Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-05-14

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1t was most possible for him to enact
, with self-respect-the part of an in-
jured man who was following a stern
law of duty in sacrificing feeling and
giving up his engagement A stronger
mind than Mohun's must have seen
through the tender subtleness, and
have refused to be sheltered from the
shame of its own decision by her; but
he was ready, at all times, to acquiesce
I'm whatever made the disagreeable part
of any position fall lighter on himself,
And seeing this, Jane thrust her own
grief out of sight, and, with the shnst-
ly mockery of self-possession that
comes to the despairing heart at its
worst, she played the dreary comedy
out; and with her own hands, so to
speak, laid the funeral cloth decently
over the face of her own dead love.
Women perform these last offices well;
tenderly for the living, as well as rev.
erently for the dead. Mohun was
softened to tears under the influence
of her humble, gentle words, and in
his softened mood said things that
James heart drew its life from during
a great many years Of her own future
life. He did not, of course, seek to
swerve from the cruel duty that was
before him; but he invented as many
softening untruths about the future
as his not very imaginative brain could
compass. He would not marry, he
would not love again, he should be al
ways James devoted friend-and 1t
would be far too painful, too miserable,
for them to be together now, with all
the old love so fresh in their memories,
but-after he had been away from
YattOn q year or so-he would come
and hope still to find that Jane kept
some place for him in her regard.
81 shall always love you," was Miss
Grand's answer to his longest perora.
ton on the subject Of fidelity. 81 shall
always love you"
Not a protcstation more.
! 1t is remarkable how few words peo-
pie use when they know that they
mean to keep them.
/ And Clifford stayed on-staycd on I'm.
til he was half frightened to find how
very near love-making their broken
words, and long regrets, and parting
promises had become; then, for fear of
fresh ENHANCEMENT, he rose suddenly;
and Jane knew that her hour had
come!
T-I-shall come to see you again
before leave Yatton," he stammcred,
wishing to avoid direct leave-taking by
the old subterfuge common on such oc.
casions. "Miss Grand-Janc. before |
60 tell me that you wholly forgive me"
II forgive you wholly, Clifford. You
act as every one in your position must
act. Don't think, please, if you hear
am not happy, that you have been the
cause. l shall do all l can to bear up,
and | hope-I mean l shall try to hope
that some day | could bear to see
YOU at Yatton, married to some one
worthier of you than 1 should have
been"
The simple, truthful words, the low,
ing, faithful eyes, pierced even Clifford
Mohun's conscience to the quick.
II shall never find any one to love
me as you have done, Jane! l shall
never love any woman on earth as !
have loved you!'
And he took her to his heart and
While her tears were quite dry-wept
hot tears, that more and more con
vinced him of the nOblencss of his own
nature, and of the immense sacrifice he
was making to principle in giving up
at once, and without murmur, his ul'
tcnabe passion for her. Most persons
of the Clifford Mohun temperament are
profoundly overcome by witnessing the
outward and visible signs of their own
emotions.
When the actual moment of parting
came, Miss Grand drew from her
breast, very calmly, the ring Clifford
had given her-the ring which she al
ready wore hung by piece of black
ribbon around her neck.
Il shall wear this till the day you
are married. Clifford! lf-if any fault
of ours had broken off our engagement
| should have sent it back to you, but
feel we are separated by something as
solemn as death-and think it will be
a comfort to me to keep my ring for
the present"
And then there We're few more pro,
testations upon the side where such
! things were needed) a few more kisses
from the lips "that should never kiss
more;" and then Mohun found himself
walking alone in the fresh morning air
with the conviction that, all things con-
sdered, he had got honorably and well
out of most painfully difficult. posi-
ton; and Jane, staring blankly at the
four walls of the sitting room where he
had left her, knew that all youth and
happiness, all hope or motive in life,
had passed away, with him, out OF her
heart forever.
CJI prTER TN