Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-02-18


The mood passed, as such moods do.
In the sunshine of Rob's presence her
father learned to half forget bis blind
ness. She grow and strengthened and
became wise beyond her years. With
love rs the incentive nothing came hard.
Though she still forswore school, once
the letter learning was over she grew 80
fond of books that by mousing i'll the
library sho got q sufficient II unusual
education. Then, too, she could sew,
knit and look after housewifely affairs,
to say nothing Of riding, dancing and
shooting to equal perfection.
Naturally the good folk whose ideal
Of young womanly perfection was MISS
Winfield looked half askance at poor
Rob. 1t was the shooting which most
condemned her, albeit the root Of her
reprehensible proficiency was the wish
to keep her father supplied with game
when no craved it. There were frequent
intervals when he relished nothing else.
Mrs. Winfield in such case would have
appealed successfully to the chivalry Of
her neighbors. Rob took up her fathers
GUN, Us SIG ldtl tuAtu MD oeHNI phANA"s
without whining or moaning over tho
necessity which laid tam upon her
Shoulders
Long before sho came t. 10 sho was
parsonage noted, gossiped over-lf the
truth must be told often belied-
throughout the length and breadth OF
Walnut Cree5. She was so bravely, so
unoonventit,naily truthful at oil points
save one-it was not strange the mir was
filled with tales of her social daring.
For example, she said openly she loved
to dance, best of all to waltz, when
she had Jack Talbot for a partner.
Mrs. Winfold found that speech simply
shameless. Dear Alice never went be-
yond the basket cotillon and had scru-
pies even as to that Waltz! Not shell
She had been too we'll brought up ard
knew too entirely what a modest girl
owed to herself and society.
Yet-such is the depravity OF the hui
man mind, even in Walnut Greek
there were not wanting people who said
that Miss Winfold's sc1uples were fine
thing for her possible partners. She was
SO springlesH and wooden they must
needs have carried her. Then, too, con-
trast with Rob might evoke comment to
ruf1le even her amiablity. Things were
best as they were. Jack and Rob might
dance their fill together and be mono the
worse Of it when he was safely married
to Alice Winfield.
Rob went to much less than half the
merrymakings. Though she was GER
tainly more in need of friendly cOunte-
nance than was Walnut Creeks para.
gon, in some way nobody took account
of the fact The reason was perhaps
that she was too fine of fiber to bewail
her unprotectedness in the right quar-
ter. Her few outings were all in the
shadow of Nam Lizas ample person
Perhaps their very rarity gave Rob's
pleasure keener edge.
Usually upon such occasions she
danced the light away with Jack-Jack,
whose height and step suited hers to
nicely; who was, after her father, her
very best friend. OF course she liked
him more than any other of the boys
moro than all of them indeed, and why
should she not say so, especially when
it made Mrs. Winfield look so angry and
Mortified? 1t was the highest possible
tribute to her undeniable charm that, in
the face of !. franknoss so desperate, she
never lacked partner for the numbers
that Jack was constrained to SHARE with
Miss Winfield.
T. hn r., ~ hoCn
floating beside him, her eyes starry, her
cheeks the clcarest rose, her 1.-the slon-
derness vital, vibrant, swayinG respon-
sivo to the music. as the wind harp to
the wind. Besides there was dlstlnc-
ton in taking her out. She had the
courage Of her antipathies no less than
her convictions. Quick and full Of ready
courtesy as she was there were times
when subterfuge was vain. Then, sooner
than take hands with enc who repealed
her fine, subtle instincts, she lifted her
eyes and said clearly, with no trace of
shy confusion Excuse me, please. l
think my father would not like to have
me dance with you, and know / should
not like it myself. "
poor, misguided child! wonder she
is so unmanncrly. Her mother was a
lady if ever there was one, - good Mrs
Talbot said when such speeches, distort-
ed and magnified hundredfold, came
to her cans. eve must remember,
though, Rob has almost brought herself
up and judge her as kindly as possible.
1t is dreadful to be mohorless. y
"Ah, yesn' Mrs. Winfield sighed in
answer "Mayby that does have little
ter do with it, But, Mrs. Talbot, l be-
licvc people act like they were born ter.
l know eff Alice had lost me years ago
an bad grown up with jest nobody but
brother ter look after her she never
never in the world--would have been a
Rob McGregor. Do you know some
times when l think Of her-Alico, l
meant git down an ask the Lord ter
keep me from idolatry--ter make me
jest humbly thankful over havin had
such daughter given mo.
"H-m-m! wonder what Miss Alice
prays over having such mothcr!' Jack
said irreverently when he heard Of the
good woman g prisons. Jack liked Miss
Winfield so sincerely he had much ado
to keep from hating her mother. In
fact. he quite agreed with Rob. She
said upon the rare times that she named
the mother and daughter, laughing a
little and with dancing eyes: ooh,
Jack, do be good to poor stubby Alice
There is not mite Of harm in her. In
deed she is rather nice. And think what
she must endure in being her mothers
daughteri"
Rob had habit Of regarding all
things humorously, even herself. 1t was