Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-10-15
CHAPTER XIV.

tage Of strange doings there last night.
CHAPTER XIV.
Mamie had sped over the wet grass
little moro than half dressed. a loose
white wrapper covering all deficiencies,
the meshes Of her bright hair loose,
and adding to her air Of disorder as she
ran straight up to Hagar's room.
That young woman was up and
dressed, though she had spent the whole
night In walking up and down, o prey
TO tho most furious emotions, as she had
been moro OF less since the night when
che hsd almost. not quite. brought Will
CASTLE to her feet
Mamie went up to her like an obedi.
ent child to It's nurse, and as she kissed
her. feeling Hngar's light breath on her
eyes and forehead, Nannie's face
changed. and she glanced down at her
wrapper IN astonishment.
"What On earth made me come ont
like this'" she said but you called
me-" She looked puzzled. "Do you
want me?'
1--WE were to have picnic today"
said Hagar. "but now your husband is
back, perhaps it will not take place "
Mamie colored. She could not even
hear Willis name with Indifference, and
the jealousy that had miraculously left
her during the past two days for Hagar
was suddenly reawakened in her breast
She nodded coldly and went away,
but half way down the staircase Jose
phine ran after her. saying that Lady
Lirriper wished to speak to her, and in
no very good humor Mamie obeyed the
behest
The circumstance must be eXtraordi-
nary that made the old heather see any
one sans toupee, warpaint and the rest
Of it, but for once Lady Lirriper was
oblivious Of self. and her face was terri
BILE to the girl who came slowly toward
her.
What Is to be the end Of all this'"
inquired her aunt in accents Of the deep
est concern.
IAN what?" said Mamie, sitting
down on the edge Of the bed.
"Child, have you forgotten what
happened last night?'
II dined here and went to sleep after
dinner, aud it's very funny, but l never
woke up when Will carried me home. "
"Oh, very funny" said Lady Liriper
Aercely. Every disgraceful, I should
say. You were tipsy last night, Mamie,
not with what you drank at my table,
but actually before you came. And you
not yet 1871"
Mamie had sprung to her feet, trem-
bling in every limb.
"How dare you say such thing to
mes' she cried passionately. "Oh, If
Will were here, you wouh not
"Win knows it," safd Lirriper curt
ly. III ho had been aware Of Your in
herited tendency. he would never have
married You. No man in bis senses
would"
And she related some hard, cruel
facts Of family history before which the
poor girl WINGED and covered away.
"You are quite wrong" she said. II
drank nothing before coming to dinner
and forget what I had them" She put
her hand confusedly 70 her head but
It sould not have been much. 1t never
is. l do noe bke wine, but drink little
to please Will
"He won't press any on you again.
said Lady Lirriper significantly. For
all our sakes, child, pull up while there
is time and never touch drink again. v
But Mamie, in great fame Of wrath
and shame, had escaped at breakneck
speed down the stairs and was out Of
earshot.
She ran full tilt into Trelawny, who,
after two days abssnce, had come over.
az be often did, to breakfast, and now
looked at her dismayed, for he had
hoped that, left entirely to themselves,
the young people would come to bet
ter understanding by now.
"What is the lnatter?' he said and
drew her into the morning room and
shut the door. he scarcely knew her
face for Nannie's.
"They say" she said in strained
whisper, her hunted eyes fixed on his,
THAT was tipsy last night; that it is
in the blood that shall die disgraced,
outcast woman in the enc! y
III it were true hundred times over.
would stick to you through thick and
thin" cried Blake Trelawny passionate
ly. But, my poor little girl, it's inpos-
sible. Tell me all about 1t. "
II can't remember" said Mamie,
looking bewildered. 1.-THE last two days,
while Will was away, have spent al
most entirely with Hagar We talked
about you," she added as one thinking
aloud.
"The devil you did," exclaimed
Blake suddenly and violently, then turn
ed to pace the room with uneven steps,
racking his brains as to how all this
was to be traced to Hagar, for Hagar it
undoubtedly was. t"
"How can Will ever love ms again?'
cvied Mamma Diteous1v "IIs can only