Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-11-09

daughter to go to a. masked ball, de-
spite the fact that her fance had failed
to return. on the appointed day the
week before.
"Well, mother, l haven't any dress
to wear and"
"That's alright now, honey. I'll get
you the prettiest little costume in
town."
"But mother, Nap" and with this
she broke down.
The last straw had come and Jo-
sephine went to her study, which was
a cosy, bright little place, to mediate
and think it all over.
"What was Nap anyway" He
hadn't riches-but looks, she'd have to
admit he possessed those.
The day came at last, wonderful and
progressing. Margie had asked Jo-
sephine to come over and help her
with her work. She went and took her
costume with her. She showed it to
Margie almost before she was in her
home. Margie was just crazy over 1t
and she really had right to be, for
it was a wonderful costume, d costly
little oriental affair.
The girls spent the afternoon gath
ering what few pretty leaves remain
ed-but always Josephine's thoughts
were with Nap. However it really
must not have hurt her originality, for
when they had finished decorating the
great old hall any interior designer
would have complimented them-so
perfect it was in every detail.
The time came at last-everything
was ready and Josephine and Margie
were on the porch of the old mansion
when the first guest came. They were
assured of his masculinity for no girl
ever had such square chin and such
broad shoulders.
Heavens" gasped Josephine into
the startled ears of Margie, "isn't he
a perfect duplicate of Hercules?"
"Ha is fo' suah," answered the little
Southern brunette.
After that the guests poured In the
doors until the great old dance hall
seemed gasping for breath.
The first strains of the orchestra
were sounding into willing ears as
the so-called Hercules crossed the hall
and asked Josephine if he might have
the first dance
81 have it," she told him.
"The neXt?"
"All right guess So" she said.
The first dance seemed an eter-
nifty for, after all she found herself
wanting to dance with that mamie
looked like
The orchestra stopped; in another
minute she was dancing with the
stranger-but was he stranger?
mighty good orchestra" she of
fered.
"Josephine!-" but he never finished
for knowing who it was she broke
away from his arms and ran out on
the porch.
"Heavens!" she thought; "what on
earth made me run out here?"
As she said this she saw him coming
towards the door.
"Oh, my dear! There he is coming
out of the door. Where can / hide"
but in her mute agony she was help
less.
FLUSH, Nap, you knew who was all
the time; Pm through with you, I hate
you," she lied.
Josephine, let me explain. How can
you be so mean? You are unlike
yourself tonight"
"Nap," she whispered brokenly
"please join the other guest and
leave me here alone"
"You say you hate me; have you
any reason save my long absence?".
"No," and as she said this he noticed
that she had softened.
"You don't hate me, do you, Josie
DEAR"
No answer.
"Do you know why stayed away sc
long,"
"No," long and sad, was her only
answer.
There was a long silence. Both Of
them were thinking deeply, but it was
Nap who broke the silence.
Josephine, when l came over here
from England, did it ever occur to you
that l may have had interests ovel
there? did it ever occur to you that
was on a pleasure trip when l first
came over here, the place where fate
willed our meeting?"
"No, no. l don't know-go on"
Josephine, did it ever occur to yor
that my name might be something
other than Nap Clarke"
"No, silly, of course not"
"Well, we'll, my dear; then am go
ing to tell something to you which is
wholly new end unthought-of."
No reply.
Josephine, have you ever heard OF
Jack Wilcox"
UVo, -, Hood. I,y, met cy.azu oveY