Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-10
CHAPTER V.

There come moments to every sen
tient being when the souls crying need
for sympathy, it's demand for audience
of IL nearer and more palpable ear than
the ear of the invisible One presses with
impcrious importantly, when the temp
tation to examine the workings and the
conclusions of ones own conscience by
the light of outside criticism wakes too
strong to be withstood.
That being is fortunate who in the
moment of the hearts indiscretion finds
al auditor at once discreet and coura-
geous.
Strong Martins moment of tempta-
ton came to him when to the impcne-
trable darkness of his doubt Swallowed
and pcrpleNed consciousness was super
added the dense physical darkness of
starless midnight, when he and Seth
apparently had tho whole world to
themselves, without in the least know
ing what to do with it. When Campus,
MI its spirit blue and diamond bright
ness eclipsed, stretched black and limit
less over their unsheltered heads, SEEM
ing to touch the dark crowns of the tall
trees that closed in about them, erect
and shadowy sentinels guarding the
small clearing known as Nevitt's Land
ing.
He and Seth were waiting for the
boat that was to bring Liza home.
Much anxious thought and careful
preparation had been expended in antic-
ipation of that momentous event. Mrs.
Strong had gone the length of proffering
her own horses and carriage, with Dol
bear, the highly accomplished coachman
Mt the mansion, thrown in. The offer
had travelled from the big house to the
oversoer's house i'll company with a
huge bunch of hcliotrope in fragrant
bloom.
Strong, as spokesman for the family,
had declined the offer with a prompt
ness that bordercd on ungraciousncss.
By reason of his college training and
consequent superior knowledge Of the
world Strong had stepped Immediately
into a sort of domestic dictatorship
pressed upon him by the loving sutlragos
Of the whole family. That matter Of the
governors coach he had settled crisply.
"No, we do not want it, mother Let
my sister begin Alright. She is coming
home to US, not to the people up at the
mansion. She has been kept i'll the dark
long enough. The wagon that takes you
into town is quite good enough TO bring
your daughter out of it. She might as
we'll learn from the word go that she
belongs to an entirely different class If
people from the Strcngs.'
Seth nodded his shaggy head approx
ingly at each period. 'Barrin sort Of
savage snap i'll your voice, Strong I'm
with you, boy, straight through. like
to hear such good, hard horse sense
from the lips of him we was feared
would come home spilled for cv'lything
but books. You re gettin holt NV things
by the right end, boy, and I'll back you
up in it..
He further signifcd his entire APP
proval of Strong's Independent attitude
by vigorous slap on his shoulders,
then went off whistling softly to SEQ
that the two mule wagon was nicely
swept out and to select a pair of reliable
animals
The longer he pondered Strong's
peculiarly acrid way Of talking about
the people at the big house the more
perplexed he grew. He mentally re-
solved to 'get it all out of the boy
while they should be waiting for the
boat, which was sure to be late that