Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-09-30
NO. 20.
Jane AND The net
BY MOLLY MINISTER.

1t was not until John Guthrie en-
tered her life that James heart was
seriously affected. All unconsciously,
while Turing the big Scotchman into
her net, Jane tripped and fell head
long into 1t herself. The sensation
was at first startling and finally most
alarming, for the Scotchman seemed
perfectly oblivious to the fact that
Jane was his for the asking.
Old-fashioned Polly sitting back
completely enveloped in the love Of
Willard Wright watched the proceed
ings with infinite enjoyment. She and
Jane had never broken the silence
that spanned an interval of three
months, yet Polly was perfectly aware
of all that transpired in the life of
her erstwhile intimate friend.
The two girls were often in the
same ballroom attending the same
dances, yet neither seemed so much
as to know that the other was there
and never by word or look conveyed
the secret knowledge that each bore
a gnawing pain-the pain of severed
friendship.
Jane tried desperately to conceal
her interest in John Guthrie, but her
eyes followed his every movement.
He f1irted lazily and mildly with most
of the girls, but most of all he hov-
cred over the old-fashioned. soft-eyed
Polly.
And Polly, looking swiftly across
at Jane, smiled in such a way as to
make James blood stand still. Polly
was going to break her lifelong habit
of demure, maidenly modesty and firt
openly and shamelessly with the
Scotchman.
James lips curled in scorn in spite
of the fear and pain that was grip
ping her. She knew that Polly with
her absurdly trusting eyes of blue and
her gentle, persuasive manner, to-
gether with the touch Of alluring CO.
quetry she was now employing, would
break the heart Of any man.
However, Jane had sufficient OF
pride and self-control to carry on her
own flirtations with very apparent
supply of blindness to Pollys ma
neuver. Her smiles were plentiful,
and no one in the ballroom suspected
that her heart was well-nigh break
ing. She not only regretted the fact
that Guthrie found interest In other
women. but more than that she Ia
mented the fallen idol that Polly rep
resented
1T is all right for ME to-to hirt,"
Jane told herself. But Polly Is dif-
ferent Polly is far too precious
type nowadays to lose sight Of She
simply must not be allowed to smear
her beauty with such modern char
acteristics" Jane smiled wistfully at
her own shortcomings, and sent q
swift glance of something akin to
love into Polly's eyes.
Polly was oblivious, however, and
continued her tactics with renewed
vim. Guthrie followed her lead until
the entire number of dancers IN the
room realized that something unusual
was in the air, for the most part they
we're of the opinion that 1t was Will
lard Wright who was suffering by the
Irritation 30 clever was Jane at Jug
Cling with her emotions. She had
at least concealed her hurt from the
public.
She spent q sleepless night. how
ever, thinking of the lost ideal In
Polly.
The next morning, true to the in
born beauty Of character that lay
deeply hidden beneath the surface Of
lightness, Jane went into the garden
and selected a wonderful cluster Of
pink roses. Having arranged them
to her satisfaction she donned her
most lovely frock and went forth to
Polly's cottage.
Polly, peering from behind the case.
ment curtains to see who entered her
garden path, caught q swift breath
and smiled q wondrous smile. She
few down the stairs and precipitated
herself into James arms. Neither girl
spoke for few seconds. Polly was
the first to smother her emotion and
find voice.
"You are my darling old Jane, af-
ter all-aren't you?"
"Not If you are going to turn fiirt,"
Jane said quickly, with a soft glance
into Pollys blue eyes. II can't stand
it to sec you making Willard miser-
able"
Polly laughed softly.
What about yourself?" she Quer.
led, "and what about certain big
Scotchman with heart of gold
doesn't he count?"
Jane looked questioningly at Polly.
"He does not love me-" Jane said
sadly. HE loves you"
"Never-silly," Polly laughed, he
and Willard and I planned the cam
paign against your heart. It was the
only way, little flirt, to give you
good dose Of your own medicine"
1.-THE dose was too big" Jane said
unsteadily. Il nearly died from 1t
because I thought was losing you
for all time as we'll as my power to
flirt." As an afterthought she add
ed, "A girl can't flirt when she is
really in love, you know, Polly" The
blush that flew without shame into
James cheeks brought swift hug
from Polly's arms.
She looked happily over James
head and out along the path where
two stalwart men were swinging to-
ward the cottage.
1T means an early double wedding"
she told Jane. Isn't 1t wonderful
to be friends again."
1--WE were never anything else, real
ly," Jane made answer, and they went
to the cottage door to meet Willard