Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-07-16

Deen coming 10 see AnnaDelle, the
work had been much harder.
The big, old-fashioned house was
enough to keep two Of them busy
most of the time. But OF late, Anna
bellies time had hardly been her own.
When John was not there or taking
her out somewhere, there were other
things for the favored sister to do.
Mrs. Virgins appeared around the
corner Of the house.
Good evenin', Miss Ginnie. didn't
SEQ any lights in the front andsposed
you wasn't through with the dishes
yet Hot, amt it?"
Virginia was relieved that 1t was
only her kind-hearted. garrulous old
with me, won't you, Mrs. Virgins?
It's cooler here"
"Whatll l do with your daddys
eggs?"
"Oh, did you bring some for his
breakfast? How kind III get
pan"
Never mind I'll fix 'em. I know
how tired you must be-"
Mrs. Virgins put an egg, small end
down, in the top Of each milk bottle
There! They'll be all right till you
come In"
She limped back to the swing. In
the twilight, she caught the weary
droop Of the girls shoulders. Miss
Ginnie, ye amt sick, are ye?'
mo, Mrs. Virgins. WhyT'
Tit amt like you. | don't like
to see you so tired. Your poor moth
er, she used to say, 'Virginnie, she
can't stand what Annabelle does An
she always tried to keep you rested.
What do ye do 1t for, Miss Ginnie?"
why, Mrs. Virgins, you know how
It is with us now, since dad lost all his
money. It's too bad II two big,
healthy girls like us can't take care
of him and the house"
But, Miss Anna don't help. guess
I've got eyes!"
We'll, perhaps not 80 much as she
did, but-she's very busy"
Yes, know why she's busy. But
no matter II she Is goin' to get mar
rled. she's no business imposin' on
you an I'm goln' to tell her"
Mrs. Wiggins!"
There, there, dearie! I'm an old
trouble-maker an must be goin' be-
fore l say anything more. I'm sorry,
Miss Ginny, II I hurt you. I hope
Virginia watched the old lady dis.
appear into the darkness. So other
people were beginning to notice! She
whitened. The bare facts paraded
themselves before her now without
disguise.
The moon. almost full, was rising
in the east, making fairyland Of the
old-fashioned garden. 1t shone full
on the face of the girl In the swing
lying back with closed eyes, her face
now strangely white.
She was saying over and over to
herself, Il wonder IL he really does
care for her! wonder If"
virginia." whispered some one
softly, SO softly that at first she did
not open her eyes. 1t seemed like
some mysterious magic of the old
moonlit garden.
When she did look UP, she saw a
man standing close to the swing. She
sat up with startled cry, then rec.
ognizing John Marshall, she turned
away in pretty confusion. Had he
heard her thoughts7 Had she said
anything aloud? He had called her
Virginia" for the first time!
She scrambled out Of the swing.
Good evening, Mr.. Marshall. I
didn't expect you and Annabelle back
so SOON"
II wonder" he said irrelevantly, "if
you have any Idea how beautiful you
are In the moonlight"
"Mr MARSHALL"
Cant you say JohnT"
"Why-I-don't know. Why should
L" She was nervously plucking
leaves from a lilac bush. He reached
out and took both her hands in his.
because l want you to. This time
I'm not going to let you get away with.
out telling you what I want to. I've
tried for days but you have always
had some excuse. Too tired, or too
busy or dishes, or something for IA
ther. Annabelle's charming, clev-
er little girl, but she isn't you, Vir-
ginia. l came alone. She's still at
the party having fine time with Jack
English. They're glad to get rid OF
me-" He laughed. Il have eyes, Vir-
ginia.
And I came back to hunt up little
Cinderella and tell her l love her.
But first / must tell her that 1t isn't
a prince who woos her. I've lost near
ly all of my money lately, Virginia"
He still held her hands and felt the
tiniest pressure ON his own.
"You do love me, dearest!" He
drew her unresisting to him.
yes, John,' softly. "And-oh, I'm
80 glad about the money!"
(Copyright. 1914, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)