Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-07-09
JRMONr FREDERICK COUNTY Md, THURSDAY. JULY g. 1908

age had shone so warm and tranquil
in the bright March sunset! Her heart
beat nervously as she passed the parlor
window, but she was sensible Of in
tense relief, on entering the house, at
finding that Mohun's hat and stick
We're not in the passage. She. felt that
she could bear whatever she had got to
hear, better from Miss Fergusson's
own lips than from his; and. without
stopping to think, and so lose her new
ly-gained courage, she opened the sit
ing room door, and walked deliberately
in.
Upon a low stool before the fire with
her face bowed down between her
hands was Matty. She started r0und
rs the door opened, and being, sup
pose, off her guard, displayed fully a
face stained with tears. Tears from
Matty Fergusson's eyes were phenom'
ena Jane was wholly unprepared Tor;
and the sight of them softened her.
After all, the girl had not wilfully in
jured her. She was young; she was
acting only as she had been trained to
act: and something in Miss Grands
generous nature cried out that she had
been too hard upon her rival. ----.
"Matty," she had never called her so
before. II don't like to see you crying.
have been obliged to leave you to-day
had troubles of my own that l was
forced to escape from. Tell me what
YOU cry for, child, and If can l will
help you.'
And she bent forward and laid her
hand kindly on Miss Fergusson's shoul'
der.
But Matty, since she was two years
old. had lived "her hand against every
man''-suspecting every one, believing
no one, confiding in no one-not even
her own mother. She could understand
Jane Grand, cold, distrustful. jealous,
as she had known her hitherto; but
this countcrbound Of Il generous heart
this trembling hand, these softening
rycs from one who so lately had spoken
harshly of her, Miss Matty regarded as
tokens of the very dcadliest species OF
women's warfare-a masked battery
against which her own strongest de-
feuses must be brought to bear. No
doubt the woman wanted to worm a
confession from her, to be repeated
with additions land her undeniable
tears made much of TO Mohun to-mor'
row morning.
"There are such things rs tears OF
ioy, Miss Grand. / should have dried
nv eyes if had known you were COM
ing, but | never heard you till you
were in the room. 1t is very foolish,
but can't help it. am so happy to-
night"
Jane drew her hand back as though
II had been stung. She knew Matty
fears were not those Of happiness, but
she also knew what it meant thar
Matty should say so!
81 am glad you are happy, Matty,'
in fearfully trembling voice this III
is good for some one to be so In this
world, and you are very young, child
young to know as much of life as you
have known; and whatever cause it is
that makes you glad to-day l wish
Won ioy Matty, and hope your happi.
moss will prove true, and will abide by
you"
Whatever it cost her to say them,
those words did not come from James
heart. and yet she knew perfectly wen
that she was wishing this girl JOY ID
Mohun's love.
Matty looked up sharply into la viellls
files face, and little as she felt dis
posed to be confidential. something IN
tho expression of its quivering white
features touched her-as much as
Mattv FERGUSON could be touched!
For even in the children of such pco'
pie az Warren FERGUSON and his WIG
children who have run Wild amorS
the gamins of half a score OF CONT
mental citics-cven In natures of which
petty intrigue and sordid, selfish deceit
have become the daily meat-the COM
mon clements of human nature remain
very much the same, reader, as I'D
yours or mine.
Matty was ready to marry any gen.
tlcman possessing means sufflclent 10
keep her. Matty had played a bold.
unwomanly stroke to gain Mohun OF
Yatton. and rather disliking than lik.
ing him. had entangled him in an onef
fyyn hOlIl'S ago.
But Matty Ferguson also had been
in love; yes, in true, honest love, WIN
an exceedingly handsome, unworthy
personage, attache to one of the numer-
ous Russian ambassadors who were
wont to visit aden-Baden-the
"Alexis" Of her letter to her sister.
This Young Russian gentleman had
found the romantic passion Of the Eng
lish girl, or child, as he regarded her'
mn innocent refreshment for him in the
intervale of roulette playing ana tne
hundred other distractions of Baden
life. In her shabby little frock. barely
reaching to her ankles, Matty Fergus
son haunted him as he took his break
fast in the MONDAY shade of the Con-
versatlons- -Haus Gardens. haunted him.
Jealous and miserable, when he walked
abroad after dinner with the grandes
danes of his acquaintance, whose
sn,endid dresses made her, In her poor,
mean frock, look and feel more than
ever like a beggar; haunted him on
his way to the theatre. to the casino,
haunted him everywhere. Matty. at
this epoch, was in the transition state
from childhood to womanhood, lanky,
awkward, large-eyed, freckled, and al
together fortunately for herr not near
,well-looking enough for the count to
dream of taking the trouble OF falling
in love with her. But to man OF the