Catoctin clarion., 1897-06-10
CHAPTER XVI.

Now that everything had been spoken
between the lovers, there seemed to be
no reason why they should not be made
entirely happy forthwith, and negotia-
tons were entered into which resulted
in appointing the first Of May as
the wedding day. The announcement
formed the chief topic of polite converse
ton during Lent. Society took the
counts dinner party as base, and upon
that erected their surnises of what the
wedding would be like. 1t would be
something worth living to see, that was
certain. AS to the wife, society was so
unfortunate as not to know her. Olym-
pia Raven? No. There asno recollec-
ton of such name She must be some
thing remarkable. There were so many
lovely girls in New York whom one did
know something about; why couldn't
the count? However, the count
was rich enough to be eccentric, and the
fashion of marrying unknown girls
might catch on.
"Come to think Of it, though" said
Dr. Venables, twas there not an Olym-
pia Raven mixed up in that murder trial
some years ago? Why, yes! Now.
there's curious instance, Miss Hess
Hesketh, of the concatenation of ideas.
Thinking of the count, you know.
brought up the idea of his house. His
house suggested poor old Trent, who
built it. Trent suggested the trial, and
the trial the persons concerned in it.
There was the young fellow, Darke, the
murderer, and Sallie Matchin, and then
remembered that there was some one
that Darke was in love with, and-do
you see? Olympia Raven-yes the
same person. Well, now, that is curl
Gus again; one of those mysteries-coin-
cidences, we call the1n-but who knows?
If you recollect, my dear Miss Hess
Hesketh, it came quite as surprise that
Sallie Matchin should have turned out to
be Mrs. Harry Trent, for it was in evil
dence at the time that Trent was intend
ing to marry this same Olympia Raven.
But today the tables are turned After
that dinner party I'm sure we all expected
that Sallie was going to marry the
count, instead of which he throws her
over and picks up her old rival Olym-
pia!"
Old Miss Hess Hesketh laughed. The
girl lost nothing by waiting bit, she
remarked "If she'd got Trent she'd
have lost the count. But expect Sallie
will be mad | don't blame her I'd
marry the count myself if he asked mel"
Miss Hess Hesketh was seventy, and had
the reputation of being the ugliest wom-
;v, h,,f chn fov frnvo
being the greatest fool.
Meanwhile the two persons chiefly con-
cerned in the approaching ceremony had
no intention of making grand display
Of it. To be married was their object,
and they regarded the social obligations
rather as a necessary nuisance than as
an opportunity. Olympia in short,
would be married in travelling dress
There would be accommodation for
everybody at the church, but at the
house, where the wedding breakfast
would be served, not more than fifty
guests We're to be invited. The count
had arranged the details Of the affair
with Garcia, who, to his many other re-
markable qualities, added fine aesthetic
The count had already learned by expe-
rience that whatever was left to Garcia
to do was sure to be we'll and thoroughly
done. So he laid down the general lines
only that were to be followed and per-
mitted Garcia to manage the rest.
1t was quiet Lent, and no doubt it
was the happiest month Of the lovers
1ivoo Tboy 1acarvaI II for tho corrou-o
they had passed, and they needed it for
the numerous disasters that lay before
them. They saw each other every day.
Mrs. Bannick fell in love with the count
out of sympathy with Olympia, and
Tom conceived romantic tenderness
for Olympia because she was beloved by
his friend, the count. These four dur
ing the March evenings, talked over
many things and made many plans for
the future-as people still persist in do
ing in this world, Notwithstanding the
sinister experience of thousands of years
of history. Mrs. Raven sat at the table
near by reading her interminable news
papers, and once in while Garcia made
his appearance for few minutes to re-
port progress and to receive Instructions
One day Garcia went into a shop to
make some purchases, and while wait
ing at the counter he was conscious Of
some one standing near him. He turned
and beheld Sallie Matchin.
The unexpected encounter startlad
him. He had not seen her since he had
heard her swear his liberty away two
years before in court, except on that one
occasion when she had been placed un-
der the spell of his wizardry. He at
tempted to look as if he did not know
her, but she smiled frankly upon him
and held out her hand.
Don't let us bo enemies" she said.
you have good reason to hate me, but
have better reason to hate you, for it
was who inflicted the injury. ButI
have repented, and wish you to forgive
me. You are in the way of greater pros
perity than | could have given you. Can
not you afford to be generous?"
81 know you better now than did
then" said Garcia.
'Im not going to defend myself" she
returned Let the worst be true, if
you will, am still the same woman
that you knew, except that experience
has made me wiser. The ambitions that
had then are gone forever. | recognize
my mistakes-an my greatest mistaken"
she added in lower tone. LOOKING him