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

can't!" she moaned. "Tll do It to-
morrow" She could not rem member, In
years, so weak a compromise offered
her conscience.
But she felt sense Of respite, al
most relief, once having decided, and
she recovered her composure enough
to go to her chamber and battle her
eyes While she was thus engaged
she heard knock. 1T is he," she
said quietly; well, the sooner the bet
ter"
1t was he; he had come earlier than
he expected, he explained; he was
most grateful for Miss Wings kind
message He looked like his uncle, as
the members of a family will look
alike. He was not so tall; he was not
so handsome. Perhaps most people
would call him more graceful. And
his English was faultless; he must
have spoken it from his childhood. In
the midst of his first sentences, be- p
fore they had permitted him to take
chair his eyes travelled past Miss
Wings face. She perceived that he
saw the picture; she knew that she
grew pale; but, to her amazenent,
calm like the calm which had wrapped
her senses on the day of her finding
the picture, closed about her again.
II beg pardon?" said he.
"Yes, that Is Count Won Buffers por.
trait" said she, In clear voice, with.
out emotion. He was not so COM
posed. Then 1t was you," he said.
Following her example, he took
chair and looked earnestly at the pic
tured face. when Miss Raimund
spoke Of you SO warmly, l noticed
that the name was the same, and !
determined to inquire, but 1t seemed
to me unlikely. Yet 1t Is. Miss Wing,
I have a message to you, from my un.
cle."
II was with him when he died"
That was a strange thing to hear
when the message of his uncle's death
had come to him In another country;
she hoped that her brain was not 60
ing to play her false.
1T was fifteen years ago last July,
you know. | never knew how many
details you received, or only the bare
fact in the papers"
Fifteen years! fifteen years! What
was that date he was giving? That
was the day on which she sailed for
America, the day after-what was that
story he was telling Of visit and
fire and a child rescued and an ac
cident? But still she listened with the
same iron composure. The nex'
words she heard distinctly.
"It was like him to lose his life
that way; and he did not grudge It
Yet 1t was hard that should be the
only one of his blood with him. He
could speak with difficulty when ne
told me to take lock Of hair and hls
sisnet ring to you. He dictated the
address, himself, to me. You must be
sure and take it, he said. 1T Is to
the lady that hoped would be my be-
trothed; you must tell grandmamma
about 1t, too. She has my picture ana
she knows-but tell her-and then,
think his mind must have wandered
ing, I'll tell her myself and then the
doctors came. He said nothing more
only once, they told me, he murmureo
something about his betrothed. But
had the ring; he took it off his hngel
and kissed it and gave 1t to me. Chlo
as I was, l knew that 1t was sacred.
wrapped it in the paper, and a1ter
ward | put the lock Of hair beside It
So soon as | could, I went to He1det
berg, to the pension. You had gone
and there was no address, no trace
81 left my address with the coun'
tess"
"My aunt is dead" said the young
German gravely. "I would not criti
cize her, but she had her own choice
of wife for my uncle; | do not think
one could trust her with addresses.'
1--WE all gave ours to her to give to
Frau Muller"
THAT is why, then, could not find
you. My grandmother also tried. But
you were gone. l thought OF the
banks, long after, but | found noth'
ing. Often it has seemed dreadfui
that you should learn Of this only
through the papers. But I could not
tell whether-anything When l came
to America, confess it was always IN
my mind l always carried my un'
cle's little packet with me. l will
have 1t sent to you"
Excuse me-" said Miss Wing gent
". will you please bring me the
glass Of water-I-am afraid can't
walk to It,"
But she would not let him pour the
water on his handkerchief to bathe
her head. She slipped the water, and
very pale, but quite herself. brought
him back to his own matters. Sne
found that 1t was cousin, miscalled
an uncle, in the German manner, VINO
had died. It did not seem to her that
Maxs nephew could be unworthy OF
any girl; yet she conscientiously ques'
toned him regarding his worldly al
fairs, for Florence was an only daugh'
ter whose father had great possess
sions and a distrust Of adventursrs'
and at last she sent him forth to walk
in the grove with his sweetheart.
"And speak to her." she said, with q
look that sank into his heart; 1T 10
the American way; don't walt TO
write, the American way is best"
So, at last, she was alone. Alone
with her lover who had always been
true; whose love many waters could
not quench, and 1t was stronger than
death.
She never touched the picture, save
reverently to dust 1t, to take 1t down
when she went away, to replace 1t IN
it's station when she returned. But now,
hll1chino aha fl0E