Catoctin clarion., 1908-04-23
IURMONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD,

know was the truth, so that he might,
at least, have an answer to give when
ever any of his family asked him about
my relations; and If he found my
father had only been an honest village
miller like Mr.. Gillet, he should think
my parentage a great deal higher than
the Miss Tenants. Clifford is too
, noble to be ashamed Of anything not
dishonorable in ITSELF"
She made this little speech with
flushing cheeks, and with a pride and
confidence in Mohun that smOte the
Wears heart with a sharp pain. His
thoughts went back to time, fifteen
long years before, when he too had
built with the same pride, the same
confidence, on a like foundation of
sand.
"Mohun is very young, my dear Jane;
his judgments are one sided"
"But all OH the side of what Is right
and high minded, Mr.. Foliett."
'It is difficult for young man to
know exactly what is right. Whatever
their own faults may be, very young
people are always uncharitable in their
crude judgments upon others. Mohun
has scarcely the right to pass such
sweeping condemnation as he does
upon Mr.. Tenants past conduct"
"Can any Judgment be too severe
upon dishonesty, sir? Clifford scorns,
as do, the thought of money that was
,,o,,D,,,lo !, In, dichNnop
"Jane, be silent" cried Miss Lynch.
starting up, and looking almost angrily
in the girls face. "What right have
you to pass these judgments? Have
brought you up to take this kind of
authority upon yourself? You-you!
Child, pray for humility-pray for a
spirit that can enter into the tempta
tions of others. Yes, into their worst
temptations--into their blackest sins"
"Aunie, can you be really angry with
me? was only speaking for Clifford.
1 only said Clifford would not care to
hear what my father was, so that he
was only an honest, upright man. Oh.
auntie, feel much too happy now to
be uncharitable to any one"
The simple, unsuspectng words, the
irresistible joyous voice, melted all
Miss Lynch's brief harshness, If that
indeed could be called harshness, which
was but another form of her intense
and yearning pity over the poor child's
ignorance-so soon to be replaced for
ever by the btterest knowledge.
"May God keep you happy, my
childw she whispered; and she kissed
her, not with one Of the little affections
she generally remembered to put on
before the vicar, but closely-amost
fearfully-as she had used to kiss her
when Jane was first given to her
charge. "May God strengthen you
through ali you will have to bear"'
II feel very strong, auntlc. 1t seems
to me tonight as If the very worst
sufferings OF life must have some hap
piness in them. When You see my
face again tomorrow you will know at
once how much you have moderated
my moral courage. feel that shall
bear bravely all Mr.. Clithero has to tell
me and be able-though, l must say,
that will be harder-tO tell it again to
Clifford on my return. Had I not bet.
ter see about that Indian muslin in
town, auntie? Miss Brown says it
can't be bought anywhere but at one
house in the city, and l dare say we
should have time to go there when we
have done with Mr.. Clithero."
The strongest emotion land she was
strongly moved tonight could not rem
der Miss Lynch wholly callous to do
nestle interests. After all, Jane might
take the history of her birthright more
calmly than they hoped for; Clifford
Mohun might take it nobly-though her
courage sank as she thought of him
at all events there was no harm in let
ting the poor child take pattern. 1t
might distract her thoughts to have a
commission to fulfill, and it certainly
was a sin to buy new curtains when
two yards and half Of the original
muslin would replace the shabby
length by the window seat, and make
the whole set lock equal to new.
Greatly to the relief of the vicar, who
had all the repugnancc Of very re-
fined and rather selfish nature to wit
Messing anything like scene-cspe-
cially scene in which women were
actors-grcatly to the relief of the
vicar, Miss Lynch's tears dried as the
prospect CT matching the Indian muslin
rose, with cumulative clearncss, upon
her mind; ard no further recurrence
was mace to the inevitable and black
tomorrow, save il arranging by what
train they should 60, and at what Ecur
he should call round in his pony chaiGe
for Miss Grand.
Eut when M. Follett had let them
alCne, Jane herself renewed the cuJ-
ject.
"Why did you Cecide SO suddenly
about my going to town, auntie? And
why cid you let Clifford leave without
telling hirl l should be away frcn
home all tomorrow? He will think it
so strange when he calls as usual and
finds me gone"
Deprived of the Wears moral sup
port, and suddenly brought back to
think of the coming evil, Miss Lynch'5
nervousness was so great that she
could scarcely speak. She faltered out
something about not having clearly I'M
derstood Mr.. CIithero's letter till the
vicar had read it to her; and then-and
then-how they had thought 1t better
to have no discussion whatever. before
Mr.. Mohun. 1t would spare him a
days painful suspense to have no
knowledge of James business in Lon
don until her return-untn all was
! over!
"Auntiew exclaimed Jane, raising
her clear, serious eyes to Miss Lynchs