Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-17

| plalneQ, turning 10 the gentleman u
her side. ut was on account of hi
presence that I manifested such sur
prise upon your introduction"
"You are very pardonable," replied
the stranger, politely. Il have heart
Of Mr.. Degraw many times, and an
truly glad to meet him."
The artist frOwned. What was ther,
in this person that commanded respec
even from one who had every reasol
to believe him to be villain. Was /
his manner? 1t was perfect; buN
that the artist had been led to expect
Or was it his eye, which, If ardent
had clearness that was uncommon
and face which, If prejudice had no
stood between him and it's possessOr
would have made him his undoubtet
admirer. The mystery of the thing
chafed him. Not calculating hi
words, he replied, with scarcely veilet
sarcasm:
"And I have heard of this gentle
man many times" Then, seeing tha
the other did not vince. he added. lesl
| pointedly: "At least so am led It
/ think from his appearance and man
ner."
Evidently astonished at the grcctin:
he had received, the gentleman stare,
at the artist for moment, then turnc,
toward the signorina. Immcdiatri,
Miss Aspinwall, still unobscrvant o
the almost tragic signs which tho arts
hurricdly made her, opened her lip
to speak the formal words of the noc"s
sary introduction. when the latte
stopped her by uttcrinC it himself
"Signorina Valdi, allow me to pro
sent to you Mr.. Degraw. OF Clcve
land"
Instantly an expression of surpris,
passed over every face. Though W,
still speak of the singer by the nam,
under which We first knew her she hat
been universally known In this hous,
by the simple one bequeathcd TO he,
by her parents. To hear her nd
dressed, then, in this public way by
the stage name she had definitely dis
carded reused the curiosity Of all who
heard 1t. This the speaker had OK
pected, but what he had not looked for
and which. coming at this critical mo
ment, literally shook his sclf,posscs
sion, was the look of disappointment
that came into tho countcnances of the
two persons introduced. That tn
stranger was expecting to hear Il diG rr
cnt name was evident. and that sh,
was not pleased at this effort to pre-
serve an incognito which she had dci
nitcly cast aside was equally plain
She soon proved this to he fact be
yond dispute.
IL think" she remarked, smilingly
to the artist, that you allowed your
self to forget that when | withdrew
from the cperatic state | dropped my
Mr.. Degraw," this to the stranger
"but now" She paused, for the art
ist had made her an unmistakable ges
ture-a gesture which had caused hei
to turn pale. but which did not hinder
her from finishing the phrase which
she had begun. But now." she per
sisted. ut is as Jenny Rogers l ar
known both here and elsewhere"
1t was done. The stranger looked
relieved; the artist, discouraged. II
safety lay for her under the incognitt
the latter had attempted to improvise
for her she had thrown that safety
aside. Did she realize it? There was
no token Of the fact in her face, which
was upturned TO the stranger with con,
fldence and content engraved upon its
every 1lneament. Troubled at the
sight her lover turned to Miss Aspin.
wall, and drawing her step away
said anxiOusly:
you must excuse any seeming rude.
ness which you may observe in me.
have no confidence in this man and
was very desirous of preventing his in
PREDICTION to Miss Rogers. Why, I can,
not tell you now, but, believe me, the
reason was good and such rs you
would pardon" Then, as he saw the
person thus alluded to was too busy
with his new acquaintance to notice
this little side-talk, he added, hastily;
"Be sure he is the person alluded to in
his letter of introduction before you
show him too much attention. IL he Is
the man have every reason to believe
him"
But here the stranger turned and the
artist was forced to leave his sentence
uncompleted. Perhaps it was as well
A full knowledge Of her guests iden
tity would have hopelessly embar
rassed Miss Aspinwall and made the
remainder of the evening unbearable.
Whereas. now, it passed off without
any marked constraint, though those
who knew the hostess best We're aware
that all was not as 1t should be. either
with her or this stranger. The doubt
evoked by the artists broken words
remained in her eyes, and though the
stranger did not remark it. others did,
and were either pleased or displeased
according to the character of the inn
preston which he had made upon
them.
Ten o'clock came and with it the de-
parture Of this gentleman, who for one
reason or another occupied the atten.
ton Of every one present. When he
rose to go-he had been talking for
some time to group of girls, though
his attention did not seem to be with
them, but with the face and figure of
the beautiful signorina sitting short
distance from him, in her old place on
the wide window seat-there was an
actual air of relief from all sides. And
yet no one in all the room, not except
ing even the handsome artist, looked
more nearly the beau ideal Of man.
hnnd fhan this man with hic toll md