The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-04-12
CHAPTER 1.

W
CHAPTER 1.
81 have quite decided upon one
thing" said Captain Ruthven to his
friend, DR.. Brent. rs they walked
slowly down Castle street 81 will
take n wife back with me to India If
it be possible"
81 do not see any reason why you
should not, Charley"
"l'here is but one" remarked the
captain. 81 am difficult to please. |
have never been what is called in
love yet"
"Your turn will come" said DR..
Brent. 81 suppose you must have
seen some nice girls out in India. |
wonder you are heartwholc."
India is too much of n marriage
market for me-" replied Captain Ruth
ven. IL have formed my ideal of the
kind of wife | should like, and | did
not find her there"
Few men marry their ideals" said
DIR. Brent with a smile. what is
yoursY'
"Nothing very out Of the way-simp-
ly true, loving woman. She must be
essentially woman and n lady-no
half-masculine supporter of woman's
rights, no lady-doctor, or artist or
writer"
You narrow your circle, Charley. l
say nothing of the lecturers or doctors;
but what prejudice can you have IL
gainst woman who paints or
writesW
"a strong one declared Captain
Ruthven-"I will not say II wise one;
but such as it Is, | mean to adhere to
ii. | want n wife whose sphere is
home, whose occupation will be home
duties-a wife who will take care of
my children and let others work for
the public"
81 shall not argue the point with
YOU" laughed Or. Brent. still do not
see why Il woman should not be a
good wife and mother, and at the same
time Il clever artist or writer
"l see many reasons against it.
made up my mind on that point years
ago. My wife shall belong to me alone
her time and thoughts shall be mine.
Even if faith was so cruel to cause me
to love Il woman who was either an
artist or Il writer, should not marry
her no, not if my heart broke in part
ing with her"
stuff and nonsense, Charley! But
have ii your own way; we have neither
artists or authoresses in Upton; so you
are quite safe"
81 should be equally safe if the town
We're full of them" declared the cap
tain. How much further is it to your
friends? You country people have Il
queer notion of distance"
"That is the house beyond the large
elm; you caIl see ii quite plainly from
here Among al the varieties of soci-
ETY. you have been in, Charley, did you
ever attend Il real country tea drink
ing gathering beforeY
NO" replied the captain, with
laugh. Il have been at home in Belgra-
via and Bohemia, have attended gov
ernment balls in India; but Il country
tea-party is Il gathering which l have
never attended"
You will like it," said DR.. Brent. II
do. The girls are so pretty and unaf-
fected, so different from town-bred
misses. The fun is genuine, although
not always of the kind that would pass
muster in n Mayfair drawing-rOom-
such rs old-fashioned dances and old
fashioned games, and the play at for
forfeits and blind postman. In short,
we are very jolly and not at all super
fine
II can imagine it," replied the cap
tain "Do walk more quickly, Frank.
or we shall never be there"
''ln Upton" continued Frank. "the
men never dream of going to party
until after tea. We leave the ladies to
enjoy hot mullins and scandal; we
drop in afterward. | consider myself
quite fortunate in having such II hero
as Captain Ruthven to introduce.
shall shine in the light reflected from
you, Charley"
Don't be so absurd, Frank DO you
suppose the people of Upton have
never seen soldier beforeY
MANY Il score; but it is not often
that an officer renowned for his bray
cry, etc, wounded and consequent
ly interesting, finds his way hither.
you are the first | have seen. Make up
your mind to accept an ovation you
viii be the conquering hero. Fan in
love with any one you like, excepting
always May Brooke. ! am half In love
with her myself"
These words brought them to the
door of large house, the last in the
street at which the doctor immedi-
ately knocked
Charles Ruthven and Frank Brent
had been at college together and there
they had contracted friendship that
promised TO last as long as they both
lived. Frank studied medicine and
finally settled in Upton, Il small town
in leiccstershire, where he bought "A
practice, which by dint of hard work,
he succeeded in making Il very good
one. He lived with his mother in n
large red-brick house in the middle of
the principal street There was no one
in the town or neighborhood who did
not like and esteem DIR, Brent Char
ley had gone into the army as soon MS
he had left college. He had neither
parents, brothers nor sisters living.
and seemed almost alone in the world:
but he loved the profession and made
his way in it. During an Indian out
break he distinguished himself greatly. .
and was mentioned with honor in sew
eral dispatches, and finally had been
promoted to the rank of captain. In
one Of the engagements he had been
severely wounded, and was obliged to
return to England to recruit his health.
1t was lonely work coming home. No
friendly face greeted the invalid as he
left the vessel and once more set his
foot upon English soil. There was
some one waiting for everybody else.
but no one for him; and 1t was at that
moment that Captain Ruthven made /
I'm his mind that thopa cbOuI6 bn ~