Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-31

becoming fixed in his eyes. Upon the
entire man was stamped the aspect Of
one wholly in protest against the world
as he found it.
Earnest, loving sympathy welled
from Liza's heart to her lips and froze
there. 1t was not easy to proffer 1t in
view Of Strong's dumb protest against
her intrusion. She took temporary refuge
in levity to gain breathing time.
"How luxuriously you live, Strong!
One queensware plate, chipped; one
CUP and saucer, no handle on cup;
bone knife, might be utensil or
weapon; steel fork, two pronged; two
German silver tablespoons. Superfluous
elegancel Nothing spoonable is visible.
Salt In empty sardine box; sugar ditto.
viands are corn bread, fried bacon,
cashaw cooked in molasses, baked sweet
potatoes; cookery-dubious; napery-
uoue."
Strong's face darkened visibly under
this airy impertinence. He stood gnaw-
ing the ends of his long mustache in
impotent wrath. Slowly Liza turned
toward him and lifted her lovely eyes
to his face. There was no mirth in
them now; instead, biting scorn, a
flashing indignation, resolute daring.
She was there to save, not to scott. She
must not finch.
"Do you like it, Srong?' she asked
in q cool, high voice.
"Do I like what?'
She waved her hands comprehen-
Gvely.
"This-all Of this; this shocking
unceiled cabin, with its smoke black
rafters overhead; this worn, sunken
bare floor; that noxious pond out yon-
der, with its blood chilling air; this
horrible isolation; this dreadful lone
liness day and night, night and day.
Oh, 1t is horrible Strong, horribleP ~
1T is not SO bad when one is in uni
son with it.
but you are not in unison with it.
You cannot be. read revolt IN every
line of your face. You are SO young and
strong and free. Think Of it, Strong,
free; free to go out tomorrow, if you
will, and take your place among the
men who are doing and daring and
achieving; free to measure your brain
with their brains, your Drawn against
theirs. 1t means SO much, just to be
man, Strong"
He laughed almost viciously, and
was about to say something i'll keeping
with the mirthless sound, but she put
ont an imperious little hand and went
on with increasing vehemence:
II know. know what you are going
to say. 1t is uphill work for man to
make headway here unless he is born
in the slave owners purple. But why
stay here? 1t is such great, big, roomy
world--a place in it for all sorts, Strong,
places where no credentials but spot
less name and strong will are needed y
"And have neithr." The gloom III
his face darkened into hopelcssness.
Neither? Do you intend that the
stigma of our fathers vocation shall
wrap you, too, in pail? With me it
must. For me there Is nothing but ac-
ceptance, but tell you, Strong, wom-
an as am, if it were not for the ten
der, loving hearts at home that would
throb with pain if I forsook them,
would 20 away from here tomorrow. l
would say to you, Come, and let US
make home together, where the lines
are not SO sharply drawn, nor the path
to honorable distinction so steep and
narrow. Strong Strong! Strong How
can you stand still and see the great
race of life run and you not in it? Why
stand ye here idle, inert, supine?'
She stopped in maiden confusion. His
eyes were mooking her
II was right III telling Seth to keep
you away from me. Icould see how un-
pleasantly full you were of crude en-
thusiasms. - Then, more justly Child,
do you suppose you are presenting any
new ideas for my consideration this
morning? Do you suppose that when l
was working like Turk at Shingleton
to keep abreast with the fellows who
had an earlier start Of me l did not
dream the regulation dreams about do
ing and daring and achieving? Do you
suppose l have seen all my fair castles
topple to the ground without one pang?
Rather, with such pangs as the very
devils in hell might pity"
There was no supineness about him
now. He was standing erect, his broad
chest heaving with the intensity of his
emotion, his sad eyes glowing feverish-
". Liza could see his hand tremble as
he passed his handkerchief slowly across
his forehead She went nearer to him
and laid her clasped hands on his bos-
ON. There was an inexpressible tender
= L nd sy,h n
young voice when she spoke
"What has changed the face OF the
world so completely for you, brother
Strong? You used not to be cynic,
Seth says"
"Liesv'
"A--woman?"
"No. A man."
Zone man? One solitary man? One
single lie3'
zone solitary man. Butt loved
him. A single lie-but-a potent one. y
"And you could not stamp it out?'
"Stamp out lie 1t is like a prairie
fire. You stamp it out III oie place and
while you are painting over its harmless
dead ashes it leaps venomously into
fresh activity just across the pathway
you have to travel. Perhaps if had
seen the spark when it first fell-but-
one never does until it is too late-too
late for everything but resignation.
Liza stamped her foot passionately.
"You talk like an old crone Of SOL
And SO you are going to sit down In
this loathsome spot. this brain paralyz-
ing solitude and throw away all your
God given talents and your four years
of hard study? Are you going through