The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-09-26
ULTON COUNTY NEWS.
A ROMANCE OF RAGS
BY Hope Harte.

of the busiest streets Of the city. The
beautiful covered him with white
mantle, and a cold, biting wind swept
chills through his thin, worn coat.
Passers by there were by hundreds, but
none bestowed upon him more than a
dlsiuterested glance. He was a ''stran-
ger within the gate' Of city where
poverty is too common to awake COM
ment.
Rags" was the eminently fitting so
briquet given him by half dozen dew
lllsh youngsters.
"Rags" had walked the streets all day
in a fruitless search for employment.
He was willing to do anything" "For
Gods sake, let me do somethingw
The many times he had made this ap.
peal he had ceased to count. Truly
there was nothing prepossesslng in the
appearance of the shaggy haired man,
with the stoop of GO years and the
burden Of his poverty. And rags "
services were not in demand.
~ WAo 4AlOuHu Luc
thick mist Of snow the electric lights
began to twinkle.
The lonely man on the corner put his
hands in his pockets-they were empty.
He heaved sigh and, turning, entered
n narrow side street leading to cheap
lodging house. The door closed behind
him, and he wended his way up two
flights Of rickety stairs to his room
his homel The mockery of the word
to how many poor, weary, aching.
breaking human heartsl 1t was cheer
less and cold, but the wind didn't blow
in even at that big hole In the window
half so hard as it did on the corner.
and Rags" was grateful for the cot
and the rickety table, with Its new red
and green cover (the donation of some
enterprising "Dorcas club'D, and hard
wooden chair.
A violin case stood In one corner Of
the room.
"Rags" lighted the dirty lamp and
brought forth his old violin. He touch
ed 1t tenderly with his almost frozen
fingers, rested it under his quivering
chin and drew the bow caressingly
across the strings.
He loved it. 1t had been his compan-
ion now for 40 years.
Its every tone was fraught with
sweet memories. When the strings
awoke to magic melody under the pres
sure Of Loves bow, there thrilled an
answering vibration In fair woman's
heart, and even after the heart was
stilled the violin was the medium for
heart to heart" talks-the messenger
from soul to soul. 1t had been his
good fairy" it had brought him into
favor with the tickle goddess. Fortune,
and the queen of fame had smiled
when he and the old fiddle had played
for her-long, long ago.
If Rags" were playing for her to-
night, she would surely lay a laurel
wreath upon his silver hair, and tickle
Fortune should return and fill his pock-
cts with golden nuggets direct from far
Cape Nome, for he played tonight as he
had never played before.
A man passing on the street below
paused and listened. He entered the
lodging house and followed the stairs
up to the half open door whence came
the music. He was a man of 30, per-
haps. and his face was one familiar to
amusement patrons. He waited for the
music to cease
Five-ten minutes-and still the vio-
linist played. Each passing moment the
listener felt more certain that he had
not been mistaken. He peered In at the
door. The faint light fell across the old
mans face, his fingers had warmed, his
eyes flashed, and the love for his old In
strument (ah, there was the secret OF
his power tonight shone In his counte
nance. There was only one thing else
on earth he cared for-since Kate was
gone-and tonight was the last time he
would ever touch the beloved violin!
Tomorrow 1t would hang In som.
pawnbroker's shop, and he
His frame shook with sobs. and tn
music ended in broken chord.
"Fatherw
The word was uttered In low, con.
centrated tone, and the strong hand OF
youth clasped the feeble hand Of age.
"Fatherp'
hc otu listu stuHttu. 4ut gray LledQ
was raised, and the violinist looked
into the handsome face before him.
my boy! My boyw he cried, his
arms round the two things he loved
most on earth, the old violin and his
child
"And you never received my letter
father?" the boy had asked. II supposed
your silence meant that you were still
angry with me. and pride forbade my
writing again."
1T was too hard on you. my lad" the
old man wept. ~''Kate told me so. Six.
teen was but boy. and the circus ring
Is attractive"-
From reserved seat" the young
man Interrupted. But the spangles
are for the benefit of the audience. and
sometimes each separate spangle means
a separate heartache to the wearer.
Many, many times | longed to see the
old home and you and-mother. And
you have been searching for me ever
since"--
And after awhile the young man told
the old one little story Of
One made up
OF loyeliness alone
woman-of her gentle ser
The seeming paragon.
hud l..A, IL a. l.-I.A