Catoctin clarion., 1918-04-04
NO.. 4

faltered. DO not make it hard for
me, Joe. II cannot bear that Just
now"
He covered her restless hand with
his. "You have always seemed to me
woman of unusual intelligence, Har-
rict | find that l am mistaken. Your
talk Is idiotic. l have known you were
restless in our engagement. You were
afraid marriage would curtail your
various interests and bind you to
life you could not escape. That is
about it, is it not?
Dear, did you ever really think what
home meant-home, spelled in big cap
1tal letters? Not an apartment; not
rooms in Il hotel-but Il home with
space about it, with roses, with beds
of old-fashioned phlox, with trellises
of sweet peas. Inside, comfort, not
luxury; old-fashioned, with the sun
streaming through the windows, the
tire In the living room glinting across
the rugs, and the two of us sitting
there contented. have pictured this
too long to give 1t up. The only diff
ference between anticipation and real
ity is that the scene changes from the
living room to your own. For a little
time you will not move about with
your usual freedom. That will right
itself and the sooner we get home the
sooner you will be better"
"Joe, | tell you-"
Put your mind on those rose beds,
Harriet" He paused, then went on
in Il lower tone. "Put the whole of
your mind upon my need of you. If
knew you would spend the rest Of your
life as you are lying now, | would not
give You up. Neither of us has any
one but the other Your money will
buy YOU service. 1t will not buy what
give you with my whole strength
Her eyes clouded with tears.
Greater love hath no man Joe,
dear. but | cannot let you bind your
self to such II life of sacrifice
You would do 1t for me-"
The answer was an unhesitating
yes"
He bent toward her 81 have never
held you in my arms, Harriet; you
were not approachable. 1t would hurt
you If | took you into them now, and
| must wait. Neither have | kissed
you. That can be remedied, and will
give YOU something to think about far
pleasanter than that turadiddle of Doc
tor Marsh's."
The color flooded her face. you
wouldn't. am helpless"
Harriet, ! would-and will" Suit
ing action to words, he kissed her. not
once, but many times, then hastily left
the room.
But for all his apparent assurance
he was troubled. Navigation would
soon close, and it was imperative they
should leave on the next steamer. 1t
was equally imperative that she should
marry him. and the only man in town
at the time accredited with power to
perform the ceremony was a justice
of the peace.
He knew she would object, and to
one of less steadfastness of purpose
the outlook would have been discour-
aging as he went to her, his hands
full of letters, that for the moment
absorbed him, hut not to such an ex-
tent he did not feel her hand travel
down his coat sleeve and come to rest
in the broad palm opened to receive it.
Joe when does the steamer leaveY'i
He looked up ut that. "Tomorrow.
Why?"
Gould | gof"
"Of course. | would not leave YOU"
She seemed to weigh something in
her mind before speaking again, then
said wistfully:
1T would be lovely to live in that
old-fashioned house and have such II
wonderful garden"
you are going to live there, Harriet.
What is more, you are going to walk
about that garden with me and see
its wonders by moonlight have ar
ranged with Judge Harris to call this
evening and marry u.s.
Judge Harries There is no question
think | would consent to be married
by any one other than minister of my
own church?"
"As we are situated, there Is no
help for it," he answered quietly. You
must reach Johns Hopkins at the ear
liest moment. Marbury is on the hos
pital staff, and you cannot be in bet
ter hands"
Joe Joe What do you take me for?
| cannot accept such sacrifice, even If
l were willing to be married by JUS
tce of the peace
"There Is no question of sacrifice.
1t is something deeper. BE sensible.
You cannot travel with me unless you
bear my name"
Sensible! | think lost my senses
last night when you kissed me-" she
said under her breath. But he heard,
and at once kissed her again.
Two years later Josiah Chapman
crossed the piazza of his old-fashioned
house in the Green Spring valley and
called his wife through the open door.
Harriet, l have brought an old
friend home to dinner. Come and well
come him."
The echo of his voice had scarcely
died away in the broad hall before she
came toward him, slowly, haltingly,
and aided by a crutch, but erect and
walking. Facing her, gentleman
waited with outstretched hand. For
an instant she paused In surprise, then
laid her own hand in the one held out
TO her.
"Ah," she said with the utmost pleas
ure, mo one could be more welcome at
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