Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-04-03

make your nose itch so. There's
opium"
There isn't a grain of opium in
them," sobbed Mrs. Darter. "You
know I always hated opium or NOR
phine or anything Of the sort; and
doctor told me she wouldn't give the
wicked drug. That's what Ida
Glenn much as told me; much as told
me, too, that was putting on and
wasn't real sick; and told her
oh.h-h!-I told her-if she considered
me-that sort of woman she must feel
awful bad to-oh.h-h!-to have her
only child marry my daughter: and
-I-thought -Oh-h! wuh-h-! how aw-
full sick ami"
"You told Mrs. GLENN" prompted
Emmy, flame in either cheek.
Il told her that-sss! sss!-I
thought the sooner that engagement
was broke the better it would be for
-u.r-r-r!-all concerned-e-hee! ee-e!
ee-e-e-e! Oh my head! my head! Oh,
| got to scratch my nose again. You
amt rubbing the right place."
And what did Mrs. Glenn say?"
asked Emmy. A ripple ran over her
face, and she swallowed before she
spoke.
"She said you wouldn't give Albert
up, real spiteful. Ah-rr-r! Oh, am 80
sick! said you would ruther than
have your mother SO insuted-and II
you don't guess I'll give up trying to
live. She was so topping. Much as
telling me it would be better for my
own child II l died. Oh dear; oh
dear! oh dear! And Albert looked as
cross last night"
did Albert come last night?"
"Yes, he did. You needn't jump out
Of the chair! l told him you wasn't
home, and you had gone out to the
Collins spring He said when would
you be home, and l said I didn't
know. And he went off mad. Oh-h!
oh-h-h! jimmy says Carrie March says
she saw him downtown riding on his
bicycle with Susan Baker. O-h-h-h-h!
II guess III go make you some cof-
fee, mother" said Emmy; you need
It,"
The girls self-control was like tin
der to the woman's fire. Mrs. Darter
iared out: You needn't make any
coffee. | won't drink 1t. What's more,
won't eat one bite until you promise
me to break with Bert Glenn-not II
starve to death! II you're willing to
let those Glenns insult me and tri.
umph over me, amt willing to live
to see It," Her feeble accents shrilled
to a scream, as she flung out her arms
with reminiscence OF the behavior OF
her favorite heroines in novels. Go,
Emmeline Darter, marry him If you
dare; but you will pass to the altar
over your only mothers gravel" She
had a confused sense that her syntax
had played her false and that she had
not gotten the words precisely right;
but she covered any embarrassment
by sinking back and moaning.
Emmy looked at her with mount
Ing terror in her heart. She told her
self that 1t was impossible that her
mother could carry out such hideous
threat; but she knew that mucilagt.
nous obstinacy which had not place
firm enough for a reason to get hold.
And she won't want to eat, either
mused Emmy, wretchedly, "for that
nasty medicine has made her awful
sick. She's got fever now; that
will burn away her strength. And II
1t comes to a choice between letting
my mother starve and giving up Bert,
l shall have to give him up"
Emmy sprang out of her chair. The
thought was like lash on raw
wound.
She ran to the window; 1t seemed
to her that she couldn't breathe; and
her mothers whimpering irritated her
past patience. She knew If she spoke
that she would let the bars down for
her anger, and If she were angry her
mother would be upset physically, and
grow SO much worse that she would
feel like a murderer. She felt the
goading of that furious petulance
which torments a woman often into
sacrificing herself out OF very anger.
1t was on her tongue to say. "I'd rath'
er die myself than give up Bert, and
you know 1t; and I'll never forgive
you as long as live, but rather than
see you die before my eyes l Will give
him up"
Yet at this very instant Of despair
a minister of grace was lifting the
latch of the Darter gate, and Emmy
was unconsciously eying her. The
minister OF grace was short Of stature
and very plump. She had round,
fair, freckled face, which looked the
rounder for its glittering spectacles.
Her hair was yellowish gray, but
she covered 1t with small white
sailor hat She wore neat brown
and white calico frock. To escape the
dew she held her skirts high; one
could see that her preference was for
black alpaca slippers and white cot
ton stockings. The minister's name
was Miss Ann Bigelow.
II really had to come!" she ex-
claimed 80 soon as she could take
breath. Have you heard about Mrs.
Conner spraining her ankle7"
Emmy, open the door!" moaned
Mrs. Darter from within her bedroom
adjoining the parlor. Emmy opened
the door, while she said: "Im 80 sor.
ry. When? How Is she?"
"Oh, she's all right now!" said Miss
Bigelow. "It's wonderful-a real MIR
acle, told sister. That's what
came to tell you. She sent over for
us, and there she lay, fat on the kitch.
en- floor. l began to treat her in my
mind the minute saw her, for l saw
she was in error All her word was:
Send for a doctor; it's sprained, II 1t