Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-09-24

Obloquy We can command In our private
thoughts, but the obvious contempt Of
others is hard to bear, especially when
in this especial instance we have done
nothing to deserve it.
"And feel" said Mamie, her heart
beating very fast, but with a courage
astonishing to herself, "that, much as
love you, I do not understand you,
Hagar, as you understand me. You can
make me believe black is white, butt
"Explain Yourself" said Hagar, sit
ting erect and speaking with the pride
Of Lucifer.
81 will. That scene in the Knowle
gardens when you begged and prayed
for something''- She paused The
men servants had come to take tho coffee
cups away.
The room, with it's colored lights of
different shades, its French furniture
and exotics, looked like some hinge ex-
uuisitely tinted rose and was feast to
the eye, but its beauty was far from the
thoughts of either of its occupants just
then.
because l begged and prayed Of
him not to give himself up, not to drag
me through all the horror Of accusing
and delivering him over to q shameful
death" said Hagar calmly when they
were once moro alone, "and You blame
me because did not bind him down.
the man who had given me freedom.
Mamie was silent. An ineffaceablo
impression had been left Oh her mind
of Hagar importuning for herself, ard
though thrust on one side it persistently
recurred now that her friend had joined
conspiracy to make her forget Willie.
And in many things you are strange,
Hagar," she said. do you remember
how often you used to 80 up to the moor
disused well and stare down into it!
asked you one day why it held such in.
terest for you, and you said because
you hoped all your sins lay buried
there But how can you have had any,"
Hagar turned, and with u sudden,
fierce gesture snatched Mamie to her
arms. Tho soft, yielding little body
trembled and sickened through and
through at a thought it had been held
last against Trelawuy's b1east.
Mamie, said her friend tenderly
and laying her cheek against the fair,
curly head, cant you trust me? Only
love me. and such thoughts will be i'm
possible to you. Will Cassilis returns to-
night. No one can come between you.
1t is Blake Trelawny and l, like my
namesake, who will SO out into the
desert and suffer.
IL am little BEAST said Mamie,
feeling great stone rolled away from
her heart, but have got SO nervous
waiting for Willio-and that summer
house. Oh, Inever, never can face him -
she added, despair rushing back upon
her.
Forget it,, said Hagar resolutely.
"You did no wrong, and you must nev-
er tell Will.
Mamie drew herself out Of Hagar's
arms, her brown eyes shining.
II must. can't go to Will Oh false
pretenses. y
"Do you want murder done" cried
Hagar. "There is bad enough blood be-
tween the two men now, and to rouse
Trelawny's passions is to create an IN;
ferno, in which Will, not himself, will
be sacrificed. You have no earthly thing
with which to repIOach yourself. IHd u
your lover has remembered you with
the scrupulous faithfulness you E"Vo
shown him there won't be happier
pair of lovers on earth than you at th.s
time tomorrow night y
"Ifn' said Mamie gravoly, her
thoughts going off on n new track "O1
course women must like him, he is 50
loyable, and l think he is very hand
some, don't you, Hagar?' she added.
blushing.
He is straight and tall and strong,
and ho has nico ways with woMcn,'
said Hagar slowly, "and that's enough.
If men only knew how thoroughly we
women appreciated them when they are
nice, they would never be nasty
"Blako isn't nasty said Mamie,
"but he is not WILL She put her hand
suddenly to her head.
"It aches, she said.
Let mc send you to sleep for half
all hour" said Hagar. 81 will talk to
your father when he comes in. y
She leaned over and smoothcd tho
girls lids for few moments, and al
most Immediately Mamie sank back on
the pillows asleep.
For awhile Hagar watched her; then,
with a sudden gathering together of all
her forces and all upward lifting Of her
body, she concentrated her whole atten-
ton on Mamie, who presently stirred
apd mnrmnrcd in her sleen
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