Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-06-02
THURMONT Frederick County, Maryland, Thursday June z. 1898.
gEAl1de7f4 A::MAEH@t'
eop1j1!sar: i4S7 ey kNe Au1,.oa


Martin suffered vicariously TOR the un-
detected wrongdoing Of my grandson
His whole life was affected by it. 1t
drove him into the enemy's ranks 1t
was Adrien Strong who made Federal
of Strong Martin. It was from Adrien 8
own lips I received this confession,
when he thought he was going to die of
the fever that made wreck Of his intel
lect. Through all the imbittered years
Of his young manhood the overseer' g
son protected my good name. Is that
nothing to be grateful for' ,.
"Only within the last year has he
known that I knew how much owe
him. had not thought ever to let an
other mortal know 1t. Now do you mar
vel at my championship Of his cause?
Do you suppose 1t costs me nothing to
place this perilous confidence In q girl2'
She turned her plying. luminous
eyes full upon him aud laid her hand
gently on his shoulder:
II have known IL oil these years. It
was for that first loved him. If could
have proved it OH your grandson, l
would havo done it-done it gladly-but
did he-did he send you here to say
all this to me?''
Martin send me here! No. But
he bent his white head in listening at
titude-"he is coming back for me. I
hear his horses up the road" He laid
the spray Of sweet olive upon her folded
hands. my dear. may not carry that
olive branch to him from you? Love
seldom chooses so Grabbed a 60 between,
but I will carry your message to him
faithfully and gladly, little girl. You
alone can keep him. We need him. You
are driving him away from u.s..
She stood up. trembling In every
nerve.
II cannot, I cannot--I will notv'
With frightened cry she turned
away from him. The olive branch lay
crushed and bruised beneath the old
mans heel He ground It deeper into
the matted floor, got up and went away
without another glance at her. She
heard him pace slowly down the garden
walk, heard the gate close behind him,
and second later knew, by the furious
trampling of horses feet, that Strong
was conveying him homewasd with all
possible speed.
The long. hot, lonely day burned it
self out at last They dined late at Sans
Souci. Her father would not be coming
home before bedtime. The cicadas were
shrilling in the locust trees behind the
cottage The fragrance Of the sweet
olive fell heavily upon the air. She
seated herself on the bench beneath 1t
with book in her hand. Empty pre-
tensel She was foe to pretense Of any
sort. And yet was she not pretending
with herself
She stood up and broke of an olive
branch, threw it away and broke an
other-she had suddenly grown choice
in the matter-a fourth; at last one
that suited her exactly.
MRS. Morgan was discreet. No one
would ever know. It was only q step,
Just to the end Of the lane, and he
away at Sessumsport.
Mrs Morgan was not only discreet,
but deaf. She started when the profess
or's daughter, her face wrapped about
with a white cloud, stood suddenly be-
fore her, as she sat on her back porch
finging shelled corn to her noisy feath-
cred pensioners. Mamie stopped and
laid q small pasteboard box on her knees
The old woman examined it curiously.
"What's this? Martins names on
the back Of 1t. What am to do with
itr'
"Put it ON his table, his bureau, any
where where he will see it when he
comes home. And, Mrs. Morgan, dear
good Mrs. Morgan, pray never speak Of
my bringing it-you know
II know, know, good child. amt
been toothless old hag all my life.
He'll get it. Trust me for that"
But Mamie was far beyond reach Of
these consolatory worda A few steps,
1ust TO the end of the lane, and she was
back home once more, quivering, flush
Ing, blushing there all alone for the
bold, foolish thing she had done.
The crescent moon came slowly up
out Of the east and found her sitting
6u0I0 uuucI tAc OAAVo WV WAA0 OyOAt
nervous, expeotant.
They dined late at Sans Souoi. Her
father would not be home yet for an
hour. The silver moonbeams fell aslant
Of the Grape myrtles by the gate and
made square Of brightness about it.
Something was moving in the light.
The latch was lifted and dropped. Some
one was coming up the walk.
There had been no sound Of wheels.
there was no sound OF orutcnes In
soft, frightened voice she called:
"Fatheri'
"Mamiel''
"Is 1t your Obi"
She drew back close against the wall.
Flight was her chief desire, but there
was no time for 1t. He had taken pos
session Of the other end Of her bench.
He laid his hat aside, and the light that
sifted through the olive branches above
them showed her noble head, a pallid
face, pair of burning eyes. stern,
chiseled mouth. He laid an olive branch
upon her lap.
"You brought it to me voluntarily,
did you not, dear?'
It was the olive branch she had left
for him such little while ago. Denial
was impossible, acknowledgment was
difficult.
"You-you-how did you get 1t 50
soon? 1 thought you were with the rest
oP then -