Lady Lirriper in and the door was once
moro shut Will Cassilis sat down on
the step, and his soul sang loud p9ans
Of rejoicing, for Mamie was safe, and
Trelawny had come gloriously ont Of the
furnace Of his supreme temptation.
Therefore WAS the stinging sharpness Of
the morning air sweet to him and the
gray world beautiful as, with knees
drawn up to his chin and his head rest
ing upon them, exhausted nature had
her way, aud the poor fellow slept.
"Well?' said Lady Lirriper sternly
as she and the master Of the house faced
each other within doors.
"Or ill:" he said, mimicking her
tone.
What of that poor fool;" she cried
sngrily.
Exactly, but she's my fool" he
said grimly. "She is in there" he
pointed to distant door, and there she
remains.
Tne old woman sat down OH high
carved chair and shivered. The great
hall, with its men in armor, its ancient
furnishings, had that unreal air which
at certain hours causes familiar things
to assume the character Of q dream and
helps to make us understand why sleep
was invented and how i'll bred we ap-
pear when we intrude waking interests
on inanimate things that have also their
hours Of rest and refreshment.
"Get mo some brandy, Blake, il you
don't want another crime OH your con-
SCIENCE she said, and when he had
brought aud she had drunk it she look
ed more herself, and even felt for her
toupee to see if it was straight.
Now then, Blake she said brisk
ly, you've got rough time before
you, but you II survive it. Because that
little fool has huttered into your arms
you think she loves you; not a bit Of 1t.
She is bowling for her Willie at the
present moment, or l am much mis-
taken
Trelawny grimaced, it was so true.
This terrible old woman was voicing
what his inmost soul was aware of, but
she should not know it. Though his
back were broken, he would ride it out
to the end, and then-what then?
"Those two babies adore each other"
went on Lady Lirriper, "but that Gro
gorias devil has come between them,
and if. when she ran off to you, you
had done what as man Of honor you
ought to have done (the old lady looked
at him very straight), tied her hat on
and trotted her homo again, u great
deal Of unplensantness would have been
averted, and should not have sat on
your doorstep catching my death for the
last two hours this morning, though,
thanks to your servants sleeping like
tho dead, there won't be any scandal.
You brought her in here after they were
In bed last nighti" she added sharply.
He nc lied.
"Then it S all plain sailing. shall
Swear brought her, not found her,
here; that Cassilis was with her
there's no need to mention the doorstep
and that when I returned home 20
did she--and her husband.''
And the Gregorias?' said Trelawny,
who was leaning against q black oak
cabinet, voice and eyes singularly life.
Jess. "how are you going to esplatn
AWAY that elopement?"
"Will Cassilis had an accident in the
wood, and she nursed him." said Lady
Lirriper stoutly. THE man was un-
ponscious the whole time, and I'll Nm.
dertake to explain away more than
that" she said, with q formidable air
that made good her boast.
You'll probably hear something
about her soon," said Trelawny negH.
gently. "The advertisements inquiring
ns to her antecedents appear in the pa
pers this morning. And now, " he added