Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-06-11

and you speak as if wished to chahse
nv state. So much do the best OF men
know of wOmen"' she added mourn
fully. 80 much do you, after all these
wears. know of me! Why. sir, have
never had thought of such things. l
have never sought to be seen even, or
to meet any living man since the day
the day when Clifford left me; and now
that am young no longer, you speak 10
me of finding happiness in loving some
one but him! You meant well, MIR. FOL
lett. YOU meant well-but you don't
know me, even after all these years.
1t IS, doubtless. a good thing for a
man to escape being rejected; and Mr.
Follett's intense disappointment was,
doubt not, tempered by thankfulness
that Jane had never for moment sus-
pected him of speaking for hlmseit'
But her very blindness showed him the
more strongly in what light she viewed
him even IL her own indignant words
had not.sO plainly set 1t forth.
81 have never sought to be seen by
or to meet living man since the DAY
, that Clifford left me"
He, the Vicar Of Chesterford, classed,
palpably with Huntley, the married
doctor. or Mr.. Gillett Of the mill, or
any other aged man of the parish VINO
hanuened to wear 4 coat instead OF Il
gown! He felt horribly, intensely bit
ter towards her. He thought he hated
her. He thought her faithfulness TO
Clifford the obstinate, stiff necked fancy
of a fool. He thought her declaration
of il to himself indclicate, vain. heart
less: and, under the influence OF these
genial feelings. he broke out into the
following speech:
81 beg your pardon for what | have
said, Jane-I beg your pardon for be-
leving your heart to have the slightest
need of support or affection. AS you
iustlv say, YOU have never seen or been
seen by any one worthy to receive your
love since Mr. Mohun left. Fortunate
| ly, as you are so avcrse 70 the thought
| of marrying. YOU are now again to have
n neighbor from whom you will know
YOU have nothing but a friends regard
to fear Mr. Clifford Mohun Is coming
! back. Jane. I am here ut this moment
| for the express purpose Of telling you.
| Clifford MOhun is coming back to re-
cruit, if possible. some of his shattered
fortunes by living quietly at latton.
I hope you will pardon my uninten-
tional offcnse, now that | have given
you this exceeding good news of the
prOdigal's return"
AS he spoke a strange light came
across Miss GrandS face. She forgot
Mr.. Follctt. forgot that he had wound
cd her pride, that he was speaking
bitterly to her or speaking at all G1f-
ford was returning, the dream OF her
ifc-Giiford, broken ard weary, return
| ing to her-waS TO come true Her
ewes filled and sank to the ground; her
lips trembled: Il faint color rose up IN
her cheeks. For Il few moments the
years of heavy pain seemed lifted from
! her, and she was girl again, listening
at the little wicket for Mohun's step in
the twilight; n few moments, then she
remembered Mr. Follctt, and that II
she was going to shed any more foolish
tears of JOY it would BE- discreeter to
escape and sled them alone than to
weep here with him for an audience.
As she raised her eyes. however, fal-
tering out something about the sud
dennesS of the news and the way in
which it had ovcrmaStcrcd her she
found that she was already alone.
There are probably few men generous
enough to appreciate the charm OF
bushes called forth by thoughts of an
old lover Immediately after the rcjec-
ton of themselves: and the Vicar of
Chesterfield did not with all his vir-
tues, possess the supcrhuman qualities
requisite fer such self-abneGation lie
had turned abruptly away at the first
faint color that rose into poor James
delighted, GowncGst face, and at this
moment Qbitter at his own folly in hav-
ing spoken of love at all, bitter at Miss
Grand for her unwilling refusal of his
suit and trcbly bitter against himself
for his own last ungentrous speech to
herr was making his way back to the
vicarago fierce ana fast beneath the
sultry morning sun.