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

he mad been OeOeQ-Cne DeCll1OBue ne1u
no darker crime. Sarah Jane was to re-
ceive tho overflow of the discomfort thnt
had been accommodating all that morn
ing. With one hand he held the silken
brown head in q merciless grasp His
handsome face was empurpled with the
violence Of his rage and the exercise.
Sarah James yelps Of agony were min
gled with his short painting breathings.
His strength was almost spent. High in
air he lifted the rod for a supreme effort.
Zone more, d-n you, and then per-
haps you will know who is master
But the rod did not descend. 1t was
caught from his grasp By AL invisible
hand behind him and girl's clear voice
in denunciation was added to the dis
cord.
"You are a cruel wretch, Adricn
Strong, and it would only be serving
you right il you could be paid back i'll
your own coin. There, and there and
theren
A cracking Of broken wood, and the
fragments of his ranrod flew pioccmeal
from the iron crosspiece Of the fencc
against which it had been struck with
furious force.
Adrien faced about hurriedly. He
knew of no one who would thus dare to
interfere with his discipline, surely not
his mother, scarcely his grandfather.
Standing OH the moss grown brick
wall behind him was vision altogether
out Of keeping with its surroundings.
1t was Liza Martin, silhouettcd in gray
serge garb and red fringed turban
against the dark greencry of the grave
yard Her eyes and checks were aflalne
with indignation as she flung the last
splinter Of his broken rnmrod at his feet
and brushed her reddened palms against
each other to FREQ them from dust and
splinters -'
The stormclouds on Adrien's face
gradua ~ paSscd away. 1t was such an
exceediA nsical turn he was ready
to laugh. Sdeh ensitions came easily
to him. But the girl s face was too stern
yet awhile for him to venture upon pre-
mature mirth. OF course this must be
Ebcn Martins daughter. He regarded
himself as good judge Of female beau
ty, and this girl, who stood there calm
ly adjusting her displaced cuffs, filed
his most rigid requirements
"Who are you?" he asked, quite un-
necessarily.
II am Eliza Martin, Governor
Strong's overscer's daughter. I have
been prowling about here. The views
arc pretty from this point. My brother
Seth left ME here when he went by with
the wagon to haul cotton to the gin.
am waiting for him 10 pick me up on
his return. l come here to sketch very
often. You have spoiled it fer me.
am telling ycu this go that you need
not think went out Of my way to in
terfere. was in there with Gabrielle
when l heard your murderors blows.
At school was vice president Of 80
ciety for the prevention of cruelty to
animals. We don't have such societies
here at home, but I know of no place
where one is more needed than III this
plantation. Poor, poor doggy"
All this time Adrien was thinking
much more about the girl herself than
about what sho was saying.
Yes, she was pretty, the prettiest
girl by long odds he had seen since lcav-
ing college. Rather self possessed-that
was the strong mindedness, he supposed,
that his grandfather complained Of. Her
voice was marvelously sweet, however,
and clear He should like to hear it
again. Even when denouncina hia h'-'-
tality 1t had never once risen to shrill-
ness.
II think you need not change your
sketching ground, Miss Martin. I am at
home very little and hunt still less. /
was trying to walk Off q fit Of Ill temper
this morning"
Liza flashed mocking smile at him.
"And succeeded admirably. Poor old
doggy, didn't he, now%'
She was on her knees with ono hand
softly smoothing tho hair over the welts
made by tho ramrod on Sarah Jane 5
quiyering tanks. II imagine you have
spoiled your dog for a hunter" she
said more gravely. "She will never be
anything but miserable coward after
this See how she ,cringes when you
make one step toward her.
II fancy Sandy has lied to me- The
dog is d miserable, cringing cur by ma
ture. Blood will tell in man or beast. I"
"True. And ns this is nothing but a
miserable cringing cur by nature, fit for
the quarters only, suppose you give hor
to me-" ''
She was standing up now and with
ont tinge Of cowardice was looking
him placidly in the face. His mistake
was irretrievable. He flushed and stam-
mered and made matters infinitely
worse II she would only turn those
mocking eyes away from his crimson
cheeks for half a secondi All the wrath
that had been accumulating through
the sunlit hours of that serene October
morning turned inward with fierce self
denunciation, forcing him to blurt out:
IL am a cad, brute, an imbecile,
not worthy to stand in the presence OF
any good and gentle woman.
Liza regarded him in reflective silence.
1t was as if she were trying to get him
in proper perspective.
mot quite as bad as all that, l imaS-
ine You are simply the product of your
environment It was not that poor dog 6
shortcomings you were Furnishing. She
happened to be the only safety valve at
hand. Her helplessness was your virdi'