Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-07-12

rhrong to some obscure nook, where,
secure from interruption she could re-
| late to me the contents of the letter
which she had just read, and we could
| together discuss Its import. but failed
to find an opportunity to do So Aunt
| Gertrude, Mrs. Van Rensselaer, and
| Mr.. Rosenberg now appearing. the lat
ter began to rally me upon my monop'
| oly Of Miss Marsh. at is not fair you
know, Mr.. Truman" said that gentle
man. "There is, am sure, at least
! one other gentleman present who ls
| partial to the company Of Miss Marsh,
and there are of course many others
besides. AS in most assemblies there
are more ladies present here than gen
tlcmcn. Will you permit me to intro
ducc you to some of them? ] shall be
be very pleased to do So"
perhaps you had better go with him
a little WHILE" whispered Constance:
81 feel rather better now. Ernest, dear,
and VIII tell you all as we go home"
I turned, bowed to my future wife
and accompanied Mr.. Rosenberg to a
distant part of the room.
II am sorry that your uncle could not
make 1t convenient to come here to-
day" said Mr.. Rosenberg land so Is
Mrs. Van Rensselaer,. Tic works too
hard, and allows himself too little re
taxation. Did you know the late Mr.
Van Rensselaer,? No? He was man
somewhat like your uncle, and so was
Mr.. Marsh. l have often thought that
If each of those three could have lived
for hundred years, and they had
worked together, they would have
owned North America between them
Your uncle's skill in bargaining is
something marvellous-I would give a
cool million to have his power for six
months, and yet be dollars in pocket
DO you see that gray bearded old man
over in that corner by the side of the
young lady in blue? That Is Angus
Mackenzie, the petroleum king, one on
the richest men in the United States
When he came from Aberdeen forty
years ago he wasn't worth ten dollars,
and your uncle says his success has
been due to a porridgc- built Constitu.
tiOn. Allow me to introduce you to
Miss Mackenzie"
The young lady in blue rose and was
introduced to me in formal terms.
"And so ye're the nephew Of Samuel
Truman" crooncd Mr. Mackenzie,
yp1,n plI np1 1nprnnit
"Wcll, WE'LL it's pity such n clever
man should be without son O his
verra own. but dollars won't get every.
thing, and a nephcw's no a distant re.
lation. If Sam Is as fortunate in his
| nephew as ye're In your uncle, he's
done we'll"
did not care to enter into conversa.
ion with this old Scotsman, whose
garrulous tendency was evident. Mr.,
Rosenberg perceived the state of the
case and hurried me away. Although
not so deeply anxious as l had beer
, before my Constance had given ME her
hand, | was much concerned in the un.
! expected event which had acqua intcd
her with matter | had hoped she
! might ncvc" hear of, and could not
| bring myself to take much interest in
the various persons to whom Mr.. R"'
senhcrg introduced me. Indeed, that
gentleman noticed my abstraction and
remarked upon it. but readily accepted
my excuse Ia very real and true onc)
that l found the new scenes among
which | was cast the presence of so
many strangers, and the manners and
customs of American society, in such
violent contrast with my surroundings
in an English village, that l was con
fused by the change, but that | hoped
to be quite at my ease after 4 little
more experience of these things. MI.
Rosenberg then proposed that we
should take a seat near to the piano,
as Miss Inez Juarrez. who had fine
voice, was about to sing. | gladly
agreed. The natural gift and the skill
of Miss JuarrcZ were evidently known
to the company present, for no sooner
was it whispered that she was about
to sing than wide scmiclrclc of ad.
mrinS listeners was quickly formed
in front of the piano, and among the
foremost | observed my Constance
seated between her sister and Mrs.
Van Rensselaer,. She still appeared
unusually pale, but when she perceived
me her cheek slightly flushed, her eye
frightened, and she bestowed Oh me q
glance which caused my heart to flut.
ter, and all care and anxiety to depart
from me.
Miss IncZ JuarreZ had full, rich
soprano voice, which she controlled
with admirable art. Her song was
simple enough from a musicians point
of view-thc work probably of some
South American composer unknown TO
famc--but it was as highly impassioned
as the words to which it was welded
words In the Guarani dialect, the
language of the Paraguayan people.
This song made a great impression
upon me.
AS the last plalntivc note OF the sing
er ceased to vibrate | narrowly OBJ.
served aunt Gertrude, who had been
an attentive listener, but l failed to
detect in the expression of her face
any sign which could be interpreted
as silent recognition OH her part Of
u parallel between the fable Of the
verses and her own circumstances. On
the contrary, being asked by Mrs Van
Rensselaer, to sing. she readily com.
piled, and charmed everybody present
by her skilful rendering of an Italian
romance.
Not SO her sister, my Constance.
For her the Paraguayan song seemed
to have some special and painful mean
ing; she became paler than before and