The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-12-06

I
speeches. #
"I will 90 to Grandfather Gilroy,
since you are so tired of me-" Georgina
said.
CT wculdi Go bury yourself in that
wretched little farmhouse at Fry Cor
ners; you, who might lead the fashion
here, Duncan Holoroft's wifep'
| But even Fry Corners was preferable
to Georgina, to the prospect of leading
the fashion.
She shivered at the thought, shy little
country flower, and accepted her aant's
ungracious dismissal.
It even seemed as il she threw off a
burden as she stepped from her luxur-
ious carriage at the station.
Mrs. Cassowin, slightly remorseful,
was at the last moment willing to revoke
| her decree of Punishment, but Geor-
gina would not see the flag of truce,
only half unfolded, and went to Fry
! Corners.
It was not fascinating abode, small
farm, managed by miserly old man
and one maid servant of seventy or
thereabout, whose life was burden be-
cause old Mr.. Gilroy had failed to make
her his wife, after accepting her atten-
years.
Georgina had the free, open country,
perfect liberty to do as she pleased, and
But she was not happy.
"I do believe I am naturally of dis
contented disposition" she thought, as
she wandered up shady lane. "Ive
got all I want, a country home, old
women to help, and children to be kind
to. can play Lady Bountiful to half
Fry Corners on small scale. I have
miles of good, useful sewing, plenty of
books, my own piano, nobody to scold
me, no tinery to worry over, and yeti
I wonder ii Duncan Holcroft cares be-
cause have gomez"
What made that question leap to her
mind hundred times day.
She had refused him, put him out of
her life, and yet she thought of his court
ly manner, his grave, gentle kindness,
| his real conversation, so different from
the society small talk that wearied aud
puzzled her.
| Did he miss her?
| She felt herself such an atom in his
circle of friends SO lowly and little,
compared to the bellies huttering ever
in his view, SO ignorant and insigniti-
cant, that she could only wonder when
she remembered the honor he had paid
| her.
Spring flowers faded, summer bloom
died, autumn fruits were gathered in,
winter SHOWS melted.
1t was May again, and Georgina had
! been one year at Fry Corners.
The old farmer had failed in that year,
and very tenderly and pitifully his
grandchild nursed him.
And, wearying for an interest in life,
Georgina gave time, strength, and an
unfailing patience to the querulous in
valid, never faltering in her self-imposed
duties.
He died in May, blessing her with his
last breath, and after the funeral, Janet,
his old servant, produced will giving
her the firm and the savings of years Of
grinding economy.
Georgina had known of this, and had
gently demonstrated when Mr.. Gilroy
would have made another will.
"I have more than 1 spend" she
said "and Janet has served you faith
fully" la tk@
But once more homeless, she joined a
party of Mrs. Cassowin's friends and
went abroad.
Here was surely interest, variety, but
never ease for the old heart-hung er.
What would fill her life, round it to its
full perfection? ...
Love was offered more than once, but
met no return, and she sighed heavily
over her own hard heart.
In Rome, where the party fingered
many weeks, Georgina lived new life
of delight in seeing what she had i'm
agined in hours of reading, what her
father had often described to her, hav-
ing visited the Eternal City as tutor
in his young days.
But in Rome, one of the party,
lounging in lazily to the general sitting
! room of the wide house where they all
lodged, said, half yawning:
"Holcroft is here, down with the
malaria p 80
"Where ?" some one asked, indiffer-
emily.
SAT the hotel where We stopped the
first week we were here. He's going to
die they say"
'"Die /" Duncan Holcroft
Georgina groped her way dizzily un-
Gould the wide world hold so much
misery as pressed her down?
Like lightning fash she read the
cause of all her restless craving since
she had left London.
She loved Duncan Holcroft, king
amongst men. She had walked away
from her own paradise, closing the door,
and Duncan Holcroft would die, and
never knew she had loved him.
At the hotel where they had stopped |
Why it was close beside them.
She could be there in ten minutes.
She never paused to think of propri-
ETY.. Wrapping her head and shoulders
in a feecy white shawl, she sped along
the street. thankful for the gathering
twilight.
The walters paused, but led her TO the
room. At fhe door she paused.
She could see a sister of charity
kneeling beside high bed, could hear
a sweet voice say:
"She is here, in Rome. When am
dead carry my message. Tell her I
loved her to the last. You will find her
at the address I gave you. Georgina
Gilroyl You will not forget the
name ?"
Trembling and white, Georgina crept
in, softly laying her hand upon Ithe sis
ter's shoulder
81 am Georgina Gilroy," she whis-
pered, very low.
But low as it was, the whisper reached
Duncan Holcroft's ears, and a smile