Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-09-04

saw. by the light that came through
| the dusty panes above the front ana
the back door, that her little plnched
face had grown liyid at some terrible
| thought.
"Wen. what happened last night
Oh?" said Clifford, speaking IN ns
cheerful tone as he could, In the
hope of soothing her nerves. But IN
! stead of answering at once, little MISS
Bostal. suddenly opening again her
faded light eyes and staring at nm
with solemn intentncss, led him 10 thc
door of the drawing-room, which she
unlocked and threw open with tragic
gesture.
"Look in there" whispered she.
Clifford obcycd, and say nothing
whatever; for it was dark. When,
after q few minutes spent in rather
uncanny silence on the part OF the
lady, his eyes got used to the gloom,
he saw that the windows had been
barricadcd from the inside In the
most thorough and ingenious manner
WltH IITuiluic L bui Ni'h l'"HA' A'
across from side to side.
why" said he, in astonishmcn,,
you seem to be preparing to stand n
siege"
He had already made UP his mind
that the eccentric little lady had gone
out of her mind.
1--WE are besicgcd,' she whispered,
with n look which confirmed Cliff
ford's hypothesis. Il can see that you
don't believe me, that you think 1t is
only my fancy. But ask my father
And before Clifford could make any
answer, she had quickly crossed the
stone tagged passage, had thrown
open the door of the dining-room and
with gesture invited Clifford TO en-
ter.
AS the young man did so, rather
fearing what sort of conversation he
should have to hold with her. he wac
much relieved to find that the Colonel
was there, sitting by the fire, with his
Spectaclcs on, reading Il weekly paper.
But TO Cliltord'S a$toniShmcnt aud
alarm, the change in the old man was
as great as in his daughter.
Colonel Bostal, although his clothes
were always shabby and old fashioned,
had always retained an air of soldier
ly trimnesS, had always kept his hair
closely cut and his snow-white mus
tachc we'll trimmed, so that he had
L., ,i,,,, ,i, ,,fI n ~ n hgG
distinction. Now lie had lost every
trace of ii. His shoulders were bent.
His hair had been allowed to grow.
long. His muStache hung ragged and
untrimmcd over n rough and strag-
Cling beard. More than this, there
was in his eyes a look as pitiful in its.
restlessness as the haunting express
sion which Clifford had noticed in
Miss Theodora's.
The old man started when he saw
the visitor, rose and held out his hand
with mechanical, old-fashioncd court
eSy; but it was doubtful whether he
recognized him.
Miss Bostal went softly round his
tldH Will llCi lul'h, biiN-i'NN ii''i"
steps, and put her hand gently on hii
shoulder.
Dear papa" she said in n whisper,
don't you remember Mr.. King? He
was here in the summer. You 10
remember, don't you:"
"Oh, yes, certainly l do; of cours"
] do, TheodOra," responded the Colonel,
with u slight frown at the implication
that he was losing his memory. "Sit
down, Mr.. King, and tell us what thd
great world is doing"
Then Clifford saw that in moment
the old man had become quite him
self, and it was the weight Of some
care which had given him his changed
appearance. The young man was sor'
ry when Miss Theodore at once re-
called her father to the anxiety which
was pressing upon both of them.
Il want you to tell Mr. King, papa"
she said, as Clifford took the chair
offered him, about the terrible perse'
cution we have been subjected to late
ly since the Blue Lion has been shut
up"
ITS not n very lively subject" OBJ.
iccted her father, whose face fell az
his daughters words. However
will tell you, If the story Is worth
telling"
Clifford, although he was indeed
curious to hear the narrative, protest.
ed that he did not wish to do SO, as
he saw that his host was by no means
anxious TO relate it. But Miss Theo-
dora insisted.
"Wcll them" said the old gentle.
man, sit is simply this: At least half
Il dozen times since the Blue Lion
has been deserted we have been an
noyed by knocks and blows on our
doors and windows at night. And
although we have done our best to
find out who it is that annoys us in
this manner, we have been unable to
do So"
"And have you no idea, no sus-
pfcion"
The Colonel shook his head in q
troubled and anxious manner, but
Miss Theodore pursed her lips and
looked shrewd.
II have theory" she said. And
she waited TO be asked what her theo-
ry was.
Clifford expressed the wished-for
curiosity.
II believe" she went on, with con-
viction, that 1t is the person who has
been at the bottom Of the mysteries
I'VE have been suffering here lately"