Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-05-07
CHAPTER VII.
Continued.


This was, literally, all that passed
between Jane and Miss Lynch. The
latter was prepared with set-out tea,
with we'll conned speeches of condo
lence, and several Of her own favorite
little books, ready marked at the pages
In which she considered appropriate
medicine for affliction to be stored.
But her heart died within her. All
thought of Offering consolation was
chilled back by the first sound of
James changed voice. She scarcely
dared to follow her, even to look upon
her face. What If all the youth and
life should have died out there as well?
Don't think me unkind, auntie," said
Jane when she reached the door Of her
own little bedroom; and, with all her
changed voice. she said this very gently
poor child, it was not in her to be
aught save gentle even in the extrem-
ity Of her despair-"don't think me un-
kind for leaving you. auntie; but l am
very weary with my journey, and l
think it best for both Of us to be quite
alone tonight"
And she submitted meekly to all the
kindly offices of love that Miss Lynch
insisted upon doing for her, and at
tempted to eat some Of the food that
she set before her, and even smiled-a
wan and ghastIy smile-as she bade
Miss Lynch good night, and promised
to get to her bed at once and try to
sleep.
But when she was alonc-when she
first stood face to face with her new
knowledge In this little room that had
held her i'll her innocent, glowing love-
dreams of the last few weeks-when,
standing thus, the unnatural torpor
slowly passed away from her brain,
and she knew, with sharp, harsh GER
tainty, that it was she, Jane Grand,
Clifford Mohuns promised wife, who
was-what she was!-all the floOdgates
of her soul were suddenly l0osed, and
she fell upon her knees and wept.
Healing tears, that eased her brain and
thawed her heart; that brought her
back to her own nature once again;
that left her, when the next day
dawned, weak and worn and PROSTATE,
but thinking of Giffords grief more
than her own, praying meekly to God
to temper the blow that was to fall
upon him whom she counted so far
dcarer and more precious than herself.
Throughout that night, as during the
past day, no doubt ever for an instant
crossed her concerning the way in
which her engagement with Mohun
must end. If any misfortune if any
disgrace, had Overtaken him, she
would have clung to him the more, Sim
ply because he was in misfortune and
disgrace; the shame being Oh her side,
she must, of course, renOnunce every
claim upon his regard. These she
looked upon as the facts of the case.
She did not stop to consider whether
they betoken nobler love on her part
or on Mohun's. They simply were so,
and she succumbcd to them. And l
suppose there are some poorly endowed
and weak-heartcd women who will con-
tinue to the end of time to look upon
canons like these as the orthodox thing
in their peculiar system of idolatry.
Let their stronger sisters, (who hold
that in love, as in equity, both parties
are bound by like law-that mems
love should not demand any greater
sacrifice than that of wOmen), let their
stronger sisters thank heaven that they
are not as these are, and pass on their
way. No one, with even very super
fetal knowledge of life, could believe
that the world would go on as well as 1t
docs now if all the women it contained
were of the type Of Jane Grand; and
1t is a comfort, perhaps, to know that
the shrinking, the thoroughly unselfish,
the meek, the dumb, the lowly Of heart,
are not to be met with in at all an
alarming proportion among the present
generation.
1t is possible, however, as part of n
vast system, that even these weaker
vessels are not wholly without value.
Tho stately pine and solemn yew have
their uses and their beauty; but the lit
tic frail eyed celandine growing at
their foot has hers as well.