Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-07-23
But NV determination is fixed. Moth
ing shall make me live any longer in
ChnstnrfordW ~

But my determination is fixed. Noth-
ing shall make me live any longer in
Chesterford"
The vicar was silent; but even in that
dim light Jane could see that his face
turned fearfully white, and her own
heart throbbed faster.
"You say nothing, Mr.. FOllett. DC
YOU think my decision wise one?'
"Jane"-but she started at the agita.
tion of his voice-"will you let me tell
YOU what think?
"If you please
81 told you once before, you know,
but YOU could not hear me then-no,
Jane, you need not deny it, for indeed
YOU knew knew what words these
were I spoke. But once, the morning
that told you Clifford was coming
back, I spoke to you Of the possibility
of your loving any other man than
him. You know the answer that you
gave me?
II never understood you, sir!
never thought that you could mean"
"That at my age, would presume to
ask you to be my wife? Well, Jane. 1t
was even so, and you refused me; un.
consciously, but perhaps none the less
cruelty to me. for that. Now you know
why I haven't come near you much of
late. You know. and you forgive me,
Jane, will yOu:"
81 forgive? Oh, Mr.. Follett-oh. sir!
can you indeed care anything about me
still:"
81 care for you as have done for
the last dozen years. | love you so
much that ask YOU for the second
time, to be my wife. And now, Jane,
if You are going to refuse me again, do
it quickly!" He caught her hand-her
cold, trembling hand-and held it firm
ly, but with never the ghost of pres
sure in his. II am strong. child. Don't
fear to pain me. can bear all that
you have got to say
'I don't think am worthy of you,
sir. Remember whose daughter | am
remember | am growing old and faded
and worn! Mr.. Follctt, you should
look for some one Of better birthstone
one fuller of life and freshness than
poor Jane Grand"
81 remember whose daughter you are,
Jane" and so steady was the wears
voice that she knew he was not speak
ing out of the passion Of the moment,
but rather delivering an old and we'll
considered opinion. 81 remember whose
daughter you are, child l have re.
membered it ever since the time you
were six years old. But I know, too,
that every human beings life dies with
him-your fathers, Jane, or mine!
don't believe in any moral attainder,
any transmission of guilt. A mans
honor lies in his own hands; mans
dishonor can rise from his own deeds
alone. not from any heritage that
comes to him from another. For the
rest, know quite we'll what Jane
Grand is-how worn, how faded. how
old. Does Jane Grand love me!-that
is the only question whose answer II
concerns me to hear
"She does, sir. She loves you with
her whole heart She knows now that
she has loved you long
Very unlike heroine that class OF
human creatures never giving any re-
ply to the most momentous question OF
life except by monosyllable. too low
for any save the delicate ear OF love
to CATCH. But poor Jane was not n
heroine: only a supremely tender. and,
at length. a supremely happy woman;
and Mr.. Follett seemed so entirely con
tent. both with the substance and man
ner of her reply. that don't think any
outside spectator of the scene can have
a right to cavil at it.
"And YOU were not dreaming of Gif'
ford when l came in? And you were
not dreaming of him. or mourning. to
the last. over his approaching mar
rjage? Tell me true, Jane. l would
like to hear every syllable of the
truth"
81 was thinking of you, and of you
alone. Mr.. Follett. l was wondering
how YOU would take it when you heard
/ meant to go away from Chestcrford''
"And you will stop in Chesterford
now?"
81 believe so-but I will let Mr.. Mo-
hun have the cottage"
Two hours later, when the vicar was
preparing to leave, she united the baoE
ribbon from her neck and took from II
her wedding ring.
'I can send it back to him, you know,
Mr.. Follett," she remarked, after going
through all the story of that ill-omened
gift of Mohun's. "Some way 1t seems
to me like a remembrance left from my
own youth, not from him, and / feel II
would be hard to put 1t away now. But
I will do as you wish" she added
quickly; land if you will tell me- ]
will send it off to Cheltenham by to
morrow's post"
Send to Mr.. Mohun's hands the ring
that YOU have worn and made your
companion for seven years! Nay, Jane,
keep it, and look at it as often as you
will-so long as you wear my ring upon
your hand and my love in your heart!
The past is dead, child. / am moi
afraid that Mohun's first gift shall
bring it back too vividly from =
grave again."
This was all the vicar answered