Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-20

But don't you know he is gomez" she asked.
told him he had had no opportunity
to learn how the people really live; and
then she insisted that he should come
here, for few days at least, TO get just
the experience in which he was lack
ing. He accepted the invitation, after
little hesitation. Honestly, think
he was glad to escape the hotels for
awhile. Last evening he and aunt
talked for hours about their travels.
about splace and it's people. Shetolh
him how she was gaining under your
care, and how fortunate she was in
securing such skilful attendance in
the country. Perhaps it is as well that
you didn't hear her. Flattery is disas-
trous sometimes, isn't it?"
"You should know better than l."
She laughed lightly.
Nothing but good was said Of you,"
she went on. "Aunt dwelt upon your
success with her. and your regular at
tendance upon the old man who lives
over there" She pointed to the KNOLL
with which we were almost abreast
being distant from it hardly 100 yards
she told him what Il hermit exist.
tncc Mr.-Mr lamar-that is his name
isn't it ?--sccms to prefer"
WAS he intercstcd..'
shall tell you the plain truth? 1t
may spoil the story"
"Thc truth always" said
at first he was interested, but very
soon he delicatcly managed to change
the subjcct.'
II don't blame him." I muttered.
with a glance at the house showing
above the scrubby trees. Her glance
followed mine.
'Dr Norris" she asked, after a
] tried to rouse somebody in his house
the other day, the place was as unre-
sponsve as tomb"
"Thc comparison is excellent said
I avoiding a direct answer to her
query, as most men with an aversion
to unnecessary falschoods would have
avoided it. "Ihc servant is deaf. and
her master is sometimes SO sclf-ab-
sorbcd that he is ever worse off than
she"
what q wrctched existence. Is his
health altogether gomez
"Ile is more comfortable now than
when he came here"
knew that she was studying my
face, but I kept my eyes avcrted.
ut is strange that in this gossip
loving village so little is known of
him." she went on. Zone hears that he
is a retired brewer from the south; but
that seems to bc the limit of knowledge
OF his antcccdents.'
at is the accepted version" said I.
"Really, l know little of his history be-
fore he retained nc"
Our craft was nearing the mouth of
the tidal stream, and few more Wig
orous strokes shot il out upon the
smooth waters of the bay, hardly rip
pied by the gentle breeze. To the
north were two sloops crawling along
on their way to the village. TO the
south and east curved the long tongue
Of land which formed the boundary Of
the bay on two sides and sheltered it
from the ocean swell. Not more than
half mile from where we were, Il cat
boat lay at anchor, with solitary fig
ure lolling over her side The whole
scene was full of the restfulness of the
summer afternoon, and the spell of it
stole upon u.s. as if we left behind with
the land its anXicties, SORROWS and
fears. For a time the boat drifted on,
propelled more by Il current of the
bay than by the occasional strokes of
the oar. The girl was half reclining,
trailing one of her hands in the water
and with the other toying with the
handle of her parasol, the shaft of
which rested on her shoulder. We
were both day-dreaming, when hail
came to rouse us from our reveries.
Looking up, found that we were close
to the anchored craft. and that John
son, its occupant, had given us warning
none too soon. In moment we were
alongside the catboat, and his hand had
caught the gunwale of the skift.