Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-06-01

| were full or terror ana suggestive Vi
| mystery.
"Alive?" This was her cry. "rhen
have they deceived me-" And she
looked wildly around till her eye rested
on the old cronc "Annetta" she eX'
claimed with something more he could
not understand, for her English had
ripplcd off into the strange and un'
known language of the person she adj
| dressed.
The old woman, eager and restless
now, answered her in few quick sen
tencps, af which the malden-for who
could doubt her Such?-cOvCrcd her
eyes with her hands and sobbcd. But
instantly recovering herself she looked
ND in despair, and cncountcrinG the
artists gaze seemed charmed by it 20
that she forgot TO speak, though words
of grief and shame were evidently
trembling on her tongue.
For him the moment was delightful,
He returned her look and his scli-pos'
session failed him.
lOu dIc uOi uNNu, wv '''' ''l'' 80
almost childlikc simplicity. "Tllank
God that appearances deceived me-
You are too young, too fair to ylclu
thus soon to the great destroyer. am
glad to see you living though ! know
nothing of you. not even your name
She smiled family but pitcouSly.
"Nor do know YOU" she cried. II
am a child lost to the world, lost to HE,
lost to everything. | should not he
here. speaking. breathing, living, sui'
fcring. | expected to die, | wanted to
die. but some one has deceived me. and
am alive. For what? Oh, for WHAT:
The artist stared amazed.
From an image of peace she had be-
come an image of despair. lie did not
love her less thus, but he felt vaguely
out of place. and knew not whether 10
speak or fly.
She saw his trouble and waved him
back.
since | must live" she murmurcd,
"lct mo leave this bed of DEATH And
without waiting for any aSsistGnc" she
slid to the floor ana stood totterlnG
there. clothed in a long, white garment
bordcrcd with gold, as beautiful as it
was odd and poetic. NV hat ,rappnGS
are these" she cried. pointing TO the
bed and ClAncing down at her own gar
m@nts. "If were not to be allowed to
die why this wealth and beauty OF
odorumcnt? am still dreaming, or
Her eyes fell again on Annctta and she
asked her some other question.
Meantime young pcgraW had
stcppcd back to the table upon which
Law the sketch he had been making.
Lifting it up he turned it toward her.
Let this explain my presence here
said he. at may also make clear 10
YOU what otherwise must seem
wrapped in mystery. Your picture
was desired was summoned here 10
draw it. You must know by whom.
The name accompanying the request
reads like Andrea Montclli."
She left the old cronc and took step
in his direction and that of the picture
he held. \ flush was on her cheek,
flush that vaguely irritatcd him and
made him. for the first time, question
who this Andrea Montelli really was.
81 do not understand said she, but
it is of no consequence. Nothing Is or
any importance to me now. | am liv-
ing. that is all can think Of; am liv-
ing and the struggle with my fate must
rocOmmencc.'
This expression Of grief ht finding
herself once more in the world Of hui
man beings both shocked and touched
him.
Though he felt she ought to have
some one with her of her own kindred,
or, at least, of her own station and sex,
he did not see how lie could leave ler
with no one to soothc her Dut TINS OIL
woman. who was at once so coarse and
50 rcpollant.
Have you no friends in the house"
he asked.
She sadly shook her head.
"Is there no enc | can call|' he per
SlSlpu, turning IUN lONdlN 'h' h'O''
She shiyprcd and caught him by the
hand.
"Do not leave me- she cntrcatcd.
"Do not 90 till have told YOU why |
was SO wicked; for YOU must think ne
very wicked TO try to take my own
life"
"And did you-" He got no furth
er, for the tears which now filled her
rathomlcss eyes called up suspicious
moisture to his own. Strange ana
wrong as it all was he had never felt
himself so affected. "Tcll me your
trouble" he pleaded at last. "Nhy
should one so young and, pardon me,
so fair, wish to die before the possible
ties of life were fully tcstcd!'
"BeCause,' her eyes flashed fire and
a color broke out on her checks, be
cause | had failed"
"Failed'
II am Selma Valdir'
To bn