Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-02-01
ERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY y 1912.

Whu Is almost a total stranger and
who passed him on the stairs or en-
countered him at dinner with the
briefest and most formal OF saluta-
tions.
First, there were flowers. He pur-
chased prodigal box of them. Next
candy, plenty of candy, for did not
all girls like to nibble at chocolates?
Then music; Miss Marcy occasionally
played on the boarding house piano.
He invested in half dozen popular
songs, of varying degrees of inanity
and tunefulness. And, last Of all, he
bought book.
All, that book! 1t was volume OF
love and dreams and longings In
verse. He remembered 1t from his
childhood days. He had wanted to
possess copy, but never dared to
buy it, because 1t seemed incongru-
GUS for a man to care for poetry like
that. Yesterday it would have seemed
incongruous for Miss Marcy even
But in the light of that box of hand
kerchiefs, and all it's purchase i'm
plied-yes, "the little Marcy" would
like that book, he felt.
The tired actors and actresses came
troopng home. They whooped with
delight at sight of the blazing tree
and the heap of presents. Wraps were
tossed aside, Billy Cummins, the
comedian, by reason of age and au.
thority, assumed the role of Santa
Claus Never did he play part more
unctuously or alphabetically.
Burden watched the door furtvely
until Geraldine Marcy came in, head
held high, the unwonted color still In
her cheeks. There was little touch
of defiance in her manner to receive
the box of handkerchiefs. Burden
was afraid she would leave then, but
she was a plucky little thing. She
sat down, determined to stay until
the end.
When her name was called again, a
few minutes later, only Burden noted
the start of surprise. When the great
box of flowers was placed in her arms
ty the courtly Billy, there was little
clatter of applause. The actors, keen
of perception where sentiment is con-
cerned, saw something out of the
ordinary in the glance of misty bril-
liancy she turned swiftly on Burden.
AS for that young man, his heart
bumped suffocatingly for second or
two How did she know 80 quickly
and SO surely it was he who remem-
bered her? How pretty she was!
They encountered each other in the
hall when it was all over, and went
up the stairs together. With an
absurd sense of elation Burden was
carrying another copy of the book
he had bought for Miss Marcy. 1t
had been a wonderful evening-and
that was not the least wonderful fea-
ture of it-that she should not only
have known and loved the book, but
guessed unerringly that he knew and
loved it, too.
At the first landing she paused and
faced him. opposite her own door. SO
changed was she by the clear flush In
her cheeks and the happy light In her
eyes that Burden wondered He tried
to recall and could not how she had
looked in that mask of scornful,
weary Indifference, which was but
lonesomeness after all. Now she was
bright with the gayety which is girl
hoods heritage and very lovable.
81 can't thank you" she began;
"you have made this my happiest
Christmas in years. | have been
alone SO long left the old home
when my parents died and came to
the city-and I've been among stran-
gers ever since. And these" She
gazed down on the armful Of his
gifts.
1T was nothing-nothing," said
Burden, hurriedly. you've thought
of me- This book, now-I've always
wanted 1t, and l couldn't bring my
self to buy it," There was pause,
awkward on Burdens part. Then he
stumbled on. "Bv the way, believe
in giving ones self treat on Christ
mas. | have tickets for The Buc-
cancer tomorrow night-or rather,
tonight. Would you care to go?'
Miss Marcy did not speak; but she
nodded, while her eyes overhowed.
With sudden impulsive gesture she
hugged his gifts to her breast and
smiled through her tears at him.
"The little Marcy" whispered Bur-
den to himself, tenderly, as he went
up the stairs. His heart was singing.