Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-02-25
CHAP PTFR VT

Miss Winfold found the blind man
alone in the wido hall. lie turned his
head at her knock, saying, with pitt
ful little smile:
my ears cannot tell ME names, though
they say my visitor is a lady and young.
Come in, please. My daughter will soon
be here. She has gone this morning to
look at the crops for me-
ooh, howdy, Mr.. McGrcgor!' Alice
said, shamed by the fine transparent
old face into something like cordial
heartincss. Its mc-Alice Winfold.
haven't come TO see Rob, at least | shall
tell her So Ma was tellin Inc this morn
in about your weddin--she was there,
you know--an says you an your wife
were the handsomest couple she ever
saw. Then | just wanted to sec YOU
an Rob, Of cOurSe-so bad | said l was
comm right over An shall tell Rob
it was on purpose to see you.
"Sit down, my dear. / am glad tru-
ly you have come, all the gladder that
cannot see you,' Mr.. McGregor said,
with q laugh more pitiful than tears.
"But l saw you among the last thugs,
he went on. II remember it we'll. You
were at the store with your mother
the chubbiest, neat little girl, with dim
ples all over her hands. Let me see.
Are the dinples there still? Yes, every
one,' touching her plump hand. "And
/ hear through my friend Talbot that
you are tho best daughter in the world.
You know, cannot quite agree to that,
though he says his wife thinks so. | have
q girl of my own. Aside from her you
arc no doubt the dearest girl in the
world"
"Well, must say this caps tho eli
max" Rob said from the door back Of
them. Daddy! To think Of your BIOS
soming out into gallant at this time
of life! Alice, shall like you awfully
for stepmothcr. But oh, dear, how
surprised am! I thought had this
young man," laying u light hand on
her fathers head, $50 well trained 1
could trust him, even with the belle OF
the eighborhood.
Alico laughed brightly, falling easily
in with Rob's whimsical humor. But
she would not take off her hat and stay
to dinner. 81 must go in minute,
she said. "Mommcr has oceans of work
laid out to do. I just ran away from it.
Come an give me some roses, Rob, by
way of reward.
''First you must eat some peaches,'
Rob said. "And tell your mother the
White Heaths are nearly ripe. She must
send and get all she wants next week y
"You have such lots. Why don't you
sell some?' Miss Winfold asked incau-
tiously. At once Mr.. McGregor sat very
upright.
eve have not more than enough for
ourselves and our neighbors, black and
white" he said. "And, Miss Alice,
even if there were a great surplus,
should hate to think that the sale Of it
had maybe cheapened the price of some
poor neighbor's wares. "
Rob flushed deeply and gave Alice al
appealing glance. That young lady
opened her eyes very wide, but said
nothing, only rose and walked beside
Rob to the garden.
at looks like witch work-the way
your flowers bloon," she said, glancing
along the borders. Everybody else's
are all dried up. But wait a minute,
Rob. didn't come out for just the
flowers II want to ask you somethln
--somcthin important-that l can't
mention to anybody else. y
"Why, Alice, am the last person
for serious matters, and if it's secret
please don't tell me-" Fob said. with a