Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-31
CHAPTER Xxx.
FORWARD AND BACK.


I the truth of the object adored. but
Hamilton Degraw pondered long over
the signorina's note before he could
come to any definite conclusion in re.
gard to it. Trust her! Were those
words the plea of a coquette or the de.
| spairing cry of a threatened and per.
/ picked woman? In her face and in
! her manner he had beheld evidences Of
n struggle between love and some op.
posing passion he could not even
fathom sufficiently to name. But was
The conflict a worthy one, and should
he uphold her in 1t by an Indulgence
which might speak more Of weakness
than of true manly sympathy? He
could not decide, for his own pride
was engaged in the decision, and .
mans pridcs dies hard even in tie
cause of his own affections.
But as the night approached the
sweet appeal grew in force till it over.
whelmcd his doubts and renewed h's
confidence Trust her. Yes, he could
trust her, but could he trust himself:
From the experience Of the morUin.
he knew that it would he absolutely
pCrilouS to his SclC-Control to subject
himself to further sight of his rivals
triumph. Though it was misery to sit
s,ill in his improvised studio while this
other man enjoyed free access to her
side he felt 1t to be wisdom to thus sac.
llicc his feelings till the letter from
Cleveland came to settle the position
Of this intcrloper and give to himself
that advantage in her eyes which truth
and honor must ever possess over de.
cepton and revealed fraud.
h. therefore, replied TO her note by
saying he would trust her so far rs 10
leave her to her new friend till he
could suhstantiatc the doubts which
he had so freely expressed against him.
and supplemented this communication
by a line to Miss Aspinwall, In which
he expressed thanks for her kindness
and entrcatci consideration for the
feelings which induced him to remain
for few days from her house, or un-
i'll she received such word from Mr..
Morris as would make it agreeable for
him to return there.
This last clause betrayed the fun
motive for his conduct, as he had
meant It should. The result was
speedy response from his generous
hostess.
Dear Mr.. Dcgraw - You may he
III
that you must he your own judge Mr..
Dcgraw, of Cleveland, will not stay
away because you do. and much mis-
chief can be done in three days. How.
ever, you have one firm friend here.
who will not allow matters to proceed
too far without warning you. May |
nc allowed to express the hope, then,
that | shall not be compelled to ad-
dress you till can inclose Mr.. Nor
r.s' letter? Yours sincerely,
"HILARY ASPINWALL"
This letter. With its direct promise.
nut new life into him. He felt that
with this good friend on the watch lie
could "est in peace for day, at Least,
and rose the next morning full Of hor2
only TO find his spirits immediately
daShcd by the following unexpected
cpistlc:
"Mr. Dcgraw and Miss Rogers held
n long conversation last evening seated
upon the window scat which we all
feel is dedicated to you. Though ther"
WAS nothing in their manner which
/ was open to the criticism Of the most
! rXacting person present, half Of the
: men and all OF the ladies' who Saw
! them felt chagrincd at this testimony
of CROWN" intimacy on tie part q
Two persons who. f hal YOU say is
true, should never have had 50 much
oS Il distant acquainianccship.
1T is. perhaps. only fair to add that
Mr.. Degraw has none OF the look o. 4
charlatan, and parted from Miss Rog-
rrS last evening with Il gesture Of as
much respect as If he had been taking
leavc of a queen. II. A.
$50 much the worse" thought our
artist. Manner can impose upon any
woman. My darling is certainly in
danger" And he had another struG-
Hlc with his pride. 1t was cut short
by the appearance CT Miss Aspinwall's
bwn maid with another note. Its con-
Tents varied from tho last
There is an especially fine view to
te found on the road to Stoclihlidge,
lust at the top of the long hill. Some
,f our guests propose ride and a pic
lc there to-day. 1t might not be TN
wise for you TO be found already upon
| lie ground sketching. II. A
TO be continued.