Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-10-08
CHAPTER XVIII.

Waiting alone In his warm corner and
thinking Of Mamie, Will heard a snap
ping Of twigs, a cracking Of boughs
hard by, and the next moment Blake
Trelawny was standing before him.
He carried gun and looked calm
and in his sane mind, though his ebon
hair had become streaked with gray,
and bis face was livid and scanned as 1t
had not been few short weeks ago.
"Cassilis, he said abruptly, II was
mad and blackguard the other day.
Forget it; make her forget 1t il you can.
A man does not deliberately hound
down the woman he loves, and she is
safe from me. Ihave been away, where
God knows, I don't, and can go again
If you have any doubts Of me. But I
have myself we'll in hand now" he
smiled grimly, land the grip I've got
of myself--it wasn't lightly obtained
I'll keep"
He paused, and Cassilis was about to
speak when Blake put up his hand.
I've may as we'll have it out now
he said, "and then It's done with" The
ctnched hand, the starting veins on his
forehead, bespoke rebellious blood and
denied his words, but he went steadily
on:
lyon see, from the time when was
q great, ugly, hulking devil Of school
boy and she little todd)ing, mother
less thing with head like soft vel
low duckling, she would hang on to my
finger and go anywhere with me. I've
loved her and taken care of her-nnd
you were q boy in white nankeen
breeches when ! was q man-and "a /
watched her growing mp it never &C.
CURED to me how much nearer in age
you were. By every earthly law she
seemed to be mine, but there's no rea-
son, there never is any reason, why
girl loves one man and dislikes anoth-
er, as she came to dislike me. And
STILL" his voice changed, II thought l
had a chance-she had latterly expert.
enced only my roughness. she did not
know what my tenderness could be-
and the man isn't born who would have
neglected the chance l had in your alb
sence, but now it's over, all over, his
voice rang out harsh and masterful.
will you shake hands, man?'
T1elawny held out his hand, and %
Will gripped 1t nil that was best In him
rose up in answer to that almost stern
look of trust as between man and man
In Willis eyes, which. to the honor OF
man be it said is very rarely betrayed
or only on greatest provocation.
There is only one thing" said
Blake, still holding Wills hand in that
close grip-"if ever you treat her i'll,
if ever Of her own free will she turns
to me without my lifting finger,
mind, to beckon her, will take her
Nor man nor devil shall hinder me. So
be kind to her, man; cherish her. Re-
member you have made pitch black one
man dwelling to illuminate your own,
and never, never let that sweet, that
tender and holy light grow dim for lack
of tending
please God, never WILL" said
Cassilis, strangely moved by the fire and
passion, held we'll in leash, that spoke
In this strange mans voice, yet how i'm.
possible to think that Mamie and him
self could ever fall out. Then they talk
ed Of other thing, Of the shyness and
scarcity Of the birds, Of Lady Lirriper,
after which they shot together, and
when luncheon time arrived they hsd
become keen over their sport, and Nan
ME, coming suddenly upon them talk
ing as friends, stood petrifed, gazing
from one to the other,
Blake Trelawny came forward. and
she knew in a moment that this was
not the Trelawny Of the past year, but
that other and kinder one whom in her
childhood she had loved and trusted.
"Your husband has forgiven me-, he
said. "Will you not give me your for.
giveness also? will try to deserve 1t. ="
He had gone white under his dark
skin. 1t tore his hoartstrings to look at
her, 80 sweet, so lovable, the property
Of another man, but his hand did not
falter as she laid hers within it ard
looked up in his face, as she had done
long, long ago. "What Will forglves ]
forgive" she said simply. And then the
servants came up, and the thing was
over, but once she moved her shoulder
restlessly. Trelawny saw it, and she
knew that the saints good intentions
will not wipe out the sinners memory,
and that he remembered.