Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-12-31

"Kttty's, you mean, do you not, najorf'
and get him aboard, for their good ship
sailed at 7 a. m. to catch the early tide
at Sandy Hook. Falteringly Ellis had
asked if he were sure he had given
Ormsby her note-if-if Mr.. Ormsby
had read it. Wayne was quite positive
But Helen would not believe, and
with unabated hope she awaited
Wayne's return to the post They ar
rived a week before him, for on leaving
his charge at Washakie the previous
month he had hurried straight to Wash
ington in response to q summons from
the secretary Of war, had made his re-
port and then gone to New York. Not
until the Monday before the wedding
did he reappear. and then only by de-
termined effort did Helen corner him
long enough for cross examination.
Certainly" said Wayne. II remem-
Der the note perfectly we'll. put it
with one from the club that I found
there and handed both to him together.
He'll be here to the wedding. He's COM
ing right along with Kitty. I'll ask him
again, if you like"
Don't dare ever mention it, major,
or that / asked any questions concern
ing it. How long has he been baok9"
asked Helen, with vivid interest, an
other question uppermost in her mind.
mot week. Just back, you know. I
only saw MIN minute. Twas JUST starv-
ing for tho train. He looked astonish-
ingly wen, and, you know, forgot to
ask was Leale better. He was full Of his
wedding preparations.
''Her wedding preparations-Kitty's
You mean, do you not, major?"
"No, his; I give you my word. BE
said 80, you know. He told me the
lady's name-part Of 1t, at least Efie
something can't recall it just now.
He'll tell you. Oh, it was all on that
account, you know, Kitty couldn't start
sooner. She had to wait for him."
Helen was astounded 1t was news she
declared she would never believe, and
yet she remembered having heard men
sion Of an attractive cousin, Miss Effle
Leale, and might 1t not be possible that
in his wanderings with the blinded in
valid, with his own sore heart, Jack
Ormsby had met and found consolation
in this fair relative Of his stricken friend,
that she in turn had quickly learned
to admire the manly fellow who was 80
devoted to their particular hero? At all
events 1t was something not to be men
toned to Ellis thought Helen.
But what was the use? Wayne told it
to Lucretia, Lucretia told dozen during
the day. 1t was all over the post before
night, and despite Helen's effort Ellis
heard it among the first. One more
among the many mishaps with which
to usher in Wills wedding dayl
At 10 that beautiful June morning
there was something more than pathetic
about poor Lucretia's sorrows. While
Fenton, Mrs. Farrar, Helen. silent.
brave faced Ellis, and dozen sym
pathetic souls from all over the post
were gathered on the north piazza over
hanging the bluff and the roaring
waters Of the Platte, signaling to Will
and watching eagerly his vigorous
movements, the lady Of the house re.
mained within doors, wept increasingly
and refused to be comforted.
''It is dreadful to think Of the con-
dition that chicken salad will be in,
she moaned. "It is preposterous to talk
to me of patiencel I've said all along 1t
was to be an unlucky day, because you
all know perfectly well-at least if you
don't you ought to-that it is just 1S
years ago this day that we were all
gathered at Fort Crook for the funeral
Of Captain Crocus, which was to take
place the moment the ambulance got in
from the front, and the band was all
ready, and the escort and the hearse and
and after all the whole thing had to
be abandoned. for when the ambulance