The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-06-12


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 ll'ie
Importance whether she had inherited
honor or name of shame. what mao
she to do with the hopes and FEARS
and sweet ambitions for the future
that alone could make such a heritage
a thing of vital Importance!
And so, existing rather than living
months and then years years "hlcn
would have been the best ones OIL
James womanhooO crept along. she
heard not infrequently of Mohun'
through indirect channels, during these
wears; but he never wrote her single
letter, and-except day or TWO az
Christmas. when he came down to look
over accounts with his steWard-he
never visited Yatton. What she hearu
of him was not news of very COLI
soling nature. Perhaps under SUCH
circumstances, it is difficult 1of any
news of the one who lives to be con-
soling to the one who mourns anu
vegetables. In the first place, and De-
fore their engagement had been broken
off = wear. came word that Mr.. Mohun
was TO be married in hot haste to an
earrs daughter, woman several years
older than himself, and who, even III
her youth had never been the pos
SCISSOR of grace or beauty,
"He marries for rank" thought Jane.
ssBirth without love, sooner than my
paternity and such love as l could have
given him"
And it took something from the bit
terness of the tears with which she
wept over her wedding ring to think
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 his heart
another love.
The marriage was broken off-some
said by the lady. others, better Informed
l 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 t.
hope that the remembrance of her pre-.
vented Clifford from being led away
(poor JaneD by any unworthier feeling
than love: and when the news came
that his enga cement was definitely
over, her ring was consigned more
fondly than ever to its place CT keep
ing. and Mr. Mohun exalted, if pos
sible, to higher pedestal than before
in her regard.
There was another report of his mar.
riage in the following year. This time
the bride was young and pretty. onl!
daughter of rich city merchant: and
this time, beyond all possibility OF
doubt. it was the bride-elect herself
who PLAYED Clifford false at the last
marrying her own first cousin, gen
tleman in Birmingham, whose income
exceeded by about six times that OF
the heir of Iatton. And all who saw
Clifford Mohun now declared his dis
gust and disappointment to be eA'
tremely genuine; and he grew ver5
cynical indeed. people said, on the sub
ject of love and marriage and young
ladies generally; and Jane Grand, whC
IoI loiI
ring during the heat of the engage
ment, hung it submissively around her
neck again on the renewal of Mr.. Mo
huns freedom, and told Mr.. Follett she
considered it very merciful thing the
marriaga had not taken place, for s:e
knew Gifford's sense of honor was fal
too delicate for him ever to have beer
really and entirely happy with wife
to whom he owed his wealth.
And after this there were no more
reports of Mohun's marrying; indeed
few reports of any kind about him
which reached Jane Grand's ears
Once, only. at Christmas. when he
came down as usual to YattOn fol-
twenty-four hours. she CHANGED to see
his face through a cottage window
as he was driving back to the station
aud she then saw that he had altered
much-his sunburnt, boyish face grown
pale and old before its time; and She
wondered was it for love of her, or fol-
the lady Sophia. or for the city heiress'
a I'd said a very long prayer for Glf.
ford as she knelt at her bedside that
night.
And this was the last Christmas
when Mohun came down to settle ac.
counts with his steward, and the old
house fell more and more out Of repair
and weeds grew over the garden where
he and Jane had walked during the
summer nights Of their brief engage
ment, and all the care bestowed upon
Aatton by its owner was the Telling
yearly of much timber to supply bin
with ready money for the payment OF
his continually increasing debts.
To be contiuuedJ