Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-08-08

gard to q legal form of agreement.
Here there is a kind of tontine ar.
rang,ment by which one would re.
ceive an enormous advar+ .;'e by the
death of his partners. 1t is an uncom'
Portable clause, and ! do OF see the
necessity of its existence, now that
the circumstances which called for its
being made are changed. A lawyer
may provide FOR our security without
exposing us to ugly possibilities. That,
however. can be settled later OIL.
There is no hurry. 1t will be time
enough to make the legal arrange
ment when we have ascertained the
value of the property to be arranged,
and that we cannot know before the
stone is cut. We will question tho
best firms in London with regard to
a lapidary, and take their time.
"Meanwhile, will supply you with
what money you want upon your l.
o. u, and the diamond shall remain
in your keeping. Talk it over among
yourselves at your leisure, and any
modification you may think advisable.
l have no doubt, l shall be able to ac.
cept."
Miss Lascelles returned to the room
and spoke to her father. Then she
went to Lola. who had CURED herself
upon the skin, and knelt Down beside
her. The girl was not asleep: she
started up into sitting attitude as
Miss Lascelles approached. ard flung
off the hand that was laid tcnderly
OH her arm.
"You don't dislike me, Lola" the
young lady asked, smiling.
"Yes, l do" the girl replied, savage.
ly.
But I want to be your frtend.'
I'VE shan't never be friends"
lost Miss Lascella's response. for
n servant entered the room. and Sir
Edmund addressed lis.
"Your rooms are ready" he said:
johnson will show you to them II
you feel you you'd like to turn in'
The prospect of sleeping once NOR.
in a good bed brought us to 0ur feet
a. once.
Miss Lascelles, unIauntcd by the
first rebuff, had got Lola's hand IN
hers, and was talking in low. en-
dearing tone to her. The Kit. sna .c!ed
her hand away, started to her feet,
and came to my side, seeing we wer"
about to go.
"A little cuss," said the Judge; "yoi
must excuse her. miss. Her mother
was greaser. and she's never had any
kindness shown her. except by Gen
tleman Thorne. A lick with the strap
is what she understands best. Nc,
miss" he added. when Miss Lasc2!leS
offered to take Lola to her room;
"leGve her to me. There amt nothing
but disappointment and vexation OK
spirit to be got outer the ongrateful
little varmint."
The room given to the Kid was the
pretticst imaginable, with hanSlngs
of white lace over blue silk, and every
where the eye was pleased with some
pretty evidence of care ana taste. The
bed was suggestive of cosincss ana
fresh virgin purity at the same time
l might have taxed my ingenuity i'll
vain to have invented such room i'll
the stories I have told to Lola. We
left the Kid there, leaning against the
wall, her unfathomable eyes looking
around her in sullen curiosity.
In the morning the room was found
empty. the bed untouched. the floor
covered with shreds Of the clothing
Miss Lascelles had laid out for Lola 3
use, and which, undoubtedly, the lit
tie savage had torn rp.
Poor little Lola! She and | l1d al
ways been the best Of friends, except
when question Of cooking or washing
occurred to trouble us. She would
yield to my pcrsua sion when nothing
else would bend her stubborn spirits.
She feared my silent reproach more
than the scathing sarcasm Van HoecI
treated her with, or the heavy rand
of her father. She respected no one
but me, probably because l alone re-
spccted her feelings.
Had foreseen that night the course
she was about to take, l might, with
Il little patient persuasion, have
brought her to reason. My spirit is
weighed down with regret when l
think how perhaps dozen words from
me at that time would have turned
aside the fearful consequences of that
act-an act so slight. yet followed by
terror upon terror. by crime upon
crime.
Tn ha Cont jinlp1