Catoctin clarion., 1908-04-09
CHAPTER III,
Continued.


It's difficult 10 say how much further
Clifford was going to commit himself
for James was blushing now. and her
face was extraordinarily near his lips
--but, just at this minute, two figures
stepped out from the little parlor win.
dow to the lawn. and Miss Lynch's
voice made Clifford start so that he
nearly deposited the basin of raspber.
ries, as well as his own heart. at Miss
Grnnd's feet.
"My dear Jane. standing without
your hat in this hot sun! And MIR.
Mohun, too--and, dear Mr.. Mobun, that
you should be holding that common
basin. Jane, child. why did you not
bring out one of the 'hina bowls. as
Mr.. Mohun was so goodnatured as to
offer to help you?"
Because this is the one you always
tell ME to use myself. auntie." said
Miss Grand. with that composed little
mir that did not become her Ill. II did
1ot know a special license was to be
given to Mr.. Mohun for breaking our
solitary china bowl. And Mr.. Mohun
Is not very expert in this kind of EN-.
ployment," she added, demurely, as she
took the fruit from Gifford's hand. HE
has more than once very nearly spoiled
my whole mornings work, as it is"
"Mohun has thoroughly the air OF
victim," said the vicar, who had como
up by Miss Lynchs side. II never
In my life saw two people look so abb
solutcly miserable as you both do!
However, the morning air has given
;ou roses, Miss Grand" he added, as
he looked closely at the gi-.'s glowing
'ace. "You have different complexion
now 10 what you had fourteen years
ugo, when l first say you-has she not,
Miss Lynch"
"Time prints his traces on us all, Mr..
Follett," said Miss Lynch. This adj
mirable woman always aimed Mt the
sentimental in common conversation,
but especially felt it incumbent upon
her to be high flown and elegant be-
fore the master of Yatton. "And yet,
really, it does seem but a day since
those happy hours when Mr.. Mohun
used to appear before us every vaca-
ton at our morning worship, so grown
and improved"
"And trying so hard TO make me
laugh whenever l looked at him." in
terrupted Jane, in her hearty way.
"Mr Follett, do you remember that day
when you stopped short in your sermon
and looked full-not at Gilford-not at
Mr. Mohun, which would have been
tustlce-but at poor innocent ME? who
had done nothing the whole service but
try to keep my eyes Oh my prayer
book"
"And so eXasperate me into doing
something desperate to arouse your at
tenton forcibly," said Clifford. Boys
are like men, Miss Grand. Demure,
averted looks don't always repel them
to the exact degree that they ought"
Miss Lynch thought the conversation
bordered OH the improper, and screened
her own face quite in an ostentatious
furry Of innocence with her parasol,
81 have got something to tell you,
auntie," cried Jane, coming over tc
Miss Lynch, and with delight mantling
all over her face. "Such news! You
would never guess 1t in all your life
Mr.. Mohun is going to give q grand
ball at Yatton, and nun to be at It,"
Miss Lynch and the vicar looked at
each other quickly. The vlcar was the
first to speak.
"You have not been brought up to &C
to balls, my dear Jane" but he spoke
very gently, very kindly; Clifford need
not have given him such Il terribly
fierce look of suppressed malediction
"You have lived happily without any
thing of The sort, hitherto"
although greatly obliged to Mr.. Mo
hun for doing you the honor" Miss
Lynch interpolated.
Il am not to go, then, you mean!
Jane exclaimed, and tears of bitter dis
appointment rushed up TO her eyes
"Mr. Mohun, you hear! am not tc
go.'
"Then there will be 10 ball at Yat'
ton," said Clifford, quickly. "The point
is not worth discussion. had thought
l should like to give something of the
kim OH first settling at Yatton-but II
OOeS HOT Hldttel. we cuh pc petlCStiy
contented without it!'
And he looked with most unmis-
taxable expression-or so Mr.. Follett
considered it 10 beat James fearful
face.
The vicar felt himself relenting. He
had good reasons for shielding the
poor girl from the petty sights to
which her forced entrance into society
might cost her: or from the lasting
misery to which light attentions from
n man so superior to her in position as
Mohun would, most assuredly, lead.
l.ut were they light attentions? With
all his calm. prosaic exterior, with all
the SOLDERING influences of his most un-
romantic life, enough of his own youth
yet lay-buried, but not dead in the
wears heart to enable him to estimate
look of genuine honest passion at its
real worth. And such look he be-
lieyed that he had now seen in Clifford
Mohuns eyes!
"If Miss Lynch would really not OBJ
ject to your going, Jane" he began,
rather basely. shifting the responsible
ity as quickly IS possible from bis own
shoulders: II suppose it would be more