Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-04-01
Otherwise she showed no sign OF the
cowardly midnight attack. Rob had al
most forced her to come and share Nam
Liza'a house in a corner OF the ward.


Thrice she nodded at him, then raised
her hand and pointed him away.
"Out er my way. you ole witch" he
shouted, rushing past her. Rob had
sunk, shaken and breathless. upon tie
turf seat within. The old woman went
to her and softly stroked her head. then
took the girls face between her two
hands and looked into the eyes as though
she tried to comfort her.
A tall shadow fell across the sunny
door. Jack Talbot came through it and
sat down beside Rob, saying:
my mysterious passenger sent you a
message, Rob-a message more mysteri-
ous than even himself. He bade mo say
to you, Darkness is coming, with light
bchind.' What do you make Of that?
Do you think he was crazy?"
II hope not" Rob said, trying to
speak steadily. 1.-THE darkness has come.
Jack, quickly enough. Let us hope the
light will follow"
Before Jack could answer Aunt Phe-
my caught Rob's hand and kissed it.
with smiles all over her deeply vrinkled
face.
Fate sometimes tlisposes Of her might
lest men by means of trifes light as air.
Not that Miss Winfold was triae.
Perish the insinuationl But if Lawyer
Howell had not chosen to ride abroad
Just when and where no did. he would
certainly not have encountered her and
ard But let tho event be duly
chronicled.
The lawyer rode, soliloquizing, half
aloud: George, but Topmark is jolly
fool! He thinks he can tame that Iretty
piece Of pride. Confound it'll wish l
had not seen her. want to throw up
the case when think of her eyes. OF
course I shall not do it. But who with
out seeing her would ever understand
Topmark's infatuation? The wonder is
that, having seen her, no longer won
der over it. She might DO dangerous to
me, only she sees too fur into me- Then
there is that stubborn faot-Jack Tai
bot. Only fool would overlook him.
But the other one, Topmark's niece
she's almost rs astonishing. considering
the stock she springs from. What way
she hasl 1t was worth lot to sec how
she cooed aud purred the other night. I
might think Of calling there, only I
hope to get out Of this tomorrow at the
latest.
Sound of other hoofs here made him
slacken speed. His road ran into anoth.
er some 30 yards away. Through ths
thin growth of the intervening point he
saw Miss Winfold, mounted upon the
tall, gray, family horse, with Major. q
scrap Of black boy. up behind. At sight
Of Mr.. Howell he aet up All atrocious
snigger. crying aloud: Miss Alice!
Miss Aliool Oar dc We y man Marse Ben
took Ii fotch ter we alls house t'urrer
night, de man frum town nanny say
che s'pect gwine cut out all your yother
beaus.
"You. Major. hush, this minute"
Miss Winfold said, her face taking OH u
brick dust hue. She had taken stock Of
MIR. Howell upon their first encounter,
and her mind was made up that, failing
Jack Talbot, she could do no better than
marry him. She was unfeignedly glad
of the chance that threw him In her
way, but maiden modesty. as she under
stood it, forbade her to seem conscious
of his presence until Inconsistencies
was no longer possible. Even after they
had exchanged greetings she kept dis.
tant front toward him until he drew di-
rectly beside her, saying, with lazy
laugh:
Miss Winfold, You must bo here ns
q direct answer to prayer. l was think.
ing Of you, and. behold, / look up and
see your
"Oh, indoedl Now, wonder what
you We're thiukin of poor me unless you
were wonGerin how you managed to
talk to such little goose, Miss Win.
fold said, with an arch lift Of her brows.
"What slandar!" laughed the law.
yer, and at once rode on beside her. He
was in the humor to see what was un-
der and within this undulant plump
ness The girl lacked fascination who'll
ly, but ho seemed to discern in her
quality of subtle subserviencc which
he had mapped out for himself.
Still, nothing might have come Of it
but for Major. though he was the un-
likeliest possible Cupid. "Dnt boy. he
dest gut ter bo mean or bust his
mother habitually said of him, and just
now he was i'll content with the estate
iu which he found himself. There was
small chance for mischief riding thus
within six inches of Miss Winfold's i'm
maculate and starched pink shoulders
unless, thut is. one had Majors genius
for it. By the time they had gone mile
in Mr.. HowelPs company the lad had
found long pin which he recalled hav-
ing hidden that morning somewhere in
his woolly crown. Next minute he had
thrust it into old gray so sharply that
that sober animal gave a great bound,
and Miss Winfold lay in heap upon the
road.
Major was there, too, a moaning
lump Of arme and legs. But Mr.. Howell
took no thought Of him. He knelt be-
side Miss Winfold, noting even in that
distracted minute how firmly the neat
aaxen braids sat in place. As he slid an
arm beneath Rer head she opened her
eyes and gasped family, water, wa
teri" then collapsed against the arm
from whose support she had ohastely
Withdrawn herself.
water, waterl' Major echoed in
precisely her key.
"Shut upi You are not hurt, you
monkey" Mr. Howell said masterfully.
II does bleebe kin walk Major
answered. with q grin: then. dartinp