The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-04-26

II BEG YOUR PARDON, MISS BROOKE "
smiled, and how her little white hands
ncrvously claspcd the flowers that she
had been gathering?
81 could not help coming in Miss
Brooke, when | saw YOU" he began.
81 hope | am not intruding."
Then May told him how her aunt
had made her come out into the fresh
air, because she had been shut up I'M
her room all day.
"Hour aunt must he happy to have
YOU for her nurse" said the captain.
Il often wonder, if ! were i'll or diving.
who would take care of me. 1t is "A
sad thing to be alone in the world"
Are you quite alonc?' she asked
Yes he replied. sadly. MY par
ents died when ! WAS very young. |
never had but one sister, ana do not
even remember her. | havc one uncle
living somewhere in Australia. | think.
SO that YOU see. am indeed Il solitary
man They lad reached the garden
seat placed under the lilac-trees. and
there they sat to rest.
Il have felt my loneliness twice in
my life" continued the captaiu-"more
than | shall ever feel il again. The
first time was in my hour of triumph,
when had won fame and glory, when
my comrades shook me by the hand
and wished me joy; but there was no
relative to share my qualification. no
mothers face grew bright over my
success. The second was when | Law
i'll in the hospital in India The doctor
came one day, and | heard him tell one
of my brother officers that he did not
think ] should live. Poor Charleyr
said my friend. | suppose Trnvers
would take his place Then, do you
know. Miss Brooke, | turned my face
to the wall and wcpt like II child. Who
was there to care whether l lived or
died? If died, there would be mill
tary funeral; for few weeks the men
would talk about me; they would give
me n grnvestone and ON il would say,
In affectionate remembrance and
then Travers would take my place In
whose heart would my memory live?
Who would shed one tear over my
grave? Those are not pleasant
thoughts for any man.
Mays eyes were filled with tears and
then In some broken way the captain
asked he to be the one who Would
love and care for him and brighten his
life. He told her how he had learned
w iONt iNl anu uOM Dt ltuTtu TO nSK
her to be his wife because he felt so
unworthy of her.
The sweet face was half turned from
him, but In the dim evening light he
could see how her cheeks grew pale:
he felt the little hands he clasped SO
tightly in his own trembe and grow
cold.
''If you will only love me. Nav" ne
pleaded" and be my wife, | will give
my life to you. l will make you the
happiest woman in the world. NV
love shall shield you from every anxi-
ETY.. Can you care for meY'
She, was silent for some minutes.
then she turned, and said gently
II do love you, and | will be true TO
you until | die.
How he thanked her! How his heart
filled with gratitude and love! And
then Captain Ruthven redeemed his
ring twenty times over, and she said
nothing against 1t!
That evening, when Captain Ruth
ven told the doctor of the treasure
that he had won, his friends calm.
sensible face was strangely moved.
81 am glad you are happy, Charley"
he said, You have won the best girl
in the world. Take care of her"
He did not cloud the young soldiers
happiness by telling him that hc had
won the only girl he had ever loved:
and to this day no one knows why
Frank Brent never married.
.
II am not Jealous" said CAPTAIN
Ruhtven to May one evening. some
few weeks before their marriage-"ot
least | think not. have never been
tried. But know | am very peculiar
in some of my notions. I>r. Brent used
to tell me that should never be mar
ried, because | required SO much in Il
wife.
You have not shown that in choos-
ing me-" remarked May, with Il bright
smile.
"lndeed | have! You are everything
l wished for have some inyeternte
prejudces | would never have mar
rled an authoress or an artist for in
stance. | have Il dislike to them that
l could never overcome | want a
sensible, educated companion; but my
opinion of true woman Is that her
mission begins and ends at home.
II do not think you are quite right"
said May, doubtfully.
Never mind; we Will not argue the
question. 1t is enough for me that |
have been so fortunate as to win the
dear little wife l have pictured to my
self for any years past"
"If / wrote books, then, or painted
pictures, you would not marry me-"
said May.
'No, said the captain, stoutly; "for
in that case | could not make you hap
ny We should bo hest apart But do