The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-16

the man until she was quite close.
At the fret glance, however, she
recognized him, and the sudden shock
was almost painful, but, recovering
herself in a moment, walked straight
up to Vandeleur and held out her
hand, saying gently;
81 am SO glad, Mr.. Vandeleur, to
see that you are better-so very glad. I"
Although Vandeleur's heart beat
quickly, he was outwardly calm and
cool rs he replied nonchalantly:
"Thank you. Except for the fact
of feeling rather weak now and then,
am comparatively well. trust you
are quite WE'LL Miss Sinclair?"
eyes, / am very well, thank you.
But-but Mr.. Crawford told me you
had by no means recovered yet"
Vandelour mentally mathematical
Crawford as he said, with bad imi
tation of laugh
"Pshaw! Crawford is an awfully
good fellow; but, you know, he occa
sionally constructs mountain out of
molehill."
Pointing to the seat which Craw-
ford had vacated few minutes previ-
ously, he continued:
"Won't you please sit down, Miss
Sir clair? long to have chat with
an old friend"
His own desire now was to keep
her, and an unnatural elevation per-
vaded him as he hailed with almost
hysterical delight the prospect of
showing this woman how utterly in
different he was to her.
She hesitated moment, then quiet
ly sat down.
"But surely, Mr.. Vandeleur," she
said, 'your wound cannot be of SO
trivial nature as you would have
one believe? You were reported
killed al first; all the papers said so,
and Everyone was so dreadfully
sorry"
"Were they9" said vandeleur,
ironically. "Sorry to say their feel
ings must pass unappreciated.
Enough of myself, however. pre-
sumo you are staying down here for
some time?" he added.
During their conversation Miss Sin
clair surreptitiously observed Yande-
| leur.
With n dull pain at her heart she
noted the unmistakable evidence of
suffering in his look.
A strong desire to tend and nurse
this man, whom she loved as woman
only loves once, overmastered her,
and she experienced a mad impulse
to cast all conventionality aside, and
throw herelf at his feet and cry: ooh,
my love, my love, wronged You in
nocenilyl 1t is all mistake! Won't
you forgive-only forgiven"
The impulse died away, however,
as she glanced Mt Vandeleur, and saw
the hard line of his mouth.
He will never forgive, she thought
never.
Neither spoke for some minutes,
and the pause WINS becoming awk
ward, when puff of wind disarranged
Vandeleur's rug He feebly essayed
to reach for it; but Miss Sinclair fore
stalled him, and with "Please allow
me-" arranged it.
While doing so her hand slightly
touched that of Vandeleur, causing
the blood to Jump madly through his
veins, while the color flooded her own
face.
Presently Miss Sinclair said hesi-
tatingly; 81 have been trying for the
last few minutes TOTO say something.
Will you listen? L want to ask your
pardon. Some time ago vel quar-
relied with you, apparently without
any ostensible cause whatever. Three
months ago / discovered the fact that
l had done you grievous wrong"
''Took you some time, didn't it?"
sarcastically interjectod Vandeleur
81 was acquainted with the fact ex-
actly eighteen months ago"
The venom of his remark almost
scorched the words on her lips, but
she quietly prOceeded:
"Please reserve your sarcasm until
you have heard me. Not even the
fear Of your misunderstanding shall
deter me from performing what / con-
slider to, be right and my duty to do,
1t is right you should know that | had
some slight excuse to offer for my APP
parent wGnton capriciousness.
3hs paused moment, resting her
chin on her hand, aud Yandeleur
stole a glance at her.
She had changed somewhat, he
thought--grown gentler and more
subdued, and the passionate desire
grew on him to open his arms aud say;
81 forgive all, L forgive ALL Only
love me!'
"Please so on" he said.
"Thank you," she replied quietly,
ST will. The Story of Man and
Woman is au old title, and has been
used many times, yet purpose using
it once again as heading for my mar
rative."
She paused a momont to collect her
thoughts, and glanced at Yandeleur,
who continued to gaze sternly sea-
ward. Then she continued.
"The man in this particular case
appeared to love the woman very
dearly, and she--wel, she requited
his affection"
Vandeleur started and shifted his
position slightly.
''He was a writer of books" she
continued, "and on her twenty third
birthday he presented her with the
first proof of the book that had made
his name. 1t was unique present,
and she appreciated ii accordingly.