Catoctin clarion., 1917-08-02
IS YEARS and A DAY
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

) On both sides of the street very COM
Portable looking frame houses, much
terraced, had the appearance Of two
rows of soldiers marching sideways up
very steep steps. OF course in summer
this Illusion was softened considerably
by the trees from which the street de-
rived Its name With all Of its steep
ness and sameness, Maple lane had
long been the harbor of "caste" in the
little borough of Glenport, which was
neither glen nor port, by the way.
About the sixth house up on the right
side Of the street was house Of In
discriminate brown, wide porches, q
turreted effect on one side and foun-
tain.
Toward this house Charles Badger,
plutocrat, now turned the tail Of his
eye, as he had every night, summer,
winter and seasons in between, for q
number of years. Sometimes II was
only the fiutter of a curtain, sometimes
the opening Of the front door to get the
evening paper, In the spring 1t was the
hyacinth and tulip beds that needed at
tention, but always when the 5 :32 train
came in there was evidence that Rosa
lind Murray was somewhere on the
premises.
To 60 back bit into the archives OF
Glenport: lie Badgers and the Muir.
rays had one time divided the honors
of overload. And in those days before
Sylvester Murray had lost his fortune
in the failure Of the First National. the
scion of one house was betrothed to the
daughter Of the other.
But when the Murray fortune was
swept away, Althea Badger, Charles
mother, had taken her darling aside
and showed him his duty, not to the
girl he was to marry, but to her. So
he had allowed Rosallnd to withdraw
from the contract when she also had
insisted.
Years had rolled along and brought
vacancies in both families. In fact,
there was no one left at the Badgers
but Charles and none left at the Muir.
rays but Rosalind.
This evening Charles looked as usual
when he was directly across from the
gate. The tulip beds were gorgeous In
their reds and yellows, the hyacinths in
their puppies and pinks. And from the
shrubbery beside the house came the
languorous perfume Of lilacs. A bird
perched on Cupid's good wing in the
fountain suddenly let out volley Of
joyous notes.
Charles paused to hear and to have a
better view. Then he looked keenly
around for Rosalind. He didn't see her.
1t was curious.
He turned again and went on, disap-
pointed. 1t was unusual. He had
learned to look for her and to count
upon his evening greeting.
Again came the birds call, and at the
same instant a Whit Of lilac made Its
way to Charles nostrils. He was feel
Ing very curious and, withal, lonely.
He stopped again.
Still no sign Of ROsallnd.
Then he did an unusual thing, for
somehow or other he seemed to have
lost the power Of will. His feet seemed
TO carry him forward without the least
voltion on his part. He stepped off the
pavement, crossed the street and found
himself opening the rusty iron gate and
mounting the variously inclined steps
to the house he had not visited for
years.
The next instant he was ringing the
bell and trying in vain to think of what
excuse he should give when Rosalind
Ghened the door.
But he need not have worried, for
Rosalind didn't open the door. A
stranger answered the bell. an older
woman with sharp features, black
dress and a glngham apron.
as Miss Murray at homer" inquired
Charles, startled.
Miss Murray doesn't live here any
MORE" answered the woman. "She
moved out today"
"Oh, yes, see," stammered Charles
turning to go. II beg your pardon"
Then: "She didn't say where she was
going, did she?"
mo. She's going to be nurse, be-
lieve but don't know more than that
I've bought some of her things. I'm
going to conduct q fashionable board
ing house here, and hope you won't
mind mentioning 1t to your friends"
Through his brain were pounding the
words, Fifteen years and you've lost
her, fifteen years and you've lost her.
Fool! Fool!"
He reached the iron street gate at
last and again turned heavily up the
hill, the same words ringing In his
brain.
Then he heard someone calling, and
looking up he saw Rosalind coming
down the steps Of the house next door.
1--WE been waiting to say good-by,"
she said quietly. I'm going away.
Charles, and may not see you again for
a long, long while."
But Charles had her hand and held
1t, as If he would never let 90. mo.
you're not going away, Rosy, you're
going to stay here and marry me this
very day. I've got duty to perform
as well as you. I've got to spend the
rest Of my life trying to make you as
happy as it's possible for woman to
be. Rosy" he pleaded, don't 60. I
know I'll die If you do"
"Well, If it's to he my duty to save
lives, Charles" she answered half Sc
riously, II suppose 1t may as well be
yours"
Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure Nswspa-
per 6yndicate)
What Our Swamps Could Do.
Soma awamn land at fhA month OF