Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-06-11

low ra1tereu pdrlOI-the S"ho P'N'
before him on the wall, the same china
bowl upon the shelf, the same volup-
tuOus sweetness from the Overnanging
tea roses without-all just as 1t had
been seven years ago, when lie used TO
sit here with his arm around Jane hour
after hour of those delicious summer
evenings of his youth. All as 1t Ead
been, except Jane Grand herself; ana
she-how fearfully changed!
During the first hour that they were
together Mohun could scarcely bring
himself away from one idea--the change
on James face. He had expected to see
her somewhat altered, of course, out
for a woman to have so utterly faded
at eight t-and-twenty, only his own age,
gave him a shock that was positively
painful. He had known many women
as fresh at eght-and-twenty as at
eighteen. or If not actually as fresh, as
charming in all the subtler graces or
matured and experienced beauty; ana
Jane looked all but middle-aged.
Perhaps Mr.. Mohun forgot what Jane
Grand's life had been during the last
seven years, the amount OF su1eflhs
she had gone through as compared
with that of the we'll wearing charm.
ing beings with whom he mentally
placed her at such disadvantage. For
a woman to look young long two things
are necessary-fr,t, an infantine mig
nonne of cast of features; secondly,
great capacity for feeling nothing
acutely. And Jane possessed neither
of these. Her fragile, oval face was
one sure, even in a far happier life
than hers had been, to lose its youth
early. The fine complexion OF her
younger days had alone saved her from
looking too frail and delicate even
when she was quite young Slrl, anu
this she had wholly and forever lost
within a very few days Of the ending
of her engagement to Mohun. She was
pale, more than pale, Notwithstanding
now. The blue veins were painfully
distinct upon her thin temples; faint
violet shade around her eyes gave them
an unearthly look Of Size and iuster;
her lips, so scarlet when Clifford kissed
them last, were colOrleSs and wan. Inc
seven years which had brought Mohun
TO the best stage of n mans life, to the
fullness of mature youth, had brought
Miss Grand almost to the confines OF
age.
81 am greatly changed, Clifford she
said to him once during the evening
"You never thought to find mo rs OLD
and faded as am?'
You are Jane Grand STILL said Gif'
ford. The daylight was quite gone
now, and in the trcmulous on-comIhs
Of night he saw only the dropping INES
IF figure. the soft-curved throat, the
delicate hands, which took him back
20 strongly to his boyish passion. "Jahe
Grand-morc to me, however changed,
han any other woman in the world.
She did not ask herself hy what
process his Indifference to others had
been attained. All that her heart
rreedily drank was the thought that
she was dear to him. was something
TO him still. The love story had re-
epened at much the same page as OF
old. Sitting together here in the twi-
light, Mohun was simply sensible or
romfort to himself, of peace. OF quiet
almost of freshness in this little silent
room, with the Odorous country ar
plnving on his face, and woman
however gone off who still adorcd him
at his side.
Jane felt only that the dream OF her
girlhoOd was clothed with flesh ana
blood once more. She was with Gir'
ford; Heaven had not remained for
ever deaf to her entreaties.
Yes, changed though they were in
some things. the story had reopened at
the same page rs of old-one loving,
the other submitting to be loved. II
was a page beyond which Miss Grand
was fated never to read rs long as Mr.
Clifford Mohun continued to be the hero
of her romance.
The time went on upon swift wings
that summer evening; and when III
length the lamp came in, Clifford began
to think he had too hastily passed Judg'
mcnt on James good locks Lamplight,
of course. suits all compilations, that
nvc not young and faultless, best; ana
then moor James face had become really
flushed with something like its old soft
color during the intense happiness OF
the last hour and half.
AS she poured out tea and brought 1t
to MOhun, just as she used to do when
she was n girl. he was struck with the
perfect which was, in truth, her
one inalienable charm-with the soft
fall of her plain black dress, her noise.
less step, her timid. pleading voice
more tmd, by far, than any OF the
much younger London voices he WAS
accustomed to. How would 1t be for
him to return TO his old. pure. uncalcu'
lating first love? give up the life he
had got so little of satisfaction and so
much of ruin out OF, and betake him.
self to the creature comforts Of calm
country domesticity, with this pale,
gentle, adoring woman for his slave?
The question really seemed capable
Of being answered affirmatively; and,
nfter a good deal Of preamble, Clifford
at last let Miss Grand know that 1t
was not utterly impossible for him to
entertain it,
"On revlent toujours!"-she was sit.
ting beside him in the old place by the
window again when Clifford began with
the stereotyped quotation for all such
cases-"on revient toujours! Jane, the
years seem as nothing since you and
saw each other last. have come back
suddenly upon my youth at its best.
Can't the old hopes come TO life again.
too?-the dear old hopes we shared