Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-10

original, no brush or no fancy could
idealize the soul which has informed
that face for it Is itself ideal.
For such one happiness should be
the natural right. Nothing that the
earth contains Is too good for her, nor
any love too rich. Is she to have her
reward, then? Are the best treasures
of earth to be given to her who Is al
ways heaping treasures in the laps of
others? She has wealth. she has
honor, she has friends, she has health.
Will she have love? Let lis look at the
circle which surrounds her on this ex-
quisite June eve. and see if we can
answer this question.
She is sitting on the large piazza,
amid group that feel the influence Of
the starry heavens above them. though
they do not look that way, but rather
into the faces of those with whom
they are conversing The talk Is of
what? Who can say? Who would
care to repeat? But the looks are for
her; that is, the looks of at least three
men who stand there: one against p~
large pillar that shields the moonlight
from her eyes, one behind her chair.
and one on the outskirts Of the group,
! who IL he does not advance, has an
other reason for his modesty than that
Of indifference And to any one look
ing at her now such interest would
seem only natural. Though the other
women grouped around her are more
or less fair, attractive or vivaciOus, in
none does the pure light Of womanli-
| ness shine with such q radiance as in
her. while in her beauty there burns a
chaste fire which is not always to be
seen there. What has called it forth?
The influence is not fully apparent,
yet 1t is felt by these men who study
her this night with their souls in their
eyes.
Are her thoughts with them? The
man by the pillar has the air of a salts.
fed lover but, then, the depths of his
| purse have never been sounded, and
some say that neither have the depths
Of his cOnceit. The others do not seem
as happy. though one of them stands
so near to her that he can hear the
short sigh that now and then parts her
lips. Do they miss something from
her look or glance that they have been
accustomed to see there!
1t may he. for now there is change
in her She has heard step on the
gravelcd walk beneath, and. mistress
as she is of herself. she cannot quite
suppress the fluttcr OF expectation
which that sound provokcs. She
moves and others moves with her, so
that there is quite stir on the piazza
as two figures emerge from the sha.
dows beneath and pause, one in manly
grace and the other in feminine beauty
for mutual smile or glance, before
mounting the broad flights Of steps.
Two. and she has. perhaps, anticipated
but one!
The man is Mr. Dcgraw and the
woman SGnorina Naldi or. as she Is
now called. Miss Rogers. He has he.
come frequent guest at the house
and she a recognized inmate. but never
before have they been observed to-
cether. The sight calls up strange
looks on the faces of their youthful
companion. and more than one fnrtlNe
glance Is cast at their silent hostess.
But her self f-possesson is great ana
there is no lack in the cordiality with
which she welcomes the appearance
of these two. But when the first furry
over they all settle down TO renewed
conversation in the now brilliantly
lighted parlor, those who love her best
feel that something has gone out OF
her manner that made it the sweetest
and most encouraging in the world,
and one at least of the three men who
adore her intercepts more than one OF
her glances that steal. despite the
pride of the heiress and woman, 10
the huge window seat where sits the
artist beside the singer. so happy ana
proud that he forgets to hide either
his satisfaction or his delight.
As for the signorna she was In that
soft mood of unexpected happiness
which makes woman beautiful,
whatever her features. She to whom
nature had given the perfection or
grace was so much the more captiyat
ing. From the crown Of her lovely
head, dropping with the weight of un'
told hopes, to the tip Of her dainty
foot she was the incarnation or JOY
shadowed only by the wonder when
such ioy often brings Though she
did not speak, much less sing. her
whole figure breathed forth music, ana
one person present heard it, and heard
II as plainly as if she had walked at
her side half hour before ana list-
ened, as spirits listen, to the vows
which the ardent artist had whispered
into the beloved ones half averted
ears. Love. pure and perfect mad
breathed across this virgin soul, ana
deeper love than hers had noted 1t ana
taken lesson therefrom-the lesson
of pain and patience generous SYM
pathy and womanly sacrifice.
The more disinterested persons IN
the room had collected about the
piano. where one of their number was
playing thrilling airs from Gounod.
AS the melody filled the air more than
one tongue was loosed of the secret
that burdened 1t.
"Do you observe the couple over
thereY' one of Miss Aspinwall's lovers
not the most generous-whispered In
her ear. boy Cupid has been busy
with one or both of their hearts since
We saw them last. / think l can dis
cover the tip of his wings tluttering in
and about between them now. What
do you Think
Some questions are very hard to an
.,yor. chic was meant tO hp one of