Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-09-21

name, who, as it turned out, has been
in the same regiment with the Gener-
al on the frontier. The old warriors
military stiffness Immediately relaxed,
and he called to his wife:
Come here, my dear; and you, too,
Cathie. I want you to meet the son
of my old chum, Colonel Stanley, of
the til; you know I've often told
you Of his fighting qualities, and par
ticularly of the licking he gave those
red devils at Withered Grass.
From this moment Stanley was con-
stantly with the Douglass party, much
to the discomfort of Crown, a really
jolly chap, who in song seemed bent
on informing Sweet Marie that he
had a secret in his heart. King
proved to be beautiful youth whose
sighs and alteration for Catherine
were almost pathetic.
CHAPTER II.
The days that followed were to
Stanley as charming dream, and the
short stay he had contemplated ran
into weeks. The love he felt for Cath
erine from the very first had deepened
into strong, noble and chastening af-
fection, but he constantly tortured
himself with the fear that he might
not meet that degree of favor he
aspired to. He could gather no es-
pecial comfort from her manner, how
ever, which had for all the same
sweetness and graciousness, though
Paul's manifest preference had to a
marked extent caused the others to
give way to him. In their frequent
rides through the country, inthe surf,
where his powerful swimming excited
great admiration, and where he took
much delight in teaching Catherine
the art; in the sailing parties, or in
the dancing pavilion, he was always
to be found at her side. Andit was
Catherine, only, whocOuld accompany
him in his songs, for Paul had proved
that he was a singer Of no mean abil-
ity, possessinga voice which had been
well-cultiyated, and which he used
with pleasing effect. Latterly Cath
crime had begun to realize that he
threw into his singing a tenderness
that could not be mistaken, and more
than once she had struggled almost
desperately to keep back the flush
that his intensity would bring to her
cheek.
And yet, he dared not speak, for in
his reverential love for Catherine he
felt that it would be almost impious
to make it known; he deemed himself
so unworthy Of this woman. And
how the love-lorn fellow dwelt on any
gracious word from her, and how he
hungered for a crumb Of encourage
ment
But what of Catherine during this
time? Was her heart at last in danger
Of capitulation? She had from the
first admired this frank, manly young
man. He was so mindful finer com
fort in their various expeditions, and
showed her at all times so many little,
but thoughtful, attentions that she
had of late come to unconsciouslY ex-
pect them, and to miss them if fer any
reason he was not present. His we'll
equipped mind was stOre-house Of
information, and his conversation was
always pleasure to her. Then, Pauls
Difference was Of the kind we read
Of as belonging to the old school, and
she was touched by his dogged but
respectful preference for her. So it
was that gradually, almost unknow-
ingIy, GATHERINGS heart began to beat
faster when Paul was near by. She
was absolutely honest with herself,
and to her conscience frankly admit
ted that she was beginning to regard
him with degree of tenderness she
had never before felt for any of the
sterner sex
The air Of happiness that surround
ed this young couple was not lost on
the guests in general, nor upon Mrs.
Douglass in particular, who was be-
ginning to experience motherly ap-
prehension at the turn affairs were
taking; and one evening, when Cath
crime was laughing, so happily, at
Paul's bright sayings, Mrs. Douglass
touched the General on the arm, and
asked anxiously:
Edward, have you noticed those