Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-04-30
CHAPTER vi.
Continued.


"No, auntie. only wish you would
not look so pale and nervous, and that
you would say just one cheerful word
to me. l have told you how gener'
ously Clifford has determined to put
I'D with my want Of birth; and vet
still you speak as though my visit to
Mr.. CHthero was to be thing of life
and death. If am determined never
to be ashamed of my own dead par.
ents, and il Clifford is determined that
I shall be his wife, however lowly my
birth, I cannot see that there is any.
thing for you to look so utterly miser.
able about"
"Keep to these words, Jane! Never
be ashamed of your own dead parents!
If all the rest of the world-Gifford
Mohun himself-turns from you on
their account, remember what you
have said. You will never be ashamed
of themw
"Gifford Mohun will never turn away
from me"'
She rose from the low stool where
she was sitting at Miss Lynch's side,
took n tiny packet from her breast;
then went and examined 1t, long and
curiously, by the lamp OIL the centre
table.
"Come here auntie. I have some.
thing to show you-something very 81.
cred and precious, that Clifford gave
me to-day"
AS she stood, with half-turned neck
the lamplight shining full on all the
lovely curves of throat and chin-her
ewes in shadow and downcast-one dell
cate bare arm uplifted to the light
as she stood thus she would have been
q fitting subject, without need of ideal.
ization, without change of attitude or
of detail, for one of Greuze's most
delicious pictures. Even Miss Lynch's
familiar eyes saw q beauty in her
never seen before until this moment
thd pathetic beauty Of thought and
passion first deepening, with shade
of womanhood, that most passionless
and child-like face.
"He has wished to give me jewels,
auntie, and would have none of them,
Jewels are not wanted for me as long
as I am Jane Grand. But last night,
when he rode to Houghton, he bought
oh, auntie! l scarce like even to tell
It you-he bought my wedding ring,
and he gave it me this evening"
"Janew
To have heard that Mohun had that
evening broken off the engagement
would hardly have occasioned Miss
Lynch a greater shock. The indelicacy
of any young woman's holding posses.
sion of her own wedding ring before
marriage would, at any time, and for
another person, have been her primary
idea; but now-on the eve of the most
important day of James life-a day
when the girls whole future prospects
should hang suspended by so fearfully
fail a thread-all she thought of was
the presage of evil which, according
TO her creed, such a gift betokencd.
"You should have given it back to
lin, child!-you should scarce have
looked at It! Your wedding ring-and
your marriage day not fixed-your mar
riage dress not made! Mr.. Mohun
must be mad. l never knew such q
thing done but once, and that was by
two poor, foolish young creatures like
you and Clifford, and"
"Well, and what came Of the Ill
omened act?" interrupted Jane, laugh
ing.
Miss Lynch paused.
MISERY and death, and worse than
death, came of it, child! The bride
groom went out of his mind the night
before the wedding should have been
and the bride wore the ring, not on her
hand, but on her heart, until the day
she died."
"As should do with this If anything
broke off my engagement to Clifford,
said Jane, in her calm, steady voice
81 ar1 not afraid of omens, auntie. God
will not have Clifford less in His charge
because I have this little bit of gold
in miner