Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-05-16
THURM0NT, Frederick County, Maryland, Thursday May Is, 1901

paII, sue slIOileu oh oiiRutiy !" "u'o"oo,
leaving the two lovers together. and
humming snatohes of love songs in low,
tender tones, to which Ned found him
self listening more than once,even while
Ilda's sweet voice was claiming his at
tention.
At the gate Miss Irving waited for
them.
"You loitertng, sentimental pair II
she exclaimed gayly, as they came up at
last. "But I do not blame you; such a
night as this was made for sentiment.
l have only been waiting TO say good
night" she added sweetly; and she
touched her lips lightly to 1ldas pretty
cheek, then turned and placed her del
icate white hand in Ned's with such a
look from those brilliant blue eyes.
Then her silken skirts rustled softly
up the gravel walk, ard few minutes
later Mas Geraldine sought her beauty
sleep with feeling of pleasureable
excitement IN her breast; fer Ned Orms.
by, farmer though he was, was very
handsome, and we'll she knew that the
remembrance Of that soft hand clasp
and that thrilling glance of hers would
hinge! with him long after he said good
night to pretty. loving Ida Hughes.
"You do not mean, ,Geraldine-oh you
cannot mean that | am nothing to you:
For weeks and weeks you have permit
ted me to love you--have made me un-
derstand that you loved me in return,
and"
vi loved YOU" Geraldine Irving
opened her blue eyes very wide, and the
glance they bestowed upon poor Ned
was very surprised and cool indeed.
"Ob, no, Mr. Ormsby, never dream
ed of such a thing. Knowing you to
be already engaged, and believing your
heart, therefore, to be perfectly safe, |
may have been, perhaps, too friendly
toward you; but as to love-why, par
don me, Mr.. Ormsby, if tell you frank
" that | should be the last person in
the world to care for country farmer.
Little I)da, however, thinks very diff
erent on that subject. You should have
kept better faith with her. Good night"
And Geraldine Irving, proud and
cold as a statue of ice, turned from him
and swept haughtily into the house,
leaving her dumbfouLded adorer to get
over his bitter disapI ointment as best
he could.
Yves, IldaW he echoed, bitter feel
ing Of self scorn sweeping over bis heart
"Iow have wronged hcr-made her
suffer for the sake of such heartless
being as that"
And, almost reeling away from the
little gate where he and Geraldine had
stood talking for an hour in the star
light, he went his way, realizing at last
that he had been cruelty duped by a
designing hirt, and feeling, at the same
time, that he had lost Ilda forever, for
he knew that she was as rroud-spIrted
as she was loving,
VI am going back to the city tomor-
row." said Geraldine, pausing for an
for an instant in the ball as she met
Ida, after leaving Ned Ormsby.
Yves" inquired Ilda, listlessly.
She could not and would not feign
an interest or friendship which she no
longer felt.
"Yes," repeated Geraldine coldly.
That lover of yours is becoming alto
gether too presumptious, Missi ll0a.
Would YOU believe 1.-THE actually
made declaration of love to me just
now, when thought him SO securely
pledged to you. Proposing to me.-the
idea !"
Ida passed on up the stairs with a
curling lip; but not word Of reply to
betray either her wounded pride or her
breaking heart to her insolent rival.
1t was cruel thing to do-the cru
elest thing Geraldine could have done.
But she meant it ao-what did she care?
She had shown her power here. and
made her pretty riyal feel it keenIy,and
now she was ready and willing to leave
the farm.
Next season she would be somewhere
else, so what mattered it if they knew
her at last for the heartless creature
she was?
OF course Ilda forgave Ned for his
folly and married him at last.
She loved him with all her heart and
could not be angry with him forever.
But she was, indeed, proud-spirlted, as
Ned had said to himself on that event.
ful night, and made his punishment Sc
we're enough ere she would consent to
trust him again.
Sha uill naunr tak o a Isunmer hoard :.