Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-27

which the late VISION SeHI lio'h A>e"
York to Mrs. Loring. In it he eX-
pressed deep regret that circums 'ances
would prevent him from complet!nE
his visit. Business, he explained, called
him abroad. and before the mis-
siye reached her he would be we'll on
his way to Liverpool. Iheard the news
with decent effort at an appearance
Of regret, and from that moment had
more friendly impression regarding
the gallant colonel.
1t had been my intention to speak OF
him to Lamar, rather because OF hrs
Brazilian interests, of which my client
might know something, than because
of his morning cruise about the chan
nels of the marsh or the abrupt termin-
alton of his stay. Mrs. Loring's ac-
count Of the coloncl's manner of life in
dicatcd that he was a chronic tourist.
with no very active concern in happen.
ings in his own country, so long as they
did not interfere with his sources OF
revenue. One thing after another,
however, occurred to prevent mention
of him. One day Lamar was busy
with his experiments; the mex, for
some reason of his own, he cut short
our talk; the next he was back IN his
laboratory. Thus. before an oppor-
tunity was offered to tell my bit Of
news, its value appeared to ha u been
lost through staleness, and, in the end.
frcshcr topics took its place when
Lamar showed willingness to indulge
in brief gossip. So it happened thai
he heard nothing of the incident which
had caused me so many hours Of un.
necessary perturbation.
Jones, meanwhile, had been making
steady progress, and, while Banks and
] saw him daily, there was little need
of our attendance. We learned that
he would leave the neighborhood as
soon as his removal could be attempted
with safety, but he told us nothing
further of his plans. Itried OCCASION
ally to lead him to speak of his reasons
for coming to Rodneytown, but he was
reticcnt, and had to be content with
the explanation given by Lamar.
Dorothy Gray came often to read to
him, and he manifested much graft
tude for her kindness; but even TO her
he would say next to nothing of his
history or his projects.
Banks wrist was still weak, but his
recovery from the sprain had gone far
enough TO enable him to circulate in his
old fashion among his patients, and my
duties as bis coadjutor were ended. He
was beginning, though, to renew his
dscourses about his desire to secure
partner and practically to retire, and it
was clear that he would soon make me
a direct offer. 1t was only fair that |
should prepare to give definite answer,
but l realized that my plans were even
more unsettled than ever. There was
new disturbing element in the situa-
ton. Could but foretcll what Dorothy
would answer were a certain question
put to her, then DR.. Banks might be
answered, in turn, so soon as he chose
to speak. But what would the young
lady say?
Yes, what would she say? Truly 1
was far from sanguine. could find no
reason for confidence, in spite Of many
soulful efforts to discover one. We were
the best of friends; we were together
daily, sometimes for hours Mt time;
we read together, walked together,
and drove together. We had interests
in common; in some lines of thought
our beliefs were akin. Such things
were well enough in their way, but
what ground of hope did they furnish?
Would not a blush, a sigh, have more
meaning? Frequently ! read disserta-
tions of the symptoms Of the love NAL
ady, but surely nowhere had / noted
good fellowship set forth as distin-
gushing mark of passion. Then, too,
there was the difficulty of the bread
and-butter problem. What business
had to contemplate matrimony, with
no wclltcfned idea how even one
mouth was to be filled, in the event of a
break with the man who would remain
my paymaster no longer than suited his
convenience? My savings would cut
but a poor figure on war-chest for n
family campaign. Besides. the girl
was supposedly wcll-to-do, and certain.
ly was the heress of her aunt, whose
wealth appeared to be sufficient to en-
able her to travel wherever she de-
sired, and to pay the bills of high-priced
specialists, who charged with an appre.
citation of the fact that their patients
S9,'~