Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-10-03
CHAPTER XVI.

was told mt the Sacramento depot
that the Golden State Hotel was on
the third block up the grade. In as
ccnding the hill, l caught sight of
Brace and Lola walking in advance a
hundred yards or so, yet so changed
that it took me some minutes to iden-
tify them.
Swinging on at good four miles an
hour, and dragging the Kid along by
the wrist, or letting her trot on behind,
l should have recognized the Judge i'm
mediately at quarter Of mile or.
But walking at an old mans pace,
with his daughter leaning on his arm,
he was not easily recognizable.
But in Lola the change was still
greater. She was no longer bare
footed, ragged little savage, but
young lady with some pretenSion to
elegance in dress; and, thus altered.
she looked q woman rather than a
child
Her head was bent, and she leaned
for support on her fathers arm. She
walked slowly, and with an air of fa-
tigue; and, remembering the buoyant
elasticity of her gait. and the rebel
lious independence of her spirit,
asked myself with doubt If this could
indeed be Lola.
| followed them into the hotel; from
the vestibule | saw them enter room
upon the first floor. l ran up and
stopped at the open door. Lola had
seated herself on a couch, her face
rested on the pillow, her eyes were
closed.
1t was the pretty little face I knew
so WELL but oh, so changed! The cheek
was no longer round; the russet bloom
had gone from her complexion; there
was purple tint about her closed lids.
and the vermillion of her lips was un-
naturally bright. I was struck by the
delicate beauty Of her face but it was
a beauty that filled ones heart with
sorrow like the fading away of a
divine melody.
l entered the room noiselessly, and
seated myself in a chair by her side.
l heard Brace moving about in the ad-
joining room. She was unconscious of
my presence, and as l sat with my
eyes dwelling upon her beautiful face
my thoughts wandered back to the old
days at the Cape, when l lert my WORK
from time to time to see how 1.-THE
little 'un'' was getting on, as she lay
exhausted with sickness. The CLEAN
of the white teeth between the parted
lips, the curl of the long lashes that
swept her cheek, the crisp little lock
above her ear-these were all the
same, yet with the undefinable trait Of
womanhood so different. The bud had
opened-only to die I had asked my
SELF before If she would live. 1t was
doubtful then. but the hope was fainter
now.
She opened her eyes, and, seeing me,
sprang up with cry Of joy, and threw
her arms around my neck and kissed
me. for she was, indeed, still a child
at heart.
"Oh, it is truew she cried, between
her kisses; II was asleep, and l saw
you come to me, and" she stopped
abruptly, and drawing back, said in
wonder, as she looked in my face,
'Why. you are crying!'
Hearing her voice, Brace came in
from the next room.
"Say, now, what did I tell you?" he
exclaimed. "The Kids took 1t into her
silly little head as she wouldn't see
you no more, sir"
''She will see good deal of me, II
I have my way" l said, holding out
my hand to Brace.
His countenance changed: he
dragged his chin tuft thoughtfully for
! n minute, then turning to his daughter,
= he said:
lola. my gel. we must have it out
now straight off. Here's Gentleman
Thorne holdin' out his hand TO me,
, and amt no right to take it till you
let on what's come of the big dia-
pond"
To be continued.
! A waves height in feet on the open
sea Is approximately one-half the
winds velocity In miles per hour.