Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-09-11
Copyright, by Robert Bonner's Sons!

woman had reluctantly disappeared
| into the back room Of the house. Then
Nell went into the front room, invit-
ing him, still without word, to fol
low her.
lie did 50, shut the door, and seized
her in his arms. He could scarcely
see her face for the mist before his
eyes.
Il didn't know you, Nell"
Didn't you? All, well, it doesn't
| matter"
she spoke hopecssly, her first i'm
pulse of Joy at the sight of him SEEM
! ing to have died within her already.
NO, Of course it doesn't matter. for
I mean you to look your own self
again Immediately. DO you know why
l have come here, Nell?"
She was silent.
IL have come to marry you.'
Nell shook her head, but she drew n
long sigh of satisfaction.
81 like to hear you say so. 1t Is good
of you," she said, in gentle, timid
voice, although it is impossible"
"Why!"
ooh, you don't want me to 60 over
the old ground again. Can't you be
satisfied that 1t is impossible:'
"No can't. unfortunately. My
! darling, you can't hold out any longer.
1t was dignilicd to refuse before; now
| it would only be foolish. Who is GO
Ing to take care of YOU now, Nell, n
you won't have meT
But he had touched tender spot,
and she began to cry softly.
Poor uncln." sobbed she. "1t near
ly broke my heart when he did not
! know even me. And then when they
| took him away
| "Was he harmless" asked Clifford,
intcrrupting.
"Ycs; lie was quite harmless, and
would let me manage him always.
| And the lplicc came and-and took
him away"
"rhc police? Do YOU mean that"
"Yes. lhcy have haunted us both
ever since we left the Blue Lion,'
whispered she, earnestly. And l
| know they are trying to find out the
| mystery - you know what - through
him. Isn't it drcadful.'
Clifford did not answer at once. 1t
seemed to him that the chances of his
| being able to save the girl were
| growing small indeed. Her own ut
! ter hopclr%SHcSs, her nervous dread,
! had affected him during the short sill
rnceS between their questions and an
| swcrs TO each other: she seemed to be
| always listening, straining her cars
for any sound outside. The cry Of 4
| street urrhin made her start, Il cart
passing quickly at the corner of the
street sent the blood to her forehead.
lie? nerves, poor child, were alto
| guther shaken.
clifford looked at her in dismay.
! Even the strong love which had stood
every test was apparently powcrlcSs
to give her more than momentary
comfort.
"My darling" he whispered, "let
me take YOU up to town tonight. l
viii take YOU straight 10 your aunts,
and in the shortest time possible l
will marry YOU, and take you out of
England altogether
Nell drew back and stared at him.
You don't understand" she said.
This case is really coming OH now.
The police don't disguise that they
know enough to 20 upon now. | have
the strongest reason, the very strong
ISt, for believing that they will come
tor me today
"To arrest you" cried Clifford,
hoarscly. She began to tremble and
20 look Mt him askance.
mo, not To arrest me-" and she
shuddcred Then Il look Of terror,
more acute than ever, came into her
eyes. "perhaps that is it. Perhaps
that is really what they mean to do"
she whispered doubtfully. "Thcy said
it was only my evidence they wanted,
but-but---'
She hcsitated-stopped. Clifford's
heart was wrung Surely no jury that
ever sat could convict this poor, help
less, gentle girl of anything but un-
conscious crime. He would have
stakcd his life that she was as inno-
cent of these mysterious crimes in in
tent as he was himself of them in
| deed.
MY darling.-my poor darling.- Of
| nri1pnpn ~
But his own voice shook and his
eyes were dim. He tried to cheer her,
TO encourage her to say words which
he could hardly feel, but the girl
Scarcely seemed to hear him. Sud
denly. in the midst of his vain efforts
at consolation, she stood up.
"Thcy are come" said she.
Clifford started up. He had heard
nothing. But Nells patient ears
were keener than his. In another mo-
mcnt there was a knock at the outer
door. And then knock at the door
of the room. lie looked round Wild
". and. seizing her arm, would have
had her hide herself behind the little
sofa, but she smiled sadly and shook
her head.
"Come in!' she said.
And as the girl had foretold with
uncannily correct prophecy, a SER
seant Of police from Stroan, very
civil, very apologize and humane,
presented himself.
Every sorry, Miss, to have to in
rude" said he. "But l must ask you
to come along with me as far as
Stroan, just to tell the magistrate