Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-07-30

There was a little pause before she
apoke, and, looking at her out of the
corner of my eye, thought her cheek
flushed q bit.
1T was merely question which sug-
gested ITSELF" she said. II was won
dering whether the evident fitness OF
the horse for his work meant that his
master looked upon this village as his
permanent field"
It was now my turn TO hesitate.
"Really," said, at last lit is hard
question to answer. can say neither
yes nor no. l can't get beyond the
present. May l not be content with
that?"
do you think it is enough for you--
FOR any young professional man"
But if it satisfies mel"
docs it?"
AT this particular instant, yes; at
other times, when l can't get away
from myself, no."
There was another pause, and when
she spoke again it was to ask me tho
routine to be followed by her aunt.
While I described it she listened as
soberly as if she had no room to doubt
that the invalid was close to deaths
door. Before the recital was finished
we had begun to traverse one OF the
level stretches. frightened the reins,
and the bay heightened his strides;
a chirrup or two and his lazy air was
shaken off and his hoof-beats rang
quick and sharp upon the hard road.
Away we went at pace far below his
best, but one which would have left
most of the local trotters hopelessly
in the rear. Pulling him up when we
reached rise in the grade, l turned to
the girl little triulnphantly. The
swift motion had brought new Light
into her eyes, and the rush Of the wind
had heightened her delicate color.
That was delightful" she cried.
let me confess at once, l misjudgcd
your horse cruelty. He has wonder
fully exceeded expectations"
THE brute has redeemed himself
easily" said l. would it were as light
task for the man."
perhaps the man has not been mis-
judged, after all. But come, DR.. Nor
ris, you've told me almost nothing of
your adventures for the last two or
three years. Surely, you must have
had some before coming here?
"'The short and simple annals
YOU know the line. The city was not
generous; there is nothing more to tell.
Believe me, you ore fortunate, indeed,
to escape any risk of the monotony of
humdrum existence. envy you the
variety of scene and surroundings
which has fallen to your lot"
LAS if there could be no monotony in
variety; as if one could not grow weary
of It'll" she cried. "Nhy, DR.. Morris,
it is the superlative of monotony. Many
time I've been tempted to recall ap-
provingly the growls Of an irasciblc
old Englishman we met in Spain.
Madam said he to my aunt, take my
word for it, all hotels ale bad, but some
are worse than others: all strangers
are obnoxious, but some are pestilcn-
tial; all sightseeing is WEAKNESS OF
the flesh, and the more one has of it
the greater the burden becomes"
"And Mrs. Lorlng?'
His vehemcncc startled her, and she
fed at the first opportunity.
"Yet she could not have needed the
TRADE to advantage. In all sincerity,
let me say that until she consents to
settle down quietly for considerable
time there is not much hope of effect
ing her cure. You must have observed
that on a journey she seems TO be at
her best, but that when the trip is
ended there is a reaction, and after
few weeks she is off again, finding in
the renewed excitement relief which,
in turn, has to be pad for at high
rate. When her greatest need is rest
she applies the spur. If ever there was
victim of the travel habit, she is one.
Can she not be persuaded to give her
Iccuperative powers fair chance to
assert themselves? One can't do bet
ter than to let nature alone some times.
This is plain talk, palmer than should
like TO address directly to your aunt;
but it is due to you, for in many ways
you can help to put it into practice"
"And l will help only too gladly"
said the girl, earnestly. please be as
sured of that"
us it bargain, then?" '.Axsssss
Indeed it is"
"May it be successful one" said I.
"And now, Miss Gray, you may be
pleased to know that from this turn in
the road can be had tine only view of
3assettville which warrants u claim of
beauty for the place"
We drove into the town and turned
into it's principal street, hating in
front of the shop of its solitary drug
gist. While l stood before the counter,
waiting for the prescription to be made
up, Sam Carpenter sauutered in.
II kinder wanted to see ye," he re-
marked, after the weather, the state of
trade and town politics had been dis
cussed. "Tain't much, but maybe yer'd
like to know about it."
Whats the trouble?" saidI.
wall, a couple o days ago chap
come ter my stable an hung round till
we got ter talkin.. He didn't seem ter
have no special bizness egitatin' him,
but he did seem ALFRED curious. Pref
ty soon he got round ter that old brewer
from Charleston, South Car'liny, you're
doctorin'. Seemed mighty interested
in him--too mighty interested, l reck-
ened. When neighbor's boy asks me
how my apples is gettin' on l put it
down ter friendliness, but when l catch
him up the tree call him too blamed
affectionate. So as this chap was tryin'
ter pump me, tried ter pump him, but
guess neither of US got any more salts
faction than the schoolmaster did when
he tackled the parsons Hebrew book,