Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-03-01

WOrl0, OUT am now Satl6ned that
they are sent to the places where they
are posted merely to disguise the
whereabouts of the writer, and think
1t Is probable she is in England in the
neighborhood of London. Last year
when I was Ill In Wellington, New
Zealand, the particulars of my illness
were known to her, and she wrote to
me more frequently than usual.
Only once since she went away did
she fall to write to me for three
months, and then came q long letter.
couched in terms more than usually
aMectiOnate, informing me that she
had been Ill, but was now recovered; !;
that there was nothing she desired
more than to see me again, but that if
she could not ask my forgiveness in
the character of wife she would not
ask 1t in the character OF mother.
am convinced that my girl Is well
treated. so far as is possible under any
such arrangement as that to which
she is a party. 1 forgive her the step
she has taken from my very heart,
though I regret 1t as keenly as any
father could. Were to see her or
write to her should tell her this and
use no word Of reproacb.
And now for the aid require from
you. have noticed that the letters
which reach me from Annie are en-
closed In envelopes embossed at the
extreme edge of the opening, "Dicken-
son, Maker. Richmond, Surrey" That
you may not fail to understand my
meaning, enclose one Of the envel.
| opes. From this evidence have
formed the opinion that she lives in
Richmond or thereabouts. and want
| you. If you will. to institute a secret
inquiry-personally II you can conve-
niently do SOTO ascertain this posi-
lively, but you must be careful that
she does not see you, or before could
return to England she would be gone.
Should you discover her you might
telegraph to me, but IL you fail to do
SO letter will serve, addressed Box
2S47, Postoffice, Sydney. N. S. w. I
nm anxious to avoid returning to Eng
land unless there is a good chance Of
achieving my object, and this for sew
eral reasons, Of which economy Is not
the least, for l have not found 1t easy
to travel as have done on an income
less than f20O year-though Of this
I make no complaint. If only might
see and talk with my Annie once more
| I could die content
| With every good wish for yourself
and my grandson Ernest-who must
be almost, If not quite. a man now
and assuring you both that l have
never ceased to think of you notwitli-
standing my long silence, l remain. ~
ways yours faithfully.
WILLIAM WOLSEY.
The letter fell from my hands and I
| sat for some minutes lost In thought
That the playmate Of my childhood.
she who had always been to me as a
sister rather than the relation she
really was. should have fallen so low,
| filled me with sadness, while l could
not but feel extreme pity for my
grandfatherinh in his desolation. Thoughts
Of the happy Saturdays in summer
when, with little Annie for my COM
panion. had wandered through the
Suffolk groves In search of nuts, or
chased her among the neglected grave.
stones of HOldenhurst churchyard. of
her bright eyes rosy cheeks and happy
smile crowded upon my mind. And
| thought too, of the stalwart old man
who had taught me to ride and shoot.
whom I had accompanied know not
how many times to Bury market in
his village cart. picturing him now as
white-haired and bowed with care. I
know not how long my reverie lasted
but when l was recalled to myself BY,
a summons to breakfast started up,
full Of energy, resolved to do whatever
might lie in my power to satisfy the
pathetic appeal had just read.
My uncle and aunt and Miss Marsh
were already seated when I entered
the breakfast room. Uncle Sam was
stirring his coffee vigorously, and ap-
peared even more vivacious than usual.
"Whatw he exclaimed, as I entered
the door, zone week In London and
your country habits already lost!
Why. I thought you were an early
riser. Come, Ernest. what have you
to say for yourself?"
"Only that have been UP for nearly
two hours"
1.-TWO hoursw echoed uncle Sam In.
credulously; "why, what have you
been doing?"
I replied that had been reading IN.
letters. The declaration mystified VII.
Gle Sam still more. He said he had
himself sorted all the letters which
had arrived. and there appeared 10 be
none for me. My explanation Of thi'.
I thought, was not very pleasing to my
uncle, for after remarking that what
ever might be the nature of MY CORE,
spondence 1t did not seem very berefi
cial to me, for looked YER, pale over
1t, he opened the Times Its full width
and said no word more during break
fast.
You certainly have lo,' your color
this morning." remarked aunt Ge:
trude; "are you quite we'll Ernesty'
Eyes, l think so," replied, and
when the next minute Miss Marsh pro-
posed that I should go with her fer a
long drive l had no further doubt of
the matter,