Catoctin clarion., 1906-09-06
byU oBERT BoNNER's Sons.


stance. II never liked the expression
of that mans face, nor his manner, but
l am surprised he should write such
q letter as that What good can he
hope to get from it?"
Don't you see, dear. how much he
would like to separate us? l have al
ready told you the facts upon which
he has based this letter"
"Yes, Ernest, and please don't tell
me again. I'm afraid I'm a little tired
of speaking and thinking about these
things"-alluding to the sequins which
she was turning round and round with
her delicate white fingers. But SUP
pose Mr.. Price could separate us, how
would that benefit him? he knows I
would not marry him in any case. l
have told him 50 in plail words many
q time"
"Spiteful and mischicvcus as the man
is, don't In the least doubt, my dear
Connie, but that he loves you as sin
cerely as his nature allows him Ito
love Indeed, it is difficult to conceive
of any man not loving you who has
once seen you, and it is the quality OF
never to entirely despair of achieving
it's object until that object is irrevoca'
bly, lost. This letter was written yes.
terday, 50 by now Mr.. Price is Oh his
way to England. Before he reaches
Liverpool you will be my wife, and
when he learns that fact perhaps he
will cease to interest himself in our
affairs. Only six days! Fancy that,
pet" ..
Yes. fancy it! How sudden it has
all been! I am in disgrace with my
friends for deserting theEl, and in de-
Tending myself have laid the Llamc
on you for rlonopoliz,ng my time.
say, Ernie, dear, one of the six girls
whom have asked to bc bridesmaid
has declined"
"Who is she?' inquired.
Miss Christison-you know who
mean; the young lady who can't marry
without losing her fortune"
20 yes; l remember her. WAJ will
take her place.?
"IneZ JuarreZ.'
You must forgive Hiss Clrstison
on account Of her absurd AID cruel
circumstances"
"Of course, dear, but e.;
At that moment our conversation was
interrupted by the loud and continuous
ringing Of electric bells within the
house, and the hasty running Of SER
wants up and down the stairs. Con.
stance and I started to or feet and
listened for moment. and the con.
fusion continuing We left the room
to ascertain its cause. Outside the
doo", upon the landing. we met my
aunt Gertrude, who was descending
the stairs dressed for going out, and
no sooner saw her face, yelled though
it was, than perceived that she was
painfully agitated.
what is the matter:" we both asked
as with one voice.
"Oh, Connie, dear, don't stop me- A
clerk at Mills Building has just tcle.
phoned to say that Sam has been seized
with sudden illness, and l am not to
lose moment. in going to him.
fear he is dead. though they say he is
not" :.
dead. Impossible. An hour ago
he was here and WE'LL"
But aunt Gertrude could not hear the
Il ;nr nit nf hp,. e.icfnu + r. M
for she had scarcely paused in her de-
scert while imparting this terrible in
formation. A world of confused and
painful thoughts filed my min and
strange pallor ovcrspread the face of
the dear one at my side; the color faded
from her lips, and but for my timely
support she would have fallen. The
next moment the street door was heard
to close. and the carriage containing
aunt Gertrude was driven rapidly
away.
Leading Constance back into the
room, we both sat down upon couch
ard regarded each other in silence. l
consulted my watch; the hour wanted
twenty minutes to midday. Uncle San
had left LONE to 50 to his Cfticc at 10
o'clock, he being then in sound health
and high spirits. Constance was the
first to speak. Il can't believe, Lrnlc.
dear" she said, that anything very
serious can be the matter, though
Gertrude seems so frightened. How
could there be-" But the unconcealed
agitation Of the fair speaker belied her
words, and l was in no condition to
support them BY argument. Let us
so into Sans study Gnl inquire by
the telephone how he is Low," she
presently added.
"Yes, certainly; tLat is C. coed
thought. But doesn't uncle keep his
study lockedF'
"Yec: lut Ccrtic also has n key OF it,
and l don't suppose sic stayed to lock
it il her haste"
The suggestion was no sooner made
than adopted, AM The strdy cor being
tered and at once made her inquiry.
| can never forget her appearance as
che stood with the tube applied to her
ear, her youthful beauty showing
grandly despite the pallor induced by
her anxiety, while l watched with
deadly interest the varying expressions
Of her face as n clerk at the Mills
Building informed her of uncle Sans