Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-02-16


fined as q ballet she acted and moved
as though In a dream-wOrld.
What they witnessed need not be de-
tailed. Is it not written in the daily
| papers?' Suffice it to tell that Sylvia
remained oblivious to all Brunton's
hints as to the lapse of time until he
murmured that the hour neared II.
Safely in the hanson speeding home
ward Sylvia returned to earth again,
and sighed at that she felt like Cinder'
ella in having to leave the ball at its
| height And Brunton tentatively sug-
| yested that there mad been no prince ~
her ball.; whereupon Sylvia avowed
hastily that of course he was the
| prince-then faltered and blushed.
After that it must be confessed that
| the trees fringing Regents Park wit
messed some callow love making.
Yes, Sylvia was sorry, very, very
sorry, he was going, and perhaps when
| he returned in three years he would
nave forgotten her? And Brunton was
equally convinced Of his own faithful,
ness, but feared the strain of time and
| absence on hers.
Brunton thought he would like their
next meeting to take place, as this one
| bered that a certain green door In the
nigh wall encircling her grandmother's
grounds opened on quiet side road.
1t was quite near; they could drive
round that way and she would point
| It out. .u.s
Thereafter the stars witnessed SOL
emn compact that that day three
years, at the same hour, Sylvia would
unlock the green door to give Bruntol
| entrance. ,...u.
They were very much in earnest.
Two real tears glistened in Sylvia's
eyes as she spoke of the years that the
green door must remain closed. And
Brunton's voice got husky, and he had
difficulty in rendering his farewells
as many as he would have wished.
Re-entering Mrs. Derrick's garden
cautiously, the culprits had scarce
gained the safe vantage of the shrub
| berry before encountering an emissary
| IN search of Sylvia Lady Martingalo
was going, had been going for quite
ten minutes, and both her cloak and
her granddaughter we to seek!
Athwart the little green door the
moonlight glinted softly, and Brunton,
standing in the near shadow of an lick,
would willingly have dropped the COM
ing hour out of his life. ag
Since his return to England few
days before, the memory of this ap-
preaching designation had persistently
required to him. AS man of honor,
ne knew he dare not shirk it. And yet
how painful to be forced to see Sylvia,
TO look into those innocent, trustful
ayes-for of her cOnstancy he had no
ioubt-and confess how he had chang
ed, and to tell boldly that their meet-
ing had proved but an incident, of no
moment in the ordering of his life.
He must undeceive her as tenderly as
possible, speak of Eleanor regretfully,
at least not let Sylvia guess how en-
tirely happy their union was, or that
she, Sylvia, had long ceased to be
aught but a pretty, sentimental re-
membrance to him.
Even as he schooled himself distant
clock struck the hour, and with the
arst faint chime came the steady sound
Of an opening lock. She was there!
Gently turning the handle, he passed
through thfe green door and entered
Lady Martngale's garden. Beside tho
stood Sylvia, the moonlight sparkling
on her hair, and adding an ethereal
glamour to the sheen Of her robe.
A swift pang smote him as he saw
that as when they first met, she wore
white, forgetting that he, too, had
sought to recapture his former aspect
for her view.
Her eyes met his in questioning ap-
Deal, and for moment mad rush
If pity, romance, affection, call 1t what
you will, Overcame him, and, spring
ing forward, he caught her hands.
sylvia"
"Yes."
"You had not forgotten?
mo. And your
81 am here
After the greeting there fell sense
Of constraint, which Brunton realized
was not all of his own making. She
was lovely, even more lovely than of
yore-taller too, with the lapse of
years-and with an added something
In her expression that was new ta
him.
Behind them the fountain splashed
md murmured. Then Sylvia broke tina
silence, speaking as If in answer to his
thoughts.
"You-you have changed-are not tho
same. OF course, you look older ana
pronzed Il don't mean that. But there
Is something else-your manner"
Brunton felt there was no escape
for him. He must tell her, and at
once.
Sylvia" he began, breathlessly,
three years is q long time"
"Oh, yes; is it not?" she interposed,
eagerly.
"And you know, ones circum.
stances alter--new people intervene"
Eyes, yes; so they do"
Her unexpected acquiescence was
lisconcerting, but he doggedly stunbl'
ed on.
"And Sylvia, wish to tell you'll
Snow II seems mean and cruel-Dut
,ast year met Eleanor, and"
Hush" interrupted Sylvia, sudden
" raising her hand, and turning In an
attitude Of listening expectancy to-
ward the lighted windows of the house
visible across the expanse Of lawn.
AS they paused, mute, from an open
.asemate came a feeble cry-vague
olaintive, sending Its message into the
night
Sylvia's eyes sought Brunton's-his
wondering, hers lambert with maternal
ecstasy.
my baby!' she said
An Ingenious Device.
Formerly the ashes on steamships
we're gathered into great cans. hoisted
20 the decks with more or less difficulty
and thrown overheard. Ameng the
new devices for labor saving In. thia