Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-10-10
Thumont Frederick County, Maryland Thursday October TO- 1901
>Earls.' she murmured softly.


llteyes and asked:
Did you speake, Miss WalravenT
YOU are going to leave me, Earle2
she murmured, more softly for answer
Yshall be obliged to leave many kind
friends he returned indifferently.
His coldly spoken words fell like an
icy spray on her heart, but, command
ing herself by mighty effort, and
throwing into her sweet voice that was
one of her greatest charms, world OF
emotion, while all the ICY barriers Of
her woman's pride gave way:
And you Can leave me so coldly'
EarleY for she felt that if it was to him
a mere parting between friends, to her
it was struggle for life and death.
But to her tender question he made
no reply, and forgetting in her moment
of agony, all her worldly training, all
her womanly impulses and pride, she
cried out. thinking only of her love for
him:
'Oh, Earle, l cannot let you 20 from
me thus; cannot thus give you up for
ever, for I love you so. Oh. Earle. my
love, my love!'
Her words died away in wall OF
agony that seemed to be echoed in the
murmur of the shining waves that roll
ed toward the sands at their feet and
then deepen into requiem for her dead
love and happiness, as he answered cold
ly and hanghtily:
v an not aware. Miss Walraven, OF
ever having given you any encourage
ment-'
Encouragement she interrupted
bitterly. What has this whole summer
been? What has your whole course OF
conduct toward me been? Oh, Earle,
you will break my heart if-ifyou leave
me now.'
Miss W Walraven, The said sternly, y,while
he rose and confronted her with scorn-
fully blazing eyes, TRY to recall another
night like this, when Harold Ashcroft,
mere youth; home from college for a
vacation, stood before you, pleading
with boyish ardor (but mans love)for
your love, that you had taught him to
believe, if not by words by the most
ENCOURAGING smiles and tender glances,
was his. AS you said to him then say
to you now: "One must amuse ones self
at place like this; and you certainly
ought to have understood the difference,
as l thought you would, between mere
pleasant Irritation and real, earnest
love-"
u knew he continued, that when l
came here you did not recognize in me,
Earle st. Albans, the youth Harold
Earle Ashcroft, for travel In distant
lands has altered me much during the
past seven years, and this, added to my
change Of name, that I took to oblige
nv dear dead uncle who left me heir to
his vast wealth, made it easy for me to
deceive you, and punish, in my own
way, the cruel wrong you once did me.
And now, that I have had my revenge,
and held to your lips the bitter cup
you once held to mine, have the honor
to bid you adieu-foreverl'
But with white arms outstretched
that cleaned like marble in the moon
light, Regina detained him while she
moaned
>Oh, Earle, nv love, my life, forgive
me and take me to your heart again!'
Her voice might have touched heart
of stone, and as Earle st. Albans look
ed down upon her, he answered sadly:
Miss Walraven, you are only tortur'
ing yourself and me for what you speak
CT can never be, for the soul has forever
gone from my boyisb love for you;there
is bnt the corpse of it left, and love
like mine, once dead, can know no res
direction; besides, am engaged to be
married to Madeline Somers although l
desired her to keep our engagement
secret for the present.
Tntn he turned and left her and Re-
gina was alone in the radiance of the
starlight where she could hear the sad
murmur of the wages beating at her
feet, and the sweet, sad strains of the
band moaning and throbbihg a waltz in
the distance.
Truly. che had received her lesson,
ard her filtration of seven years before
with Harold Ashcroft had cost her dear
She never saw Earle st. Albans again
for soon after he made Madeline his
wife and went abroad with her; and to-
day, with her glorious beauty faded,
Regina is an old maid, having refused
all offers of marriage because she could
not forget the mad love that burns with
a never-dying fire in her heart for Earle
st. Albans.