Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-12-18
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LAURE'S SCAPEGRACE
Bv ,zoLA FORESTER.

ascending pillar Of smoke above the
trees and carried the news back to
the village.
Anybody come on the night train,
Waltz" she asked the express agent
at the little wooden depot.
Walt recalled two, but they were
village people. He listened to her
news with a shreWd smile.
Guess they must have run up IN
a machine. Which one would we rain
er 1t was, Laurie?"
Laurie flushed, and tossed her head
in much the same way as the mare dld
when she was restive. AS though she
cared which one came up to the
Lodge She knew what Walt meant.
For two summers, and In the long
hunting season, both of the Gregory
brothers had made no secret or thelr
reason for coming up to the Lodge
1t was not the deer that led them, nor
the partridge and quail 1t was Laurie
Carrolton.
When she reached her own home
horse stood at the gate, unhitched. IL
raised his head, whinnering to Yer
mont Belle. Very deliberately Laurie
slipped down to the stable door
Standing within was Emmons Gregory
talking to her young brother.
Its so mighty good to see you
again, Laurie" he said, taking both
her hands In his. She drew them
back.
II saw the smoke above the trees
and knew someone was there
And you wished it was not me.
Under the bantering tone there was
an underlying touch Of bitterness
Il didn't wish at all. l only won
dered who was there"
Malcolm is with me and few of tn"
men servants. We expect more the
end of the week Will you ride wlth
me along the river road after lunch?
1t was on the tip Of her tongue to
say no, but Hardy forestalled her
He was only eighteen but he stood
two inches above Gregorys head.
Mother wants YOU Laurie" he said
with a side glance at his sisters face,
I'm sorry, Mr.. Gregory, but |
can't"
"You mean you wont" His tone
was almost rough. Shall send Nal
colmn down."
"You can both keep away" Hardy
spoke up suddenly, his face darkenlnH
with quick. boyish anger. whats II
7 ~; hot n
when you get past the cub age
you will understand that the issue lies
with her, not you, lad" smiled back
Emmons, with aggravating courtesy.
He raised his cap to Laurie, and went
out to his mount Laurie stood watch
ing him ride up the road.
Something in her quiet face, and the
expression of her dark eyes checked
Hardy's hilarity.
mo, | don't, not specially, but you'd
better keep out Of 1t, dear. l can
managed them both"
You'll have your hands full, then"
grumbled Hardy.
She smiled then at his emphasis
but during the next few days his
words, boyish and crude as they were
came true. The Gregory boys, as
everyone around Mount Ranzer called
them, had been left with plenty OF
money, and few restrictions. Their
father had treated them experimental al
ly rather than with any affection or
real interest They were twins, and
had come into their Inheritance at
twenty-four, when their father died.
Five years had been granted them
under this will. If at the end of that
time they had used their freedom
recklessly, and had squandered their
money, trust fund was to be set
aside for each, taking In all of the
Gregory interests and properties and
limiting the boys to moderate in
come each.
There was one clause In the will
which had been held back, and was
not to be told until the expiration of
the five years or in the event of either
one marrying.
Laurie had always felt certain re-
sponsibility in the matter. She was
like her mother and 1t was we'll known
around Ranzer that Mollie CarrOllton
could have married the millionaire
even In her widowhood. They had
been sweethearts long before he had
found that fortunes grow from using
other peoples brains for fuel, Yet
she had chosen Laurie's father. the
local editor of the little four page
sheet, In preference. Laurie and
Hardy remained to her after their
fathers death. And oddly enough,
the twins whenever they were at
Mount Ranzer, had come to her with
all their boyish scrapes.
But now in manhood, they fought
their battle out alone. Malcolm had
first right. He was the steadier of
the two, and by far the better look
ing. Emmons seemed younger, some
way. His hair curled at the edges,
he was dark with tan and lean and
muscular with outdoor exercise. He
lacked Malcolm's balance of charac-
ter and ease of manner. And be.
tween the two was Laurie, winsome
and manly, full Of grace and ear
nestness.
Only her mother seemed to guess
at the struggle In her heart those last
few days. The two brothers were not
on speaking terms, yet neither would
give an inch. Long rides they took
over the mountain roads with Laurie,
while. she laughed at them and tried
to coax them back to friendship.
Choose one of us, and the other
will stand pat on the decision, and
be friends" Malcolm insisted, But
you must choose"
"He speaks for himself" Emmons