The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-02

"And do you think I'd go back and
ask for help? Never"
"For yourself, no." said the land
lady; "but for him. if you love him,
yes. Come, don't hesitate; go and
put your pride behind you. It's for
him to be hard, not you. Col I'll
SEQ to this poor, Ihalf-starved chap.
Go, and bring back doctor and help
with you"
With extraordinary energy she
helped the still undecided wife into
her jacket, and almost hustled her
downstairs.
"See your father il you have to stay
till tomorrow, and trust me to nurse
your husband. Law, I've had one of
my own, and so L know" The de-
ceased Jones very existence was some-
what apocryphal, and in spite of her
distress Ellen Carstairs was smiling as
the front door slammed behind her.
At length. worn out with fatigue,
she stood in front of her old home.
The constable looked intently at her
as she passed and wondered whether
he ought to mcve her on or not.
Then, with flush of shame, she
knocked at the servants door and
felt nervously at her heavy veil
"Oan L see Mrs. Edwards?" she
asked timidly, of servant.
"She's busy now. What name
shall 1 say?" was the question, and
like flash the baby name her old
nurse had given her came to her
memory.
"Say Mrs. 'Toddles' wants to see
her."
The servant grinned broadly and
left her standing at the door for what
seemed long, long time.
"You're to come up to tho house
keepers room please, num-" The
words recalled her to herself, for she
was leaning tired out against the
wall, and she stumbled blindly
through the servants quarters.
my honeyl My bonnie bairn!"
cried tho housekeeper. as she took the
exhausted woman into her arms.
"Why haven't you been here before?
How is it with you?"
Pitifully she noticed tho faded
jacket and the haggard faco CT her
young mistress.
ooh, nurse, my husband is i'll!
And, nurse, we are nearly starving,
and"
But Mrs. Edwards had gone, and,
with shaking hands, was trying to
hurry on the preparation of some
food.
"And my father, nursc-do you
think he'll forgive me?"
Hes very bitter against you both
mainly because you haven't written
to him or asked him to take you back
again. He is ont to dinner tonight,
but is coming home at IL O'Clock"
And it was now barely 9, and her
husband was lying needing the food so
bountifully spread on the tray beside
her.
TO divert her attention Mrs. Ed.
wards said:
"Come and look at your old room,
my dear-you'll find nothing moved,
for such was your fathers wish.
Come, now, dry your eyes, and hope
for the best"
And so Ellen Carstairs walked
once more in her fathers house and
contrasted its luxury aud wealth with
her own shabby garret.
Nurse, where's my statue gomez"
she suddenly asked, pointing to an
empty pedestal at the head of the
main staircase.
1t had been a whim of Lord Ches.
hams to have his daughters form
sculptured by great artist, and,
clad in flowing Grecian robes, with q
lamp in its hand, the statue had bean
universally admired for its beauty and
its graceYof outline.
eyes," replied the woman. "It was
taken down when you went away.
Such a pity, too, thought, for hoped
it would have softened him after a
awhile"
But the girl was not listening. She
was thinking of daring scheme by
which to play for her husband and
herself.
Nurse, where are those clothes I
wore for that static? They were in
my wardrobe"
Mrs. Edwards turned suddenly
round.
"You don't mean to say" she
began.
Eyes, do mean to dress up rs The
statue, and trust to God for the rest.
Quick let me have the clothes aud
keep the servants away when my father
comes back"
Trembling with their eagerness the
two women hurried upstairs and en-
tered the bedroom. Ellen's eyes filed
with tears as she noticed her belong
ings just as she had left them.
In a few minutes she stood looking
like vision from another world, so
unearthly was the effect of her pallor.
Then, as the hour drew near for Lord
Chesham's return she moved quickly
down the stairs and stood ON the mar
BILE pedestal, initiating in every way,
save for the lamp, the disgraced statue.
The house was quite still, and the
loud, sonorous ticking of the great
hall clock was the only sound that could
be heard.
Then tLore was noise as of wheels,
and the bell rang. A hunkey, mag
nidcent ia plush aud silk, flung open
the door, aud the master Of the house
came in.
He walked to tho library, and as he
crossed the hall, from sheer force of