The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-12-19
FULTON COUNTY NEWS.
EPPY'S VISIT
A. ITO TOWN
by MAUD SHIELDS.

"Con," she said to her son as the
door closed on the flowing apron
strings, T've got a surprise for
YOU"
Don't spring it on me all at
once; this thundery weather always
unhinges my nerves."
GIVE sent into the country for q
wife for you"
Couldn't you find one in town ?'
looking up from his mayonnaise.
"You can't tell what these town
girls really are; they dress well, talk
well, are all right to look at, but
it's mask, and / want you to be
happy"
"Who is this Phyllis from the
country Anything like the young
lady whose golden hair was hanging
down her back?"
Nonsense, Con. She should be
a dear, simple little soul"
'"They always are. I say, madre,
whatever made you think Of this
comic opera style of thing?"
81 was brought up in the country,
as you know, Con, by simple, un-
worldly people. My foster sister
Martha Perry married a small farm
er and innkeeper called Elijah
Wortley, and this girl, Martha's
daughter, is named after me. / sent
Barnes to the station in the broug-
ham to fetch her." she explained,
walking to the window.
Con rose from the piano with a
smile of amusement as the door
opened to admit Mrs. Vincent's
maid housekeeper and shy, child
ish looking girl in a horribly pro-
vincial green frock and cheap
straw hat, trimmed by palpably in
competent milliner with white satin
ribbon and impossible roses.
Mrs. Vincent hurried forward
and took the girl in a motherly en-
brace, for there was a look of ap-
peal, almost terror, in the soft hazel
eyes.
"You can go, Barnes" she said.
81 will take Hepzibah to her room.
Do they call you Hepzibah, my
dear?"
''Eppy, ma'am."
Con dropped book and stopped
hurriedly to pick it up.
"lhis is my oldest friends daugh-
ter, Con-" Mrs. Vincent said, turn
ing to him with a severe face and
still holding Hepzibah by the hand.
"My dear, this young man is my
adopted SON."
81 hope you're WE'LL" the "young
man" said amiably as the little
trembling hand was transferred to
his palm. eve must try and make
things jolly for you while you're
up"
Hepzibah looking more like a
scared rabbit than anything, Mrs.
Vincent put an arm round her
shoulders, saying kindly:
"Come and take your hat off,
dear. Ring for tea, Con. Hepzi-
bah will be glad of some after her
journey"
The "young man." still smarting
under that appellation, complied.
"Well" he commented inwardly,
with low whistle. "Of all the"-
Words failing him, he shut the
piano with a bang.
To Hepzibah's intense relief the
"young man" was summoned away
the following day on urgent bust
ness connected with his late uncle's
will and was absent about a month.
He returned one evening toward
the end of June, to learn that his
aunt was out dining, but that "Miss
Wortley" was in the morning room.
Miss Wortley! He had forgotten
her very existence. AT the recol-
lection Of the little country maid an
amused smile played round his lips.
'Tll just look in at Miss Wortley
before / dress and have some din
ner," he said as the parlormaid
took possession of his coat and bag.
He opened the morning room door
and looked in. At the far end
stood a huge bowl of goldfish, and
beside it on the floor sat a girl in
tent on the glittering inmates.
Could this be Hepzibah, this dainty
little maid in the white china silk
frock, with the deftly arranged
golden hair? He remembered the
green garment and the struggling
locks under the straw hat
"How are you" he said aloud,
crossing over to her side.
Hepzibah sprang to her feet, scar
let from throat to brow.
'Mrs. Vincent did not expect you
tonight" she said.
owe made a record run or it
would have been tomorrow morning.
So you are all alone, eh, Mimosa? ?"
81 beg your pardon, SIR"
Con laughed pleasantly.
"Oh, | think you must be the
original goldfish, you know. May !
call you o Mimosa Sanp"
"If you like, sir" looking up in
wide eyed astonishment.