Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-03-17
No 48

will find Dlc in tie LOiLins ioo4li. od
can clear off the table. "
The governor accepted these orders to
Drake as his own much wished for dis
missal and rose with alacrity. Piling
his arms full of newspapers he went off
briskly in direction Of his study. Cnce
inside of it's heavy, carved door no
sound, no intrusion OF buSry lo.>l a.
fairs, would disturb Ai.n.
In answer to Drake somewhat Zip,
PANTY delivered message fIo,h ''tEC
madam" Liza sprang from tie saddle
as she was riding homeward an hour
later, flung the bride to the boy, and
gathering her long skirt over her arm,
walked sedately into "the madam's"
presence
She knew quite we'll where to find
the object of her search. Before she had
been sent off to that Baltimore school
she and Gabrielle had studied together
in the morning room. 1t looked out over
the heliotrope and violet beds that were
overshadowcd by the crimson pomc-
granate bushes and the flame of the
Towering ounces. The scent of hello
trope always brought back those days
to her-brought back the pinched, intel
lcctual face of the little governcss, who
had Disseminated with cruel candor be-
tween Gabriella refined, delicate, SEN
sitive, and the pretty holden from the
quarters, who was admitted on suffer
ance and had her opportunities thrown
at her as bones are thrown to stray
dog. She had hated the governess in
those unequal days, had always hated
her, in fact, but Gabriella never. Her
she had loved always. Her she had
mourned bitterly, if briefly, when the
news came Of her taking off in earliest
womanhood. Gabrielle had been her
senior by six years, but they had stood
and studied heart to heart.
Crowding memories passed in with
her through the opening door of the
morning room, outwardly trying her
composure sorely. She bore herself with
the complaisance of a captive princess.
She advanced we'll into the room before
speaking, and stood there pressing her
tiny, gauntleted hands tightly upon the
handle of her riding whip. Her large
eyes were fixed calmly on Mrs, Strong's
high bred face. They were red trimmed
as from recent tears. When she spoke,
the soft culture of her voice was dis
tinct surprise to her hearer
Drake tells me you want to see me,
Mrs. Strong. Mamma thinks / should
have paid you my respects before, but I
preferred waiting for summons
Things have changed so, you know.
Looking at her now for the first time
Mt close range, listening to her, saying
what she had to say with Il quiet direct
ness equally free from liippancy us from
Rwkwardness, Mrs. Strong was con-
gcious of Il passionate lon ing and Of
brief sensation Of thuulilumess If her
Gabrielle could bat have been spared to
come back to her radiant, self ~ @Gd
cultured as this child of Eacn NJ. ..As,
u plebeian oycrscer had come back. 1t
was we'll She was Cad that Adricn
was from home at this JUnctnre. Some
disposition must be made Of this child
before his final home coming.
She assumed her sccLter with QCiet
decision.
"Sit down, child. Yes, I wanted to
see you. I have some things to say to
you that perhaps you will unlcrst IA
better, coming from me, than from YOUR
mother. hope You will re, eivc wat
have to say in the right spirit
Liza walked over to chair, neither
hurriedly nor shyly. She was not op-
pressed by any disconc2rtinF sense Of
space between her and this pat1i"ian
lady, who had been born into Possession
Vt all the elegances surroundin. lor.
She regarded Mrs. Strong's high bred,
refined beauty with the girlish enthnsi-
asm she accorded everything that was
best of its kind. If good breeding had