Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-04-30

ut is not a long story, Miss Grand
though I fear it will be painful one
for a daughters ears to listen to. But
for your engagement this disclosure
need not have been made; and we must
hope that the happiness OF the occasion
will be more than sufficient to counter
balance the inevitable suffering WHICH
you will have to bear
"I am ready to bear 1t. l am READY
to listen," said Jane, with her lips De-
ginning to look strangely pale and set.
"Only, as you say, don't let 1t be TOO
lopg-come to the point quickly, and go
back to tell me the particulars AFTER
ward"
81 knew scarcely anything of your
mother, Miss Grand" he began. "She
was of French origin. She gave up
her profession-of the stage-to become
your fathers wife, and died within
twelvemonth of your brth.'
A scarlet blush Of shame dyed Jane
Grand's face. A Frenchwoman-an ac-
tress! "Mr. Clithcro, what is the secret
that has been kept from me so long!
/ ought TO have been told sooner"
Her head dropped on her breast. she
thought of Clifford, and of Giford's
pride.
"Therc is nothing in your mothers
history for which a daughter need
blush" said the old lawyer, very SLOW
ly and distinctly. "Your mother was
not of good birth, nor was she an ac-
trcss of distinction. When | have said
that have said all. No breath was
ever whispered against Mademolseile
Grandet, either before or after the time
she became your fathers wife,"
A great sigh of relief broke from
James heart
And her lowly birth and her profess
sion are all of which need feel shame?
Oh, Mr.. Clthero! expected more than
this. l thank God that this is all the
burden we shall have to bcar!-Glf10ru
and l."
"Miss Grand, it is not all"
She looked at him with bcwildered
eyes.
"Not all? Yet you said no word was
ever spoken against my mothers good
name! Oh, Mr.. Clithero! what more
have / got to hear?"
He looked at the besccching, innocent
childs face, and for a moment-for one
moment-the old lawyers tongue hesi-
tated: then he said quickly, decidedly,
though in a voice so low that a person
standing at the further end of The room
could not have distinguished Il syllable
he uttered:
"My dear young lady, you have to
hear how and when your poor 1a'hcr
died. He was for many years. rs MISS
Lynch may have told yGI, the hcad
clerk of one of our great LONDON bank
ers, and during ell the earlier part or
his life he filled this position with the
utmost truth and integrity. 1T is not
FOR us to say by what insidious whisper
of ambition or cupidity temptation ErSt
tntcrs an honest mans mind; but
Miss Grand, such temptation did come
Mt last to your father. And he FELL
SEQ on, sir. DO not wait.
During a period Of three years your
father, wholly unsuspected by his en-
ployers, was laying up for himself that
miserable future Of which it is my
painful duty now to speak. The mo-
mcnt of detection and exposure came
at last. 1t was one of tie most sys-
tematic and we'll executed frau--
cases of dissmulation that have ever
occurred in this century; but the proofs
were too many. and too strong, to eS-
cape conviction. My dear young
lady, you may guess the rcst."
81 guess nothing. desire to be told
in plain words"
"You. my dear Miss Grand, you Qlis
little motherless child were the one
good thing to which your poor fathers
heart clung to the last. About SIX
months before-bcforc the discovery OF
which | have spoken took place-he
came to me one day and told me that
he had executed a decd Of gift, making
over the sum of eight thousand pounds
to his cousin, Miss Lynch, and myself,
which sum we were to hold i'll trust
for you, then a child Of about three
years old. | cannot say that the cir
cumstances awakened 10 suspicion in
nv mind, for eight thousand pounds
seemed to me Il large sum of money
for your father to be able to make over
out Of his capital, especially as he was
ut that time living in style very far
beyond what l conceived his yearly sal
orv allowed of. However, my opinion
had not been sought in the matter; the
deed of gift was executed before L
knew of its existence, and, as an old
friend of your fathers family, l felt
It impossible to decline the trust. BY
that deed, Miss Grand, your father
foreseeing the coming dark future but
too well-by that deed your father Sc
cured the comparative comfort OF your
life. When the evil hour came upon
him, he knew, at least, that you, his
young child, did not wholly share his
ruin"
81 understand" said Jane, in voice
whose unnatural composurc was more
startling to Mr.. Clithero than any OF
the natural violent agitation which he
would have looked for as natural from
young and sensitive woman-"l un-
derstand what money 1t is have lived
upon! Have l more to hear-or is this
all?"
"All, my dear Miss Grand! He be-
gan to fear that she had not thoroughly
understood him. eyes, this is alex
cept the particulars Of your fathers
! DEATH"
"Let us hear them"
"He scarcely lived two years after
he left this country. He was never
strong, and the hardshlps of such
life as he had to go through were to
him simply death. At the time Miss