Catoctin clarion., 1918-07-04

isn poor and" ESPECIALLY boat rides'
They had so many interests In common
and the young rector realized tne
strength she could be to him IN MS
chosen work.
And tomorrow she was going home'
and this was their last day together.
While the boat drifted softly down the
stream, he laid his heart at her rect
TO his dying day he never saw the set
ting sun without remembering now IL
shone on her face as she answered
him.
"Mr. Nelson, had dreamed that you
would take such step as this. wouid
not have permitted matters to go so
far. l am to blame for this termina-
ton of your friendship, which mas
meant more to ME than can tell you.
There Is no other man living whom
respect more nor to whom l would
sooner trust my life. But ] am not
free"
'Then you love some one else IN
stead? have been foolish enough TO
suppose you were heart free, ana
might, in time, come to care for me-.
Listen. When my father died. ne
left some money-enough, had we lived
within our means. But mother mas
been very ambitious for me. She sent
me to expensive schools, and spent
large sums OF money to establish me
In society. She Is hopelessly In debt
We are spending the summer IN TINS
little town because she dared not Dor
row the money to go to some fashioh-
able resort, as she has always done
Do not look at me like that, Mr.. Mel
son. did not know the truth Of these
things until few days ago.
$50 long as I can remember she has
had friend, an enormously wealthy
bachelor, old enough to be my father
1t has long been a standing joke That
I am to marry him. ] never Imagined
until this week that she meant 1t serl-
ously. He and his sister are to visit
us next week, and that Is why we 90
back to the city. She told me that
unless I accepted him we are fnnn-
cially ruined. and we shall have to
earn our bread 30 ] shall be com
PEELED to marry him. for her sake
"Wait," interrupted the man In
strange voice. "do you love this mnnT
Love him? simply detest him! On
know what you are going to say, that
am selling myself to him. But there
seems to be no other way. You see,'
with pitiful attempt at smile. chow
useless It Is. Mother will never give
her consent and cannot marry even
YOU without It. And now, let US drop
the subject, please. Here we are at
the landing"
All this passed through his mind aS
he sat staring into the dying Goals. He
had never written. had obeyed abso-
lutely her implied request for silence.
But day and night her face was be-
fore him. He avoided every nook
which reminded him of her, and work
ed with feverish energy one day, ana
brooded the next. He read the society
notes in the morning paper before
looking at his correspondence, and al
WAYS laid them aside with relief at not
seeing her name.
He felt that the warning OF the
senior warden was true, and that he
was losing his grip. How was he to
know that in the neighborlng city
girl often cried herself to sleep with
his name on her lips?
A falling log reused him from his
reverie He rose, packed his bags, and
paye a few instructions to his house
keeper. He would 90 to the city, catch
one glimpse OF her face. and then hide
no matter where.
The postman passed and threw
letter upon the porch. There was hut
the one, and glance at the super
scription brought his heart into his
mouth. He devoured. rather than
read, the contents:
"My Dear Mr.. Nelson II feel that
YOU will be interested In piece OF
news. Mr.. Raymond has proposed at
last-not to me, but to mamma. No
wonder ne WAS 81 louE ibuhihS uP hio
mind for ne no doubt chivalrously
hesitated at the pain his decision would
cause me. They are to be married next
week, and start at once for n wedding
tour of Europe. shall remain at
the home of my cousin. Mrs. Ransome.
of 800 Winton Place, indefinitely.
"I hope that all is well with you, and
that we may meet again some day.
every sincerely, Muriel Waring."
Ten minutes later the rector called
his housekeeper, and after n short IN
terview with her. left her in tears Of
,oy. Then ne stepped to the telephone
and called the senior warden, his voice
vibrant with happiness.
81 start for the city tonight" he
said, "and will be away for month.
Do not let the poor and sick Of the
parish suffer in my absence. When
return, please God, my wife and will
visit them together. Goodby." And
the telephone bell tinkled Joyous re-
frain in the astonished senior vestry-
mans ear.