Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-08-09

and least Of all at the present moment.
When I had completed my account OF
my mission to England he paused III
front of me for during my recital he
had not once ceased to pace the room).
and throwing away the end OF his
cigar said:
ut is as l supposed. Though you
are probably now farther off than ever
from the recovery of the seQuins, and
the result Of your expense and trouble
Is merely the addition of another in
habitant to the unknown world I
have as little doubt as ever that the
old man had the gold, and that he has
bestowed it where it will rest until 1t
is discovered by some other thief.
And now please oblige me by never
mentioning this matter to me again,
for 1 do assure you am most heartily
sick of it,"
My uncle took two cigars from his
pocket One of them he threw to me
across the table, and having lit the
other he again paced the room. A
minute or two elapsed before he
spoke. When at last he did so it was
with intense bitterness.
"Of all that you have done or failed
to do that which vexes me most Is
your forwarding Mrs. Butterwelrs let
ter to Price. But don't blame you in
any way; it was impossible that you
could know Of the deep hatred | was
so soon to bear to that unspeakable
humbug The fault is my own for
having, in the exercise of my natural
generosity, foolishly suffered myself
to befriend one of his canting. Typo
critical caste. When picked that un-
considerable beggar out Of the Suffolk
mud he was not ten cents ahead of his
debts, and the utmost racking of his
wits produced him an income about
one-fifth as much as pay my cook"
Uncle Sam paused moment, puffed
forth q cloud of smoke in a way sug-
gestive of ineffable contempt. and re-
sumed:
"As you know, l brought him here
and gave him the management Of a
newspaper l own paying him largely
for his inefficient discharge of duties
which I had to teach him. He at
tached himself to Connie, and did his
best to win her, but Connie. with pru
dence worthy of her father. would
have none of him. When you appeared
upon the scene and gained almost with
out effort the prize for which he had
contended in vain, he made the girl
for whom he used to profess the most
eXtravagant regard the victim of his
revenge. His inability to injurc her
without injuring Mrs. Truman and me
in greater degree did not deter the
villain. His method was this. Know
ing that Constance was devoted to her
sister, and that anything which would
trouble one must needs disquiet the
other. he showed her lin your presence,
| understand) letter he had received
from another pestilent Suffolk parson.
exposing Annie Wolsey-thc writer.
craven-hearted windbag named Fuller.
ia luS SO' iiIo i,o'i 'iu
Wolsey or your father. Connie, wiser
than most women kept her knowledge
to herself, and Price, suspecting this
from the fact that there was no upset
In my house. forwarded Fullers letter
to my WIFE
The malicious lecr upon Mr.. Prices
face at the moment when last looked
upon him was pictured in my memory
and not likely to be forgotten. That
II was the outward and visible sign OF
diabolical nature l had never doubt
ed, and his structures upon my family
on that occasion helped to confirm the
opinion, but none the less was | aston
ished to learn in what circuitous
ways this man had worked to miure
people who, so far from giving him
any cause for enmity, had done much
to earn his gratitude. AS niy uncle
again paused | venturcd to congratu-
late him on the futiliiy of Mr. Prices
act, seeing that Mr.. Fullers letter con-
tanned nothing which aunt Gertrude
did not already know.
My affairs are hardly as smooth rs
that" continued uncle Sam. forgetful
Of, or automatically ignoring, pre-
vious declaration lie had made. MY
wife has left me- and l cannot induce
her tG return home except by suhstan-
tial assurances that I have finally
ceased to correspond with Annie VOL
scy.'
Good heavensr' exclaimed, in
great alright. do you know where
she has gone? IL Constance with
herr"
Don't talk so loud. l am not deaf,
and there is no necessity for informing
everybody; the affair Is sufficiently
known already. You nave no cause
for alarm. l shall give :ly wife the
assurances she demands, and in n day
or two at farthest she will reassune
her rightful position. 1t is pity you
forwarded that old laGy'S letter to
him"
Where is my aunt and Connie?'
asked bluntly.
III III u liOuSc W iSlc thIti
father used TO live"
''Is that far frOu here?"
"Only few miles. Orange is in New
Jersey. the other side Of the North
River
A sigh of relief escaped me when
heard these words. TO know that I
was so near to my dear Constance was
as one faint streak of light in Il dark
sky. lit the cigar which had been
nervously twirling between my fingers
during the progress of this conversa-
tion, and took a seat by the open win
dow. Uncle Sam, too, became some
,nt nalnlal. n nd ad hil,,sal