Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-05-28

telC DerSeII 10 De SpeCluiiy ucSiSho"'
and of which an unkindly fate had
robbed her.
Happily for us all. the progress OF
one mortal disease impedes for the
time that of another-the heart has
only room for one great anguish Mt
time. In losing Clifford, Jane Grand
lost all; and the shame Of her own
birth seemed almost unimpOrtant In
presence of that overwhelming mis-
fortune which had laid her whole i'm.
mediate and personal happiness low.
Miss Lynch, who could understand
small passions better than great ones,
pronounced many eulogies over James
Christian submission to her new
knowledge, when the poor girl, IN
reality was not so much submitting as
feeling nothing. 1t was when all the
freshness was gone from her master
sorrow, when it had become, so to
speak, part of herself-of her daily
meat and drink-that Jane began to
think much of her own fearfully low
social position. And then she found.
almost with surprise, how very scant
the pity was that she had felt for her.
self. In her cutoff existence, without
husband or children or household in.
terests, it was really Of so very little
Importance whether she had inherited
honor or name of shame. What had
she to do with the hopes and fears,
and sweet ambitions for the future.
that alone could make such a heritage
n thing of vital Importance?
And so, existing rather than living.
months and then years (years which
would have been the best ones OF
James wOmanhoodD crept along. She
heard not infrequently of Mohun,
through indirect channels, during these
years; but he never wrote her single
letter, and-eXcept a day or two at
Christmas, when he came down to look
over accounts with his steward-hc
never visited YattOn. What she heard
of him was not news Of a very COLI
soling nature. Perhaps, under such
circumstances, it is difficult for any
news of the one who lives to be con-
soling to the one who mOurns and
vegetates. In the first place. and be-
fore their engagement had been brokeg
off a year, came word that Mr.. Mohun
was to be married in hot haste to an
earl's daughter. woman several years
older than himself, and who, even In
her youth, had never been the pos
SCISSOR of grace or beauty.
"He marries for rank" thought Jane.
Birth without love. sooner than my
paternity and such love as could have
given him"
And it took something from the bit
terness of the tears with which she
wept over her wedding ring to thinR
of the years of the woman on whose
marriage day she must put it from heI
breast: and that Clifford. although he
was going to take wife, had not for
gotten her enough to take to bis heart
another love.
The marriage was broken off-some
said by the lady. others, better Informed
fancy, by Clifford himself. Possibly his
pride revolted at the thought of the I'M
mense superiority of his wife's posi-
ton over his own; possibly his heart
revolted at the nearer prospect OF pos
sessing the face for whose ancestors
he proposed to sacrifice himself. Jane
of course, gave him credit for the lat
ter motive. 1t was so delightful tf
hope that the remembrance of her pre-
vented Clifford from being led ava!
(poor JaneD by any unworthier feeling
than love: and when the news came
that his engagement was definitely
over, her ring was consigned more
fondly than ever to its place of keep
ing. and Mr.. Mohun exalted, if pos
sible, to a higher pedestal than before
in her regard.
There was another report of his mar
riage in the following year. This tim'
the bride was young and pretty. onl!
daughter of rich city merchant; ant
this time, beyond all possibility o.
doubt. it was the brideelect hersel
who played Clifford false at the last
marrying her own first cousin. gen
tleman in Birmingham, whose income
exceeded by about six times that o
the heir of Yatton. And all who saw
| Clifford Mohun now declared his dis
gust and disappointment to be eX
tremely genuine; and he grew yer!
cynical indeed, people said, on the sui
+ ject of love and marriage and youn'
ladies' generally; and Jane Grand, wh'
| had this time laid aside her weddln;
ring during the heat Of the engage
ment, hung it submissively around he
neck again on the renewal of Mr.. Mo
huns freedom, and told Mr.. FOllett sh
, considered 1t very merciful thing tn
marriage had not taken place, for So
knew Gifford's sense of honor was IA
, too delicate for him ever to have beel
really and entirely happy with wifi
to whom he owed his wealth!
And after this there were no NOR
reports of Mohun's marrying; indeed
few reports of any kind about hin
which reached Jane Grand's ears
Once, only, at Christmas, when IL
came down as usual to Yatton TO
twenty four hours. she CHANGED to Sc
| his face through a cottage wlndov
as he was driving back to the station
and she then saw that he had altere'
much-his sunburnt, boyish face grow
pale and old before its time; and sh
wondered was 1t for love of her. or 70
the lady Sophia, or for the city heress
and said very long prayer for Gif
ford as she knelt at her bedside tha
night.
And this was the last Christina
when Mohun came down to settle &C
counts with his steward, and the oil
! house fell more and more out of repair
! and weeds grew over the garden wher
he and Jane had walked during tn