The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-04-11


as thick as peas, close to you?"
"Never you mind what l meanr
Symington retorted.
"Humph!" said Fitzroy. "If some
folks choose to be reticent, others can
be equally SOP
Just as you please" said Syming-
ton, laughing.
Fitzroy hugged himself. He had
the best excuse in The world now for
not telling his rival about the leaky
punt he had discovered under Farmer
Hatheway's old barn.
He'll send to Philadelphia to-
night" thought he His lilies will
come from the florists. all packed in
wet cotton, tomorrow evening. I'll
be up at sunrise. and bring the fiow-
crs, all wet with dew, as a morning
Offering to Olives breakfast table;
and he may laugh who wins.
Mr.. Symington went to the railroad
station and sent Il note to Phlladel-
phia by the conductor of the evening
train-just precisely as Ferdinand
Fitzroy had conjectured he would.
Fltzroy slept, with his watch in his
hand, lest sunrise should steal on
him unawares.
And, early next morning, Symington
was snoring comfortably as Fitzroy
passed the young mans door. Ferdin-
and's heart thrilled with triumph us
he heard the somnolent sounds.
Cool and fresh, and wax-like. glim-
mered the lilies in the purple flush of
the glorious midsummer dawn; sweet
and clear echoed the songs OF the rob
ins and thrushes in the alder boughs
that dipped their green fingers in the
water.
Bring on your boat, my lad" said
Fitzroy to the boy who sat waiting on
the shore.
Her leaks BIT" hesitated the boy.
Dad, he nailed a piece of ollcloth in
her bottom, but it amt no good"
Nonsense" said Fitzroy. "Here.
give me the oars! Now steer, and
don't let's hear any more of your non
sense. Whoop. Hurrah.-here we are"
The stern of the boat ran into the
mat of water-lilies with soft rustic
of crushing greenery. Fitzroy caught
greedily at the many blossom cups
and half-open buds, pure as if they
were carved in pearl.
This is something like" painted he.
"If only Symington could see me now
Hold on. though! must have yonder
great, shining fowerr'
Rising up in the boat, he leaned over
nearly his whole length to reach the
royal blossom-still it evaded him.
II will have it," he muttered, with
n reckless plunge.
"0h, take care. s.r." squeakcd the
boy.
But his counsel came too late. The
boat gave lurch. Fitzroy lost his
balance, anc over he went--splash-
into the still and shining water.
Dear heart alive, sir, don't fret,
You amt drowned-nor you ain't
hurt. It's nothin' on airth but good
scare; and them Hatheways ought to
be indicted for coaxin' anybody to go
out in their old leaky, le-trap of
boat-that they ought
Mr.. Fitzroy sat in big rocking
chair In Farmer Westwood's kitchen.
dressed in an old blue-fannel dress
Ing gown which belonged to that gen
tleman's father. frllled night-cap
tied about his ears. his feet thrust in
to coarse carpet slippers. and a wooden
stocking tied about his neck-Mrs.
Westwood's panacea for all possible
and impossible ailments.
Here's the mustard plaster" said
Mrs. WestwoOd, triumphantly. "And
here's the sage tea. Drink 1t now, like
darling good gentleman, and then
Ill get sponge and wash the mud off
your face"
But say, look herew sputtered
Fitzroy, getting a chance glimpse of
himself In the little asparagus-shad
owed mirror that hung below the
clock, Pm such Judy of a slghtr"
"Oh, never mlnd.' purred benign
Mrs. Westwood. There's nobody to
see you except"
AT that instant Olive Harcourt came
in, robed in cool white muslin her
golden hair floating around her like n
cloud.
Mrs. Westwood-" she began.
And then. struck with an irresist.
ible sense of the ludlcrous, she burst
out laughing.
Pray forgive me, Mr.. FitZroy," she
at last enunciated; "but you do look
so exactly like the picture of Little
Red Riding Hoou's grandmother!
only came in to offer my box of
homeopathic remedies, in case you
should have taken cold"
And she ran out again. nearly chok-
ing with renewed laughter.
F'itzroy. scarlet with modification,
at once perceived how the matter
stood. They had taken him, In tine
full tide of his ill-luck, to the very
farm house that sheltered the fair
head of Olive Harcourt! And about in
the same moment the glib voice Of
John Symington sounded ON the rose
wreathed porch.
"Ah, Miss Harcourt, the gods them.
selves have rained down gifts upon
u.s. See what l have gotw
"Water-liliesl Oh. what beautiesw
cried out Olive, rapturously.
II found them lying ON the shore OF
the river, near IN old overturned boat
Some water nymph has heard your
longlngs and gratifles them thusp'
"Oh, | am so gladv'
"And lam l not to have my re-
wardY