Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-02-13

want to speak 10
you. Have you seen my brother
Xavier Of late?"
mo. Why?"
Then you know nothing Of his i'm
pending marriage?"
mot word Who is the fortunate
LADY,"
Don't joke; the matter Is serious.
| want your advice. and, Heaven
knows, probably your help. Some
thing strange has happened to him.
Within the last fortnight l had no.
ticed his haggard looks; and, after
questioning him several times, he
Informed me that he intended to mar
ry Mademoiselle Germaine E, a
girl barely eighteen; and he, as you
know, is forty-three. He refused to
enter into any explanations, and cut
my questions short with the remark
that he was compelled to marry her.
When, a few days later, once more
referred to the subject. he went away,
and have not seen him since"
81 am sorry for you." retorted. "but
Xavier il not the first man who makes
a fool of himself In that way. He is
very much of age. and probably very
much in love. therefore do not see
where l can be OF any use to you or
to him"
81 tell you there is a mystery about
this that scares me. Xavier's eyes
looked haunted; l never saw such an
expression on any ones face. For our
old friendships sake, find out what
Is at the bottom of It all"
my dear friend" retorted, there
is nothing in what you tell me to
show that your fears are justified;
but, since you appeal to our old
friendship, will see Xavier on the
matter"
had known Xavier for some years
He was a good-natured, easy-going,
Immensely rich fellow, who had idled
through life; he was interested IN
horses, but was too lazy and indolent
to have a racing stable.
was not long gathering a few in
teresting facts. For the last six
months, Xavier had ceased to frequent
his favorite club, and he, great
whist-player, had deserted the card
table. But a more alarming symptom
was that he had taken up spiritualism.
My next step was to learn what
could about Germaine E., the girl
Xavier intended to marry; and this
Is what l heard:
She was born in Vermont, OF French
parents, who had died, leaving her IN
charge of a poor farmers family. M.
E., her fathers brother a large
iron manufacturer In Toulouse, being
childless, wrote to these farmers to
say that he and his wife would adopt
the orphan; and the money for the
Journey from the United States hav-
ing been sent, Germaine, then In her
fourteenth year, arrived In France.
The girl was wofully ignorant, and un-
couth in her manner, but, being re-
markably intelligent, soon became
very accomplished.
Despite her brilliant qualities. her
uncle and aunt regretted having
adopted her. She showed herself
self-willed and headstrong.
For three nights l read works on
spiritualism, and when had crammed
into my head as much as 1t could con-
veniently hold on that subject. went
in search Of Xavier.
At one time could have found him
any hour Of the day; but with all
his habits changed, 1t was no easy
matter, and l dared not call at his
house for fear Of arousing his sus-
picion. discovered that every
Wednesday night he dined at little
restaurant near the Montparnasse
Station. I went there early and took
my seat in a quiet corner. 1t was
queer place, patronized by gentlemen
Of the spirit.rapping fraternity.
1t was getting late, and was be-
ginning to fear ! should miss Xavier,
when he came in and sat down at
table near me. He gave quick
glance around the room, but did not
recognize me. noticed a great
change in him. His careless express
sion had disappeared, and now and
then he would draw his fingers
through his hair. an action altogether
new to me.
Hello, old chap!" I called out to
him.
He turned around and stared at me
in surprise.
Hello, Goron, what brings you
here?"
We'll, to tell you the truth, / am
here on a rather queer errand. Come
with me to the cafe at the corner,
where we can talk. Perhaps you can
give me some information"
A quarter of an hour later, when
We were seated opposite each other, l
began:
What I am going to say to you
must remain between ourselves. Is
his understood?"
Perfectly"
The fact is I'm in bit Of fix
.'or the last three months ! have been
-. 4 L.. i-... un..lI