Catoctin clarion., 1917-08-16
HER MASTERPIECE
BY MARTHA NC. WILLIAMS.

The king would have hOunced In II
he had been privileged to wear petit
coats. Being restricted to trousers, he
expressed his discontinue by rather
wabbling strides and heavy flop into
the corner of the settee. There, after
q minute, he placed his head In his
hands, and swOre-under his breath
because the duchess lolled in long
chair little way off.
She was not real duchess, of course.
The nickname ran back to the days of
pigtails, when he had been King Molly
COB, she Duchess of Two Sticks, though
an unfeeling world had called them,
commonplacely, Dave Mason and Janet
Lee. Only children and close neigh
bors, they had been all but inseparable
until the era Of college. Janet went
first, being year the older. Then
Dave went, and thus it happened that
they had not met for five years.
"Swear out loudl It's more reliev-
ing" Janet said after minute, with
soft, suppressed giggle. "Or, better
still-tell me about it. Does true loves
course refuse to run smooth for lack
Of an obstacle?"
Davy cried, sitting up with jerk:
"How did you-how could you
guessY"
"Didn't-a certainty-knowing the
other party in interest as do," Janet
flung back. Davy shook his head at
her. "It's bad enough to have you
reading law, though you don't mean to
practice" he said. II won't have you
talking it at mel want to forget there
is such thing"
"Hey, for the briny! The Spanish
Main! We yearn to 60 a-piratinG We
do, oh, we dol" Janet intoned, her eyes
twinkling.
Davy looked properly foolish, but
blurted out: "If you knew what rea-
son l have to hate law and all Its
works, you wouldn't make fun Of me.
Edna refuses me- because our joint in
heritance Of the Wayland fortune
makes it all cut and dried-I'd like
to give her my share-indeed, I'd give
It to anybody-but-the will steps in
J. ellIleT VI IcluScS lAC huohCy ~
works forfeiture to both"
Leaving you free to refuse each
other? What pity" Janet inter-
rupted: IF Ed had to take you, will
she-nil-she, she'd be just the loveliest
martyr. can see her right now, faint
ing at the altar-regardless Of orange
blossoms and the Wayland old lace"
"Don't! You hurt mel" Davy pro-
tested "You can't know how much
since you've never cared for-any-
body"
"Praise bel" Janet flung back at him
with yet a subtle hardening Of the
lips. "But live in hope, my child. Who
was it sang, old maids at forty-five
grow giddy'? When my time comes 1t
will be your turn to laugh"
II never want to laugh at YOU
promise you won't laugh at me-now,"
Davy answered eagerly. "You see, I've
been thinking that maybe If Ed could
be persuaded there was something's
prior attachment-Oh, hang it, you un-
derstand." She got up and walked to
the window, saying over her shoulder,
"Leave it to me. Nothing easier"
AS she disappeared in the library be-
yond Davy saw her suddenly falter and
sprang toward her. She waved him
back gayly and shut the door in his
face. Half an hour later she came
through 1t holding a fairly written
sheet, which she thrust into his hands.
When he had read it his eyes were
dim. Lord! But you do make up
1hingsv" he said not quite steadily. IF
If this were true" glancing at the
sheet-"why, shouldn't ever draw an
other happy BREATH
"Oh, yes. you would! You're forget
ting the stimulus to your vanity. Think
of being the only man that ever
touched this adamantine BOSOM" Janet
cried merrily. II call that a very per-
feet appeal and confessional did
lay it on rather thick. Ed likes her
romance as the old lady did her grog-
she didn't mind so long as 1t was hot,
strong, sweet-and plenty OF It,"
"Cease, mocking cynic and tell me
how you did it. 1t Is simply wonder
full. swear truth couldn't be as true"
Davy interrupted. Janet half turned
her head, saying in her gayest voice:
"You flatter me. Still, I agree with
you. Truth couldn't be as true; feel
ing, you know, never equals imagina-
ton But now, be off with you, while
I copy this for the mail bag. OF course
I'm going to keep the original-of my
masterpiece"
81 wonder will Edna dare-I'll hate
her if she shows 1t to me-" Davy said,
flushing. Then he got up, caught both
James hands in his, and said huskily:
Duchess, you are the greatest woman
in the world. Not another would have
so humbled her pride, even in make-be-
lieve, to humor another woman's whim
and save mans love from tantalizing
delay. Do believe mel couldn't rev.
erence you more II what you have done
were real. marvel that, knowing you,
I can love anybody else.'
"Will you take yourself Off" Janet
cried imperiously. but letting her hands
lie In his clasp. He kissed them ten
derly, turned and left her. She flung
herself upon the settee, pressing her
lips, her cheek, her fingers, upon the
wood where his head had rested. Her
face was healthily colored, her hand
steady. She said nothing for at least
five minutes. Then, rising, she clutched
the letter and walked toward the IL
brary, saying as she turned the knob:
EDNA will make him read the letter.
God send that she has not sense enough
to see and tell him wrote only the