Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-05-20

posed that you had"-he hesitated-
that you had consecrated yourself to a
memory. Our friends are dear to us
while they remain with us-we love
them-but when they are gone, and
years have passed since their departure,
the sentiment becomes less controlling.
1t is three years, you say, since this man
died. May say that it seems to have
been remarkable friendship"
1T was not common friendship,
Count do Lisle, and there was never any
one like Keppel Darke If you knew
what he"-
"Keppel Darker interrupted thecount.
Il have heard the name. Yes, it was
your friend Mr.. Bannick who spoke of
him. A sad story, indeed. He killed
Harry Trent, an old acquaintance of my
own. And you were his friend, made
moiselle2 l can see that he possessed
talent, but that he deserved your regard
that seems stranger
Count de Lisle," said Olympia, rising
up in angry indignation which she found
It hard to control, "you don't know what
you are saying, and that is your only ex-
cuse Keppel Darke died an innocent
man. He was not my friend only; l
loved him. told him so when l last
saw him, and if he were alive should
be now his wife, That portrait is tho
last thing he painted, it is the only
thing of his that is left to me- Do you
think would part with it? But you
did not know or you would not have
dared to speak so!''
The Count de Lisle listened with his
head bent, and without answering he
moved to the window and stood looking
out. After a while he turned and leaned
with his back against the sill.
"Mademoiselle," he said, 81 am glad
to believe that keppel Darke was inno-
cent, do believe it, for am sure that
You could not have loved man who was
capable of such a crime; but Mr.. Ban
nick told mo he was not executed. Are
you certain that he is dead?'
"His body was found chained to the
officer who was taking him to prison.
Oh, if there were any doubtr' She
pressed her hands together and her lips
trembled
"Of course there can be none. But
had he lived you would have been his
wife?"
She covered her face with her hands,
and then dropped into her chair and
leaned her head against the back of it.
The count stood looking down at her.
He took off his eyeglasses, and his pow
erful dark eyes were bent upon her with
an intense expression. His lips were
parteu as if 10 spoaF But It that no
ment n sound Of vuicr, v-a' archie IN
a. adjoinilr rom. MI, laulnck and
Mrs Eaven had returned from their
shopping expedition. The count recov-
cred himself in an instant.
II will do myself the honor to call
again, Miss Raven" he said. "Forgive
mo for having disturbed you. l hope
you will think Of me as your friend"
And then, as the ladies' opened the door,
he bowed to them silently and ceremoni-
ously and went out.
His carriage, with two horses, was
standing before the door. AS the count
emerged from the house on the sidewalk
there was singular bright and triumph
ant expression on his face, as if some re-
markable happiness had befallen him.
An understood man Of dark complex
ion, with black stubble of beard on his
face and wearing ragged coat and o
derby hat rusty with age and two sizes
too big for him, was shambling along
the sidewalk in pair of boots that were
not mates. AS the Count de Lisle ap-
preached his carriage the dingy wreck
of civilization sprang to open the car
riage door, having determined at a
glance that the count was not only able
to afford him quarter, but was in the
right humor to do 50.
The count looked at the man as he
stood ducking and scraping, with his hat
in his hand, and pausing, he put his
fingers in his waistcoat pocket. There
was nothing there but bank notes The
count next tried the pocket of his trou-
sers, but millionaires suffer from incon-
veniences, Us other folks do, though of Il
different kind. He pulled out, not sill
yer, but only handful of gold"
II am sorry" he said to the man; II
have nothing but ten dollar piece"
"Thats better than nothing, captain!"
the man returned, with ludicrous affec-
tation of magnanimity. The count smiled
in recognition OF the forlorn bit Of humor
and threw the coin into the hat. The
man took it out between his forefinger
and thumb, delicately, as prestidigita-
teur might, and by quick movement
caused it to disappear. my thanks, cap
tain" he said. Another time will do
as much for you!"
Just then there was roar and a rush,
and changing of bells and snorting Of
steam sweeping across the head Of the
road, couple Of rods off. 1t was a fire
engine, galloping headlong to its destina-
ton toward the eastern water front. The
rount's horses were spirited creatures,
and not as yet thoroughly broken In to
New York customs. They made spring,
reared, and sprang again to get away.
The coachman braced himself, but felt
that he could not control them. The
count, who had placed one foot upon the
step, withdrew it just in time to escape
being knocked down by the forward
lurch of the carriage.
But the shabby man was enterprising
in more ways than in collecting eleemo-
synary eagles. He jumped nimbly to
the heads of the horses and caught at
the bits. He might have been successful
in stopping them but that his hat, being
too large, was in some way jerked off his
head, and fell upon the nose of the off
horse, who tossed it up in the air, and
having got to the end Of his endurance
made desperate plunge. The pole of
tho carriage struck the man on the left