Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-01-26

But the old man gave no sign, and
!, Of course, said nothing. Veracity Is
q dilncult accomplishment.
The little by-play was over In a few
seconds-almost before my old friend
could take up new sentence.
"You see, sir" beginning with long
breath, and gazing into the fire., "you
see, sir, one looks at things differently
at your time Of life. Truth seems quite
true, and talsehood quite false to you,
no doubt. But, when you come along
to sixty, 1t will not appear SO easy all
offhand. And somehow, do you know,
the little broken incidents of life often
please me best, the stories that have
been left unfinished and will never be
finished for US, perhaps. Not that l
love the Venus more because she has
lost her arms, poor lady; still the loss
adds a wistfulness; and wistfulness,
when you come to think of 1t, Is very
large part of the charm Of art.
II have just such a one of those tiny
incomplete dramas IN my mind now.
I have not quite filed out the whole
circle of the plot from the small arc
which has come under my notice, but
shall, perhaps"
Here he turned and smiled again
doubtfully at me.
1T Is a very interesting-a very In
teresting tangle of events, l am quite
sure. Perhaps you know this large
hotel on Broadway in the next block
to us? Yes? 1t is mucu affected by
Southerners. believe. However.
that Is neither here nor there, perhaps.
At all events, there was an alarm Of fire
sounded shortly after midnight one
February many years ago. l was liv-
ing not far frora here, and was just
coming home when 1 heard the COM
motion. As reached the square, COM
ing down Fifth avenue, l saw the
smoke and flames in the direction OF
Broadway, and hurried to the scene
with half a dozen companions.
"When we reached the hotel the
flames Nere sprll ging out of the third
floor windows. There did not seem to
be any immediate danger to the In
I ates. The fire vas evidently confined
to one or two rooms. Suddenly man,
partially dressed in evening dress Tor
partially undressed should say, for
take 1t he had just laid aside his
coat, rushed to the window next the
one where the fire was fercest and
flung 1t open We saw the room burn
ing behind him. He put one foot ON
the sill. Make a rope, make rope
someone shouted from below.
HE was too dazed for that. He
vaulted through the window and
struck the iron paling as he fell.
when my friends and I rushed for
ward he lay moaning on the pavement:
No, no; I'm done for No, no! Then
lie swooned, and we eased him where
he lay, expecting he would die IN
moment. But he turned on his side,
pulling feebly at his collar with his
right hand I loosened his cravat, and
as did so the futtering fingers caught
at q thin gold chain round his neck,
snapped it and plucked themselves
away in weak spasm, grasping some
thing in their clench. Then his eyes
opened in terror and wailing, broken
voice came to us: She can't get out;
she can't get out; she-can-not-get-
out! All, dear GodV and 1t died into
q moan again and he was quite still,
with the shut right hand beside him.
We thought him gone. But In another
moment he looked up quiet quietly at
me and smiled, as If we were old ac-
uuaintances. MY friend he said, you
must keep it, and he moved his prec-
lous handful toward me. 1t slipped,
and with sigh he was dead"
II have his keepsake" the old gen
tleman continued; lit is very curious
piece of jewel work"
Here he arose and went to cabinet
In the corner.
A very curious piece of handicraft'
YOU will say. If you care for such
things you must examine this
The Goals fell in the CRATE, and
desolate street cry came up from the
world below us, but the room was very
still. He came back to the fire and
showed me in his Open-hand large
gold locket, apparently OF Indian de-
sign. rough and effective.
"How beautiful 1t Is" he said, ana
his fingers dwelt on it gently before he
gave 1t to me to handle.
As he turned back to the cabinet for
something the tiny casket fell open IN
nv hand and disclosed a beautiful,
laughing miniature in ivory.
It was the face had seen hve mln-
utes before peeping between the duli
rroov c,1rtaina