Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-01-08

full lips! They would enjoy honey
moon in Europe, while she, the lonely
old spinster, would stay at home
alone.
In that moment she hated Jimmy
Vanstone, and her pretty niece, and
she mentally censured the cruel sell
fishness of youthful love.
You cannot marry anyone without
my consent, Ethel; and | shall not
give it," she said firmly.
Good night, Aunt Felicia" was
Ethels quiet reply as she passed the
older woman and went into the
house.
She read Mr.. Daniel Latmers letter
to his nephew before she went to bed
and the tears that wet her lashes were
chased away by irrepressible smiles.
She tucked the letter under her pillow
and went to sleep with smile on her
lips. Felicia, pausing in the door
way with lighted candle as was her
custom, saw the smile and her heart
strings tightened
She does not care-she does not
care for mel" she thought jealously
as she went away.
Early the next morning Ethel went
out to the near by town for day
shopping Felicia was writing let
ters in her own room when Celia, the
little housemaid, tapped at the door,
Come in," said Miss Weeks,
Please, Miss Felicia" said Celia
extending a folded letter, Il found this
on the floor in Miss Ethels room. 1t
flew from under the pillow when was
making the bed"
Put it on the table, Celia said
Felicia and she resumed her writing.
When her letters We're finished she
looked up and saw the sheets OF let
ter paper lluttering on the table.
leaf rustled in the breeze from the
open window and her own name
caught her casual glance.
Temptation assalcd this impeccably
honest lady. She glanced again-and
again and then overcome by indigna-
ton and curiosity, she silenced all
qualms on active conscience and read
1t was the epistle of Mr. Daniel Lat
inner to his beloved nephew, James
Vanstone:
My dear boy" it read in part, so
you think you are the happiest man in
the world because a pretty little girl
loves you? Well, thought the same
way once upon time. but | was
promptly dlsillusioned-now, this isn't
meant to be wet blanket on the
rosy flame OF your engagement to Miss
Ethel, it's merely the plant OF a dis
grumtlud old bachelor because you
have Won the prize that | missed. Con
gratulations, dear Jimmy, and may
you be deserving of the little girl who
is pretty indeed, my lad, but can t
compare with her aunt, Miss Felicia,
whom | knew once upon a time. Yes,
you've guessed it, Jimmy, she is the
one who administered the dose OF dis.
illusion, Well, Felicia was sell.
wlled slip of a girl and | Should
never have taken her word OF dis
missal Sometimes when | am very
lonely and am afraid Of the solitary
years ahead of me, am tempted ~ 20
at once to Felicia Weeks and ask her
if it is too late to be happy! But
forgive me, Jimmy, I've turned this
letter of congratulation into an elog%
upon my own happiness-but it's too
late to amend it, now. | hope Felicia
will give her consent to your marrying
~
| shall certainly run down to Rode
mead and plead your cause. Kiss my
future niece-inlaw for me.
"AfIiectionately, Uncle Dam
For a long time Felicia sat in 81
lence Although she stared out at the
garden she could see nothing for the
mist of tears in her fine eyes.
Presently she drew sheet of pa
per toward her and. wrote few lines
to Mr. Daniel Latimer. This she ell
closed with his letter In an envelope
and carefully addressed it 10 his club
in town. Then she affixed special
delivery stamp and sent Celia out to
mail it at once.
Although the letter was gone the
words she had written seemed written
in rosy red across her brain.
This is what she had written: u
have given my consent to Ethels mar
riage on the 15th--but If you wish,
you may come down-soon, Dan-and
plead not their cause-but your own!
Felicia!"
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)