Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-24

He hfted the rod for a supreme effort
as the family graveyard if he would
start the birds in number. He had fol-
lowed the old man d directions, stopping
at the foot of the crumbling brick steps
that led up to the elevated inclosure,
by which time his enthusiasm was en-
tirely spent and desire fed. 1t was al
ways SO with Adrien; fruition and in
difference went hand in hand.
He flung himself down ON the lowest
step to the graveyard inclosure. Pale
mosses and dark grasses were forcing
their way through the crevices of the
bricks. Some time or other he would 60
inside and see what order the graves
were in, but not just then. From where
he sat he could see how tho laurea mum
dis had grown aud spread, making
shadowv arbor over and about the clus-
tering marble stones beneath. Gabr1.
elias was the newest ono there. A
crumbling brick wall surmounted by q
rusty iron railing circled the sacred spot.
Creepers of every description twined
clinging fingers in the iron tracery. A
spray of gaudy nasturtium flowers fell
near enough for him to have grasped 1t
if he had so willed.
1t was as quiet as Robinson Crusoe's
island, not even mocking bird stir
ring the branches of the dark leaved
laurea mundis. Adrien leaned his gun
against the vineclad wall and gave him
self up to rather somber tinted reverie.
Strong Martin intruded into it with
exasperating persistency-and-
He took package of letters from his
pocket and passed the superscriptions
slowly in review. There was one with
unbroken seal. His mail had been hand
ed him by his grandfather with jocu-
lar allusion to this rather strongly
scented envelope.
"Nc use dodging it. 1t is violation
Of the contract, however"
He said this aloud, as he ran his fore
finger impatiently under the flap. His
face darkened as he read it, and he
promptly tore it in half. Short as it
was it completed his discontinue for
that day. He laughed unpleasantly and
drew his gun toward him.
"Bettcr make wadding Of it,"
At sight of the drawn ranrod and
the white wad of paper disappearing
down tho black threat of the shotgun,
Sarah Jane drew in her lolling red
tongue and sprang to her feet. Evident
ly she had mastered one opinion in her
short life and made it securely her own.
Guns and birds were the corollary Of
each other, and her hour for self asser-
tion had arrived.
With the jealous indiscretion of am
bilious ignorance she leaIed in among
the trampled pea vines, aud with her
slender nose held close to the ground
careered wildly over the field, setting
at defiance Adrien's harsh demand for
her return. If her disobedience had
borne no fruit, 1t might possibly have
gone unpunished, but when promising
covey of birds wheeled, startled and
terrified, close to Adrien's head and
scudded off to take shelter in the more
| distant corntield, the measure of his
wrath was complete.
Evidently Sarah Jane and he took
differing views Of the situation. With
the triumphant mien Of conqueror
who had routed the enemy she came
leaping back to his side. Instead of lau-
rels a rod awaited her. Crcstfallen, with
soft deprccating eyes lifted to the stormy
face above her, the setter crouched to
receive her first lesson,