The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-04-11
HE sunset was just penciling
lines of zigzag gold athwart


little nlder-fringed river; and the train
from New York, after n minutes
stop. flung out its black banner of
smoke, and glided swiftly on, gradu-
ally accelerating its speed, as it
moved out of sight.
Only two passengers for Cruxbor-
ough. 1t was no fashionable summer
ing place like Saratoga, Cape May.
or even Clifton Springs. but there
were few evenings when there were
not at least half n dozen to spring
from the platform of the New York
cars.
Tonight, however, two only were
visible-two who stood staring at each
other with sort of unwilling recog-
milton.
ITS never you. Fitzroy?" said one,
in pearl-colored summer suit. with
an expensive Panama hat and gloves
of the palest primrose tint.
''Bless me, Symington, who expect
ed to see you here. of all places in the
world!' calculated Mr.. Fltzroy, who
was attired In imma culate white, with
a dainty sole-leather valise in one
band, and cigar in the other.
Both young men looked decidedly
sheepish, as they might have done
were both very small boys, detected
by their maternal ancestors in the
very act of stealing sugar from the
top shelf In the cupboard.
There's a hotel here, 1 suppose"
said Symington. gazing dubiOusly
around at the two or three houses,
the church and the miscellaneous
store which constituted the village of
Cruxborough.
why, of course" responded Titz-
roy, who was of a sanguinc disposi-
ton.
And both the gentlemen adjourned
to the hotel-a one-story building
with a barroom of dlsproportlonate
size-tO remove the dust of travel
and smoke the cigar Of peace or rath-
er of truce.
Both John Symington and Ferdin-
and Fitzroy had come on the same
errand-to see Olive Harcourt the
belle and beauty. who had come to
Cruxborough to recruit her roses for
the next Philadelphia season.
Miss Harcourt had supposed that
CruXborough would afford her safe
retreat from admirers and borcs alike.
but she was mistaken. True love will
find its way through bolts and bars.
and it is not likely that n few miles
of wood and swamp will prove any
obstacle. At all events, it did not in
the individual instances of Mr.. Sym
ington and his friend, Ferdinand FitZ.
roy.
olive Harcourt was not surprised to
see them the next day, as she sat
sketching on the slope of a hill.
How is old Philadelphia: z" she in
quired, ''hot and dusty as ever?"
well, yes" said Symington; "but
1t has its advantages. Don't you find
it very dull here?'
''Not so very" Miss Harcourt an
swered. I'm in farm house-the
sweetest old elm-shaded spot you ever
sawr
(But she did not invite Mr.. Symlng-
ton to come there, Fitzroy observed
with delight.)
@hhy Plctty utTt.
Symington asked, with simulated ease
of manner.
"Oh. plenty of 'em! By-the-way,
can either of you swim?" cried Olive,
her deep blue eyes sparkling into sud
den brightness.
Mr.. Symington unwillingly owned
that he could not-neither, 1t appeared,
could Mr.. Fitzroy.
"Of course mott Nobody even can
do what 1 want 'em to dor pouted
Olive. There are some of the sweet
est water-lilies you ever saw just out
in the stream, and do so want few
to model In wax"
Are they far? Perhaps could
reach 'em with the hook of my cane?"
suggested Symington.
mo, you couldn't" said Olive i'm
patiently. But I'll go and show them
to you, all the same. I'd give anything
in the world for some of themv'
Anything" repeated Symington,
laughing.
Yes. anything" said Olive, with a
saucy nod
She knew She was safe enough.
Just where the River Croix makes a
little bend around the abrupt slopes of
tiny island, sweeping into the broad.
er and bluer eXpanse beyond lay the
tangle of broad green leaves, float
Ing serenely, starred here and there
with the cream-whlte cups of the
superb water-lllies
"Oh, see them" cried Olive, longing
ly clasping her hands together. "If l
could only get one-just onew
Mr.. Fitzroy looked at Mr. Syming-
ton; Mr.. Symlngton eyed the far-off
lilies. Both of them wished them
selves crocodiles, water-rats, speckled
trout-anything, in fact, which could
swim.
Very pretty said Symington.
Upon my word. superb" said Fltz-
roy.
They continued their walk over the
crest OF the hill to see a cascade,
which was the only curiosity about
Cruxborough, and then down by a
ruined paper-mill. which was consid-
cred picturesque; and then home.
About those water-liles?" said Sy-
mlngton, mediiatively.
Yes" said Fltzroy, "she must have
some water-lilies."
And the man that gets them stands
the best in her good giaces, eh?"
80 1t would appear"
both young men went l,acL IN thai,