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

Continued.
II have not had much acquaintance
with the plumage which the blind god
sports, but If the happiness which I
see there is from him l can only say
that he chose a noble couple to bestow
It upon. Mr. Degraw is Il gifted man
and Miss Rogers is gifted woman.
Why should they not appreciate each
other?"
On the other side of the room the
subjects of these remarks were listen
ing to the music and whispering short
sentences into each others ears. If
Cupid were there he heard words
which surely had been murmurcd un.
der his auspices before. Yet they are
always new.
II love you, signorina love you, /
love you! Do you think you can trust
me to make you happy? | do not ask
you to answer me at once, only do rot
forbid me speaking. You are so beGu-
tiful, so beautiful
A soft sigh was her only reply.
81 know that the time Is short since
We We're strangers, and I knew moth
ing Of your life or of you. But such n
rencontre rs brought us first together
is equal to year of common compan.
ionship, for in it We're both death and
life. loved you when l thought you
We're dead, and now. that l touch you
and hear you speak, l am moved by
such overwhelming emotions that for
me there is nothing of interest in the
world but love and our two selves
"Ah" was again the murmurcd re.
ply. rs love so sweet? Does 1t com.
pensate one for other worldly losses
would gladly believe so. Teach me-"
''Will | not? Say only that you will
not scorn the teacher, and all my life
Is at your service. | have not lovcd
before-no, no, proud sgnorina, how
ever you may smile, | have never ever
thought that loved before. You arc
my first alteration and so deep already
has the fecling-gonc that | ask moth
ing more from heaven than your love
not fame. not honor. not wealth; moth
Ing but you, you, you,'
She might have responded: her lips
had opened and her eyes had flashed |
radiantly, but before the words coult |
Issue from her lips there was suddeI |
hush in the music, and more than one
whispprcr paused and glanced hastil! |
toward the door. \ stranger was en- |
tering, n remarkable man. in whose !
tall form and C0urtly carriage all rcat |
gentleman, but not Il gentleman they |
knew. not even the hostess. Who was |
he? A dozen eyes asked the Inquiry |
between the instant when he crossed |
the threshold and that in which he |
made his bow to the assembled com,
pany. Who was hc? And the men
We're rs eager as the ladies', for he
seemed to have come there with A
purpose.
1t was but moment, but that mo
ment was never forgotten by any one
then present in the room. First be-
cause of something they saw in the
stranger. This was the sudden and |
overpowcring admiration which he be-
way gu hS iliH tNtHt I''lSNNh OIL tlSil 'N'
fore him to the wide window seat and |
Its beautiful occupant. Not an eye in |
the room but followed him, to the sig
norina's evident confusion and grow.
Ing l0vclinpSS, for she had been caught
with the lovelight Oh her face. and
perhaps, with a confession on her lips,
and she feared, il she did not know,
that her secret was discovered. The
second cause for this moment beCOm.
ing memorable lay in the conduct OF
the hostess. She had taken the card
which the servant had brought her,
and was looking at it with a wonder
she found it impossible to disguise.
Excuse me-" she said. advancing to |
the stranger with cordial smile, in
which, however, certain tinge Of |
doubt was visible, "is this your name
which ! find written on this card?"
He started, turned from the object {
which had evidently engrosScd all his |
thought, and made Miss Aspnwall an
other low bow.
"Certainly, madam, it is my name"
prise. II have here a letter of intro
ductiOn from Mr.. Morris. of Cleveland.
which, if you will be kind enough to
read, | shall feel more at home in your
presence"
She reached out her left hand me.
chanically, but her eyes were still
fixed upon the small bit of pastcboard
she held IN the right
You must pardon me-" she persist.
ed, "but the name on this card is"
She evidently found it hard to men,
tion it. She looked across the room,
and the color flashed into her face. |
The stranger, impressed, If not en-
barrasscd, took M her sentence and /
finished it for her
"The name on that card is mine" he |
declared. Hamilton Dcgraw. DO |
You find anything strange in it?"
CHAPTER XVII.