Catoctin clarion., 1906-09-06
1ONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD.

arms around my neck, burst into tears
in the manner of one whose fortitude
fails at unexpected release from some
supreme dread.
what has happened?' I asked,
catching my breath.
"Sam learned on arrival at his office
that Miss Wolsey had died suddenly
in Paris, and the news so upset him
that he talked incoherently for time,
and then had some sort of seizure,
greatly frightening his clerks; but he
is conscious now and Gertie is with
him."
There are few tasks which the com.
plex relations of humankind impose
upon us more painful or difficult than
being called to comfort Il sorrowful
one whose burden presses with equal
or greater weight upon ourselves, and
l could scarce restrain my own grief
while endeavoring to pacify Constance,
whose agitation arose entirely from the
present circumstances Of uncle Sam
and aunt Gertrude - circumstances
which. though l was by no means in.
different to them, were in my case oh.
sCurcd by consideration Of the tragedy
in Paris. Constance Marsh had lever
seen Annie Wolsey. nor was it until
quite recent days that she had been i'll
formed of the existence Of that un'
happy woman; and not Cnly that. but
for other and stronger reasons 1t would
have been absurd to expect that Con
stance should regard the death other,
wise than as the welcome extinction of
al unseen but potent power for mis-
chief. While recognizing this to the
full, 1 could rot but think Of the girl
companion Of my childhood; CT how
after Annies brothers and sisters had
one by Cna, ,:ll been laid to rest. in
the shadow of EoldeLhurst church she
alone remained and was the only de-
light of her widowed Gathers lie;
of how, later, she had fed frcm him
who loved her so well. and ECw tire
lessly he had sought her again until
at last his efforts We're crowned with
success, though only to preciDtate ihc
needless and awful waste CT her young
life. I thought also Of the cruel effect
this disaster must necessarily have
upon ny grandfather. cnd wondered
If that careworn old man was yet &C.
quainted with It. The fear to which
my uncle had several tines given cN'
preston now being realized, it occurred
to me that It's i'll effects upon ny pow
erful friend, said to be alreaCy severe,
might possibly be Of 4 permanent char
actcr Something of these troublesome
thoughts and speculaticns must have
been apparent in my face to have in
duced Connie to smile at me through
her tears. and to repeat those vows
with which we had consolcd each other
in previous ditficulties-that come what
might, and We We're both alive, nothing
Should again separate us.
Constance and / quilted tie stray
and returned to my room. When asked
to decpher Mr.. Prices letter was eE-
gagged in making fair copy CT list
of ny future wifes possessions, which
uncle Sam had roughly drawn up fer
my use--a heavy task, to which l had
already devoted two whole days.
Though not more than three-fourths of
my transcript was completed l Per.
cciyed l was too disturbed to advan-
tageously arply myself to it again that
day. and therefore hastily put awcy
lorntaI nlvcnIf m Con.
stance. After nearly an hour had
been spent in protitless exchange CT
opinions and the venturing of various
surmises, We decided to go together
to Mills Building and ascertain by
actual observation exactly upon what
our anxiety was founded.
When we arrived at Mills Building
We found my uncle's offices deserted
by all but one clerk, and the usual
business Of the place suspended for the
rest of the day. Telegraphic tape was
automatically unwinding from score
or mere cylinders. and falling unread
into the baskets placed to receive it.
On my uncle's desk, in an inner private
room. lay a pile CT correspondencc.
the greater. part unopened. The clerk
in charge was brushing his hat pre-
paratOry to locking iLc doors an de-
parting, and had we been few min
utes later Ne should have found the
Office closed. From this individual we
learned that Mr.. Truman had become
violently agitated Immediately after
reading letter, the envelope OF which
bore the Paris postmark; that he had
rapidly paced up aad down his room,
incoherently talking TO himself NEAL
while; and that altogether his behay-
ior had been SO extremely different
from Lis usual habit of self-possessiCn
that the people about him became
alarmed. Mr.. Truman's secretary, Mr..
. Fisk, who enjoyed his employers col-
fllence more than anybody else, took
the letter from Mr.. Tru1nan's ulresist-
iag hands, and read it to ascertain
what had created this disturbance.
The letter, which IVES very: rief and
coached. in aHfectionatc terms, stated
that the writer would that night seek
oblivion in the waters of the Seine. and
that she comrlcndcl her son to his
care. 1t boro the signature of ALnie
Wolsey.
I'D how is Mr.. Truman now?
inquired. rs b, better, and has hc
gene hcme. with Mrs~Tpuman"
II think he is better than hc was,"
replied the clerk. I'VE were afraid he
had become craz1 anl sent for DR..
Hermann. DR.. Hermann, who ar
rived before Mrs. Truman, eaid that
Mr.. Truman was cu1ering from intense
excitement, but tlat with proper treat
ment there YVES 10 cause Cor ala-r.