Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-06-14

he wanted to attend to just at that mo
ment, and for some time to come.
They were always far beyond tn
other sleighs, with their laughing vol
ces and their showers of bell music.
Are you warm?' asked Harley.
>Perfectly,' said Marian.
You are colder than the Great Gla-
cier of Humboldt he exclaimed.
Thanks she answered.
The moon was sending clear ligh
before her above the horizon now. Mar
ian saw that they had left the mair
road, gone through piece of woods,a
were then skirtlng the base of Bel
Mountain.
YOU have passed your whole life witt
in gunshot of the Bell Mountain gap
and yet you haye never seen it?' asked
Harley
Never
YOU will see it tonight with the moon
on it, snow and ice and moonshine on
the caps and crags and slides. You will
think you are in the Land of Risen
Spirits. I am glad to have to see it
first with ue.'
To this no reply.
WHAT'S the matter, Marian?'he asked
suddenly after some more significant
silenses, with the slowly frightening
landscape flying by. u shouldn't think
we were friends. Have you been yexed
by me?'
How could l be vexed by you? she
said.
He laughed as if relieyed.
Then it is all right he said. u land
Maid Marian,
'"Side by side
Shall be together, breathe, and ride,
So one day more am defed,
Who knows but the world may end
tonight"
| suppose they were on horseback,
though, those two, he said. Poor souls
They knew nothing of the delights of
sleighing, especially behind Hassan.'
For Hassan was in a cloud of snow that
he tossed up, and his breath was like
pale fire in that first moonlight. Ah,
here we are at last cried Harley, as
the walls of the mountain gap began to
close them in, and the moon came float
ing up directly before them down the
gap. THE others have taken the main
road. | didn't want them here to-
night. There strikes the great moon
shine high up! Now look at the grand
transformation scene-the rosy sparkle,
the gold, the soft amethyst; the;e is a
ruby glow below, there comes the paved
work OF sapphire. Now see the flame
tipped icy spires and snowy downfslls
the awful, beautiful shapes-are they
the vast gods Of dead world, or of one
just about to stu into life? l brought
you here to see something colder than
yourself whea-when when. Marian
l should ask you to be my Wife
Still mocklng. The blood surged up
her face in the moonlight till che looked
far from cold and radiantly beautiful
in her unreasonlng anger.
YOU take too much for granted. she
said, possessed by what spirit of evil she
knew not. Pray do not make me the
subject of such jests. Be SO kind as to
talk of something else
No, said he. u came here to talk Of
this. J am not jesting. | shall talk Of
nothing else till you tell me you will be
my wife.
u would not be your wife, she ex-
claimed, in tones that tinkled clear as
falling icicles, if
v have not deserved this of you, Ma
rlan,' he said, bending forward to fling
off the snow balls with which Hassan's s
heels pelted them.
No matter what anyone deservesv
she exclaimed. We have had enough
of this.
YOU really mean what J ou are say
ing?
,And much more?
What fool man is to fasten all
his hopes OF happiness on woman who
-
Despises him.
Before Heavenl You have no right
to despise me-! he cried. I give you
honest love-
Harkl What was that? They were in
the defle through which the railway
ran. There was just room for the
sleigh without touching the track, in
the way trodden down by teams taking
a short cut at time when no train was
in question; but there was no room for
any sleigh and train besides. Harley
had made sure there was no train and
no special due there for hours; and
here, putting, laundering, believing,