Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-03-07
HOW THEY MADE It UP.

we would join his whist party tonight
YOU ought to have consulted me,
Virgie, before you promised anything
like that
Ut is you, Sidney, who ought to have
consulted me before you promised my
society to anybody
We'll, I don't propose to play whist
or anything else with Jack Halloway,
ut his house or anywhere else. l detest
the cad
'And I'm certain I detest Bessie Secor
! wouldn't spend an evening in her
house if it was the last place on earth
where could amuse myself
why, I thought you and Miss Secor
were very intimateT
'Oh. rather liked Bessie at one time
but since you-I-er-
Well, er-what!
'Oh, how rude you can be sgd. I was
about to remark that Miss Secor can
manage to exist without me now. since
she has-er-got you in her clutches
'Heigh-hol Who's rude now, Virgie?
1t isn't possible you are jealous"
OF an insignificant person like Bessie
Secor? imagine not If you want to
transfer your tickle affections to another
woman, shan't let it disturb me any;
I certainly shan't be jealous about it,
u wonder, my dear, If you want a
pretext to quarrel with me? Perhaps
you would like to be free so you can
transfer your own fckle affections to
Jack Halloway*
NOh, how ridiculous! When you be-
gan the discussion yourself by otjecting
to our whist party
V beg Your pardon my dear, for COR
recting that statement, 1haventin in the
least objected to the whist party; but |
very properly declined to join it when
l had promised to spend the evening
elsewhere
u shall join it, however, even if I'm
compelled 10 go alone
Just AS you please, my dear. shall
90 and have little music with Miss
Secor.'
The two glared at each other def
antly for moment. Then Miss Dorne
erected her handsome head with gest.
ure Of imperial disdain and walked a
cross to the piano. Mr.Ranelagh laughed
in mirthless sarcasm, whirled toward
the door end strobe proudly out of the
house.
1t was their first quarrel. Never be
fore had either been angry with the
other. And they had been betrothed
for year or more, and they had loved
each other always; since she was small
miss in pinafores, and he was sturdy
little lad in knickerbockers.
'Virgle will be cory for her freakish
obstinacy presently. She'll probably
send me note OF regret and submission
before it's time to start for the Secor
house. he thought as he strode along
the grassy path homewsrd.
sgd will be back here penitent in a
little while. He will be ready to escort
me to the whist party, or to the top of
Chimborazo, or anywhere else, if I'll
only pardon his hateful mulishness,'
thought the girl, playing the prelude of
a stirring war song, and then pausing
because the music sounded 80 curiously
dull and tuneless,
But each erred concerning what the
other was likely to do.
The morning waxed to noontide; the
long afternoon waned to evening; some.
where in the village bell changed forth
nine sonorous strokes, but no contrite
and submssivs note had been delivered
to Sidney Ranelagh; no penitent and
humble lover had presented himself be-
fore Virgie Dorne to plead for pardon.
Well Ranelagh soliloqsized bitter
ly, If my lady has concluded to dis
pense with my society altogether, that
settles 1t. | don't purpose to act the
role Of a whining culprit to gain her
favor, neither will l humble myself to
any of her unreasonable caprices. And
l reckon Id better be jogging along to
the Secor yilla they'll imagine l mean
to disappoint them
The Secor villa was not far from his
own residence. while the Holloway
mansion was a mile further up the road
and the Dorne homestead was still a
furlong beyond.
1t was cross road curving upward
around the base of wooded emlnence,
then descending steeply along pictur-
esque ravine, and finally crossing a
massive stone bridge over deep and
noisy creek, where it intersected the
main highway from the village, mile