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


thereby covering up multitude Of
small sins in the shape of clinging cot
ton seed and wisps Of oat straw. Eben
"steadicd" the armchair that Liza was
to sit in by roping it securely to tho
sides of the wagon. Seth cautiously cir
communicated the turnout to make sure
that every bolt and buckle TO whose
trustworthiness their darling was to DO
committed was in place.
Gwen be travclin by faith and not by
sight tonight" he said finally, signify
ing his satisfaction with the arrange
ments by giving facetio,ts twist to the
short lock over the near mules brow
band.
Mrs Martin returned brcRthlcss and
painting, shaking tie wrinkles cut Of
her best shawl. diffuSing a strong odor
of gum ca,nphor by the process
"Take it easy, NANNY. You amt no
lightweight Save your breath. That
boat won be long before midnight, if
then. All aboard, Strongic, my lad"
Both men clamLcrcd nimbly into po-
sition OH the board laid across the front
of the wagon. Seth gathered the clumsy
leather reins into a skillful grasp. With
q lurch and much jfngling of trace
chains the wagon got under way.
ooh, Seth!'
Seth turned a backward glance in di-
rection of the group still standing at the
bottom Of the steps.
"You' make Liza understand why
we thought it best to fetch her home
from Nevitt's Landing stead Of lettin
her go on to town, where she'd have to
finish the night on that wharfboat with
the bugs and things for company"
"All right, nanny" the patient
fellow called back cheerily. "Git up,
mules Hitch the plank little for 'arder,
Strong. Now then.
Strong adjusted the board as he was
hidden. Pretty soon he brought his CT
gar case into view. 1t was one of the
Injuries he had imported from college
No one objected to it at home. A wide
margin should be allowed boy who
had carried off the first honors, land
him not come of bookish folks He ey-
tended the case to Seth who nodded his
acknowledgment of the courtesy, but
did not avail himself Of it.
"Not jus at present I'll save it for
dessert l put fresh quid in when we
was startin, and | can't afford to waste
it. It'll help to keep me awake while
we're waitin, Thank you all the same. -
Immediately after passing through
the boundary line gate they plunged ill.,
toa dense bit of woodland which moth
ing but lifelong familiarity enabled q
man to thread. The wagon gave vio-
lent lurch. Strong lurched with it.
"Phcw, but it is black night; no
moon, no stars"
"But full 'lowance of stumps
Whoa, jeremiah! Where You goin,
kit"
Seth laughed and pulled his mules
short to the left.
II don't so much mind givin you
shake up, but sissy's another sort of
critter I'm mos sorry now we didn't
borry the carriage from the madam.
Old Dol is enough better driver than
me. They say he's got eyes like bat;
can see better in the dark than he kin
in the light. Learnt that when MIR. Ga
briel was live"
"That was Adriens father Do You
remember him.
"Sorter He worn't the stcadics' fell
low III the world, but he's gone, peace
to his ashes His capers never set me
back any"
"Drink?'
Drink and cards, or, ruthcr cards
and drink. The pastcboartls started him
down hill; the decantcr finished him.
But l merely said how wished old
Dolbear and the madam's carriage was
goin to fetch sissy home i'll place Of me
and Kit, blast her lazy bones!'
Il don't agree with you about the
carriage. Why should we turn to the
Srongs for assistance in every emer.
gency? Must the Martins always be
propped up by the Strongs? Can't we
possibly carry on our family affairs
without their aid?'
Seth looked toward the excited ques-
TONER out of the corners of his blue
eyes-a sheer waste of energy, for the
red glow of his cigar revealed only the
tip of straight, delicate nose and Il sen
sitive upper lip clothed in silky brown
mustache.
"What come over you, Strong? You
the last one in the world to turn ag'in
the gov 'nor's people"
Strong struck his heel angrily against
the low dashboard Il know what you
want to say. l. the governors name.
sake, who have reaped handsome ben
eft from my christening in shape of
four years course at Singleton college,
am the last one to say sharp things, or
should be. wasn't consulted about
choice Of names.
That's so, hut ut one time you was
that wrapped up in Adrien Strong,
when you and him was little fellcrs,
that you was ready to fight anybody
who wouldn't admit he was made out
Of superior sort of clay
81 know it. l know that too But
what's the use of finging all my i'm
becility in my teeth at once?'
There was tie soothing gentlcness Of
a mothers lullaby i'll Seth's voice us he
answered:
Il don't want to fling rc,hin in your
teeth, boy. was just sor;cr outdone to
hear you peckin at the GOV 'rcr's folks.
They's been good friends to our people.
What's come over you, Strong? You've
been down in the mouth ever since you
come home. Don't be feared to speak
out, lad, Maybe Buddy Seth can help
you, like he useter when you got your
tishin tackle all tangled up and couldn't
ontangle it."
"Im in worse tangle than that, old
fellow, but l don't see how it would