Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-03-27


asked for nothing. 1t ia not too much
to say that the spectacle Of that gen.
tie and reticent faithfulness was tho
strongest element in the school at
mosphere. Certainly. because Of 1t,
Miss Wing had greater power over
her scholars. She was woman Of
ability and gentle force; by nature a
little aloof, little precise, able to
feel deeply, but not able to express
her sympathies or her pain. Without
her mysterious sorrow, she would
have seemed to young girls thought
too admirable; they would have been
chilled by her virtues: but as 1t was.
their perception that she had lived
deeply, that she haG suffered, that she
had been loved and had loved eternal
ly, opened their hearts. They would
have admired her, now they adored
her. BY degrees. and insensibly to
herself, she became the confessor Of
her little world. After they left school.
her girls brought her their perplexities
of the heart.
Today, however. Miss Wing sat be-
fore the picture which 80 many young
eyes had studied with such vague, yet
ardent, sympathy, and pondered over
confidence that had not come. The
lack Of its coming hurt her; and the
tap on her door was welcome, for she
thought, 1T Is she-coming to tell me.
Oh. hope he is the right man."
At her response the door swung
open with a jerk, and the darkeyed
girl who entered was catching her
breath, although she tried to make the
quick intakes noseless. There was a
look Of pale resolution on her features.
Have you come to let me congrat.
ulate you, my dear?" said the princi,
pal, rising. The girl colored scarlet.
I've come because had to, because
couldn't deceive you." she blurted.
Miss Wing, it isn't 80. l let Miss
Parker think 30; but I'm not engaged
to him"
"Sit down, dear" said Miss Wing.
The soft cadence Of her voice did not
roughen. She sat down when her guest
sat, and leaned back in her desk chair,
folding her slim, white hands. There
were flashing rings on her hands; and
the girls used to wonder which ring
Max" had given her. They favored
the sapphire, set between two dia.
monds, because Of its beauty Ga real
Cashmere, you know"), and because.
whether she wore other rings or not,
this always kept its place.
Nov, tell me-" said Miss Wing.
81 had letter from him this morn.
ing; 1t was just note in one Of Helen
Grier's"-the girls 1.-the form was
erect in the chair, every muscle tense;
she looked past Miss Wing to the wall
and spoke in toneless voice; no one
could see that she was driving straight
on to her purpose, over her own writh'
ing nerves-'all he said was that he
had been called back to Germany"
"Is he German? Miss Parker said
his name was Cutler"
1T is Butler" the girl said, flinging
her head back. while spark crept in.
to her liquid. troubled. dark eyes, but
he is a German. Don't you know the
Buffers in 'Wallenstein?' You know
he was a real man; and he founded
family. He-my-my friend is the
Count Won Butler" Miss Wings chair
like other desk chairs, was set on
pivot; she turned very slightly and
slowly, at the same time resting her
elbow on the desk. The girl ventured
a timid glance at her, and thought
that she looked sterner, wherefore her
heart sank; but she only continued
the faster: "He isn't in America just
to travel; he was sent by his govern.
ment to watch the Cuban war. He's
very brave: and he isn't bit like
foreigner and hasn't any nasty super.
cilious notions about women. Mr..
Grier says he has future. And real
ly, Miss Wing, he is just like a-a-a
kind Of knight"
Where did you meet him2"
AT Helen's last summer. And he
was going out to Minneapolis to see
papa, II think. But he got cable
OF his uncle's death. And his two lit.
tie cousins died last year; 30 now he
is the head of the family; and he must
60 to Germany at once. For his father
is dead, you know. So he wrote Tin
Helens letter, because he Is $3.50
awfully properly asking to let him
come here and take me to drive-in
the American fashion. l know who
put him up to that scheme; 1t was
Helen. had to ask Miss Parker, be-
cause you were out; and she said If
he wasn't relation or the man was
going to marry couldn't go. OF
course, If he were the man you expect
to marry she said, and-ahd II said,
But he isl Just like that. l can"
fancy how l came to say such a
thing, but when 1t was said l didn't
know how to explain; and | was 80
awfully ashamed; and, besides
lifted her eyes in the frank and direct
gaze that Miss Wing always liked
besides, do want to see him."
And do you expect him to ask you
to marry him?" said Miss Wing. with
a deepening of the color on her cheek,
which went out suddenly like the
fame Of a lamp In the wind.
Florence Raimund blushed again,
but this time she laughed: "I don't
know. He is 80 awfully proper" said
she, "and he hasn't had a chance to
ask papa; butt think he wants to-"
"In that case, isn't he the man whom