Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-07-12
WALTER BLOOMFIELD
by Eo BERT 1NNEI's SoNs

you either to not refer to my future
husband, or to employ less offensive
description of him."
"Impossiblew exclaimed Mr.. Price;
"you are not mad"
20 dear no." replied Miss Marsh very
coolly; II believe not. Are you, sir?"
II am heartily sorry for you," said
Mr.. Price, closing the hand upon which
he had been exhibiting very fine
ring, and replacing that bauble In his
pocket. II should have thought that
one Truman would have been sulli.
cient for your family, if not for all
America. If you knew nil could tell
you. your plan for your future life
would differ very widely from that
which you have adopted, even If l wcro
still excluded from It,"
"If my sisters husband were here ]
have no doubt he would be able to eff
fectually reply to your insult" said
Miss Marsh Indignantly.
I have insulted nobody" protested
Mr.. Price. "NNhat l have said Is true,
and so is what am going to say. The
English country boy who has been your
companion today is unworthy of your
hand. He is what l called hm-an
English country boy, without fortune,
experience. or, so far as | have Oh
served, talent. He belong to a family
which has enjoyed exceptional social
advantages for more than 800 years,
yet in all that time 10 one member of
it has distinguished himself in any
walk of life. Such social position as
has has been theirs Is now on the wanc
The Squire of Holdcnhurst has scarce
ly yet reached middle age, and long
time must probably elapsc before
young Ernest succeeds to his estate
a poor property, worth, perhaps, some
six or seven hundred year at most,
decreasing in value every year, and
perhaps soon to be contiscatcd by the
revolutionary legislation which now
prevails in England"
~ know nothing of all this, and am
not much interested In 1t, but my sis
tcr's husband is Truman, and the
people here do not account him n dull
man."
THAT IS true, admit. Still, If your
sister were as free as you are now,
have that in my pocket which would
prevent her marrying him."
"Indecd" exclaimed Miss Marsh,
"that is more Interesting than crcdi-
bic"
still it is true" persisted Mr. Price.
"No family was ever more glarlngly
mSnamed than that of Ioldenlurst--
it has never produced n true man, and
the one clever member Of 1t, your
brother.in-law counteracts his ability
by his falsity. His faithlessness to
his wife. to whose father was due his
first step toward the great success he
has achieved, is deplorahle. The letter
have in my pocket reveals q state of
affairs which in this country would
enable your sister to obtain a divorce
from her husband. VIII you read IT."
II take no interest in it, assure you.
Ny sister is happy, and has no wish
for divorce, but even were that not
SO. it would not be my affair."
accepting as final your rejection Of
my suit, my last rcquCSt-made to you
in the hope that you will pause and re-
fleet before you change your own fair
name for the talnshed name of Tru-
man-is that you will read this letter.
1t reached me this morning from the
Roy. Mr.. Fuller, rector Of Holdenhurst
Major. 1t is very brief, and will not
engage your attention for more than
two or three minutes. Surely, Miss
Marsh, you will do so much to obligc
Il bitterly disappointed man.
"Very well, will read it since you
so greatly wish It," and extending her
delicate little hand. my Constance took
from Mr.. Price a letter which he
pleadingly extended toward her.
The first part of this colloquy great
ly inhamed that consciousness OF vic
tory which had possessed me ever since
Constance Marsh had declared herself
mine. MI Prices TRADE against my
family. and particularly his animad'
versions on myself, amused me. But
it was plainly apparent that the peru.
sal by Constance of letter from the
Rey. Mr.. Fuller, detailing the circum-
stance of my uncle Sans connection
with Annie Wolsey, might be fraught
with very serious consequences to sew
pral persons. resolved to interrupt
the reading. and returned to my Con-
stance as speedily as l could, this time
happily without delay, but when l
reached the other side Of the screen
/ found that Constance had risen from
her seat, and that Mr.. Price was walk
inc away from her, malicious leer
upon his face as he replaced letter In
his pocketbook.
"Well, darling Connie" I said. II
have heard nearly all. You are brave,
faithful little woman. But why arc
you so pale? Thank God, the worst
that cnvious wretch can say or do Is
powerless to affect US"
"Oh, Ernest, dear, If only ] was sure
of that! Ten minutes ago | was hap
by: now am very wretchcd."
"Why, what has happened" | asked
in alarm, and with dismal forebodings
Of the mischief my enemy had sown.
But at that moment the electric light
was turned on. streams Of people be-
gan to pour into the drawing room
from the terrace and German profess
sor tool. his seat at the piano.
l sought TO lead my prize out of the