Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-06-25

to take up her quarters at Chestertord
for the rest of the SUMMER
"Oh, Clifford, hush! she is here!
cried Jane, nervously, as the sound OF
a remarkably unabashed voice made
itself heard in the passage.
"Let the heavy boxes remain here
for the present. Well, l am glad to
think she feels so much at home; but
she really must have brought great
deal of unnecessary luggage for visit
of only week"
And then the parlor door opened, and
James solitary maid servant the Grace
of old days. announced. with great per-
turbation, the name of Miss Ferguson;
and there was a sweep of volumln0us
draperies, and rustling of rich silk,
and Jane Grand found herself in the
presence of the poor penniless girl
whom she intended to befriend.
Possessed by the one great thought of
carrying out a promise of Gifords'
Miss Grand had not troubled herself to
speculate upon whether the nursery
governess presumptive would be good
looking or not. Mohun had dim recol-
lection of freckled children, with torn
frocks and reddish hair. running wild
about the Baden streets: and was pre-
pared for a plainish, shabby gentcel
young woman, who should be clad in
rusty black. and express her gratitude
and good principles through her nose.
1t is. therefore, no exaggeration to
state that they were both Of them liter
ally startled by the vision that now ap-
peared before them, radiant, blooming,
composed. in the ruddy light Of the fire.
Mohun sprung to his feet and stepped
back from the hearth, just as he might
have done had the new arrival been his
own Lady Sophia Of six years ago, not
Mrs Fergusson's daughter: Jane took
in at a glance every point of beauty in
the beautiful woman before her, and
felt that she herself was old. faded,
dOwdy; that this girl was lovelier than
she had been in the fairest hour of her
youth: also--instinct added to this
that she had committed horrible and
irretrievable error in bringing such
person to her house, and to the ac.
1aintance of Clifford Mohun.
Miss FERGUSON was tall and stout;
with head splendidly set on the shou'-
ders. a step light and firm as Il Paris
ian market woman's. and foot and
hand that, for a person upon so large
scale, We're certainly models of beau
ty. Mohun, of course. could not sec
every small detail as quickly as poor
Jane: but he saw brilliantly rose and
white face of eighteen, dazzling teeth,
profusion of undulating rtd-brown
hair, great dark eyes looking full into
his and the queenly stature and light.
elastic step aforesaid. He came for
ward, and for him made quite well
turned speech about the pleasure he
felt in renewing his acquaintance will,
his poor old friend Warren Fergusson's
daughter
"Ah, poor papa! remember you so
well. sir. You gave me five francs once
In the Litchtenthal-yes. indeed you
did"-and all the time Jane sees she
holds Mohun's hand fast-"and tolG
me to buy flowers with it for my little
sister who was sick. All, now | ace
every feature for Grace, still awed
out of her breath by the width and
stiffness of Miss Fergusson's skirts,
had at this juncture brought in the
lamp)-"I see every feature | remem-
ber so we'll Oh. Mr.. MOlun. | hope
you will forgive me for writing. l
couldn't help it, sir, when | found my
self so near, and thought-thought OF
all my poor papa used to say about
your great generosity
Something that did duty for emotion
here shook Miss Ferguson voice. Gift
ford held her hand rather closer. and
Jane-feeling singularly cold and un-
impressed at the whole touching scene
gave token of her existence by lit
tie deprecatory cough.
"Let me introduce you to Miss
Grand" said Clifford, dropping the
girls hand in moment. and turning
TO Jane: "my kind friend. Miss Grand,
who was good enough tony wishes
-" and then, seeing he could say moth
ing agreeable. without positively tell
ing an untruth to Jane, he broke down
altogether; and the women were left to
press each others hands. and make
speeches of amiability, as even the
,;. 10 IN nf tho
know how to do on occasion. Jane
feared that Miss FERGUSON must have
felt it cold. Miss Ferguson had found
it impossible to be cold in that charm-
ing, delightfully."- warm wrap which
Miss Grand had so kindly sent in the
carriage. Miss Grand supposed Miss
FERGUSON had never been in his part
of the country before? Oh, dear, no,
never: but it looked snch lovely seen
ery-this Is, If 1t had been light enough
TO see anything of it! And would Miss
FERGUSON like to come at once and
take off her wrap before tea? And
Miss Ferguson. with look at Gif-
ford, would like it very much indeed.
And then they went away upstairs.
smiling and chattering as If they had
been friends for years; and Clifford
was left alone to think over his sur
prise and his rather pleasant prospect
of having Mrs. FergussOn's daughter
to firt with for the ensuing eight
days.
Miss Ferguson was delighted with
the staircase, and delighted with the
bedroom; in none of which places was
there standing room for about one-half
of her silks and fiounces at time; and
..,l.,, .i,. to5 In III c;do hnr rich pIopp-