The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-09-05

side.
Timothy Burt required the minut-
est particulars of people whom until
then he had totally forgotten, and he
was marvelously surprised TO find
so many of them dead. 1t was like
turning over full page to encounter
a blankl
"We be gettln' along. Tim: gettin'
woldish with never chick nor child
to comfort us. 1t do zim pity. too
If you'd married LII"
He silenced her abruptly, and again
the goldcn-haircd vision swept fresh
across his fancy.
at is to be hoped" he said. not
without latent jealousy. that Loocy's
children favor her. That Mech was
always dumbledore of n man-not
but what he'd a-done Tor you right
enough"
He had no intention of being rude.
but in the old days Martha had never
minced matters, and he saw no rca-
son TO mince them now.
"They are knowledgeable." she an
swered modestly. 'and the eldest girl
is like what Loocy used to be, so they
tell me. The buoys wur n bit wild
as lads"
Tim Burt assumed an almost pa
rental dlspleasure.
mo management about the father"
he said. I'D have hided them prop
or. l never could bear bad idle
buoys."
"And yet I can mind of some bad
buoys caught stealing apples in
Squire Thorn's orchard. Tomfalr-
maids. they were-beauties!'
Tim Burt actually laughed.
"And l was the only one caught.
The baillff hided me for the lot. But
you are right about the Tom-falr-
maids, they were worth hiding"
"Timw she said, and her voice
grew more earnest: Tin, do you
never banker after the old placer"
II have no time for such fancles,
or l might"
His apathy stirred her into pas
slonate speech.
Il couldn't bidc quiet but for the
hope of saving enough to carry me
back. OH when l do think of all the
miles-the weary miles, 1 'Zim as it
can't be true. Sometimes in the
work room L see the old home
so plain as can be! l smell
the gilly flowers until I'm sick with
longing. Your house was too back
sunded to have them so early as we
-turrlble backsunded your garden
was, but the sun would wake up
mornings before even the wood-pig
cons were calling in copse. Can't you
hear them calling: Go to school, you
you down the knap, where the man
lived who was hagrod. Don't you
mind of the beautiful fresh smell of
the earth, at the autumn plowing,
and can't you see the hedges all a-fire
with red leaves and burries?"
You have changed" he said won
deringly. Il never thought you cared
trump for such idle fancies. Now,
Loocy---"
ITS being away" she interrupted
hurriedly. land upon times it Is like
n hunger that nothing will stay. One
day in the gardens 1 heard sudden
like the tapping of water, Just as
the sea would lap in summer, upon
the pebble-ridge of the cove. The
leaplng of my heart nearly stopped
It; but when / looked there was only
foolish little duck squawketing in
a puddle"
She was terribly in earnest then,
and unsympathetic Timothy Burt
even felt a thrill of something like
pity, but she had almost forgotten
him, for the still waters running so
deep and so silently for years had 1t
last tumultously overfiowed.
II do fear sometimes that-I may
be strook for death before I've time
to get home. Oh. to die and be bur-
ried there | shall never bide quiet
unless l am laid away In that loe
corner with the dear void folks. You
mind the little loe corner down by
the plow ground? Your poor void
mother Is buried there, Tim; and
tits but a shabby grave for such as
her, but there is just space enough
left for little body like me-
She had not the least idea of ask
ing any help from him, and she came
to herself trembling and ashamed.
She rose to go, but he stayed her.
She had touched him home at last.
and his own vision was as clotted
and blurred as hers; for once upon
Il time he had loved his mother dearly.
There was long pause, and then
he plunged his hand into his pocket.
bringing out all the gold 1t con-
tanned.
'For the hospital" he said huslily.
"Stay, 1t is not enough, you shall have
more. / will send for some"
And he did. She went away with
her thin, little, shallow pocket weight
ed down with gold. But he did more,
for he sent her home as his paid
agent TO personally superintend the
erection of q suitable monument over
Ibis mothers grave. Before accept
ing the commission, she owned to the
innocent deception. and Tim Burt
felt honestly glad that, through his
means his old love might return Ia
comfort to her native land
The JOY of going home nearly killed
Lucy. until she got used to 1t; but the
grand memorial over poor, homely
Mrs. Burt almost crowded Lucy her.