The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-04-10
.y HERE is a certain watering
place in Scotland, and in that
place there is a winding path
80 ii. g.. 4ho 80, A

place tHere Us Il Nihuihs PAIN
which leads to the sea. At
the top of the cliff facing that path
there is n house where boarders are re-
ceived during the summer months
that Is the scene of this story
At the time of which write all the
occupants of Cliff House were more or
less interested in a little comedy that
was being played out in their midst.
Comedy-or was it tragedy? For a
boy of twenty TO be fooled and led
captive by an unscrupulors woman.
simply for her own ends. may he n
comedy from the woman's point Of
view, but it will certainly end In trag
sdy for the boy.
Nevertheless. Hugh Cameron being
ais own master and alone in the world
all those among whom for the time
being his lot was cast. waited placidly
Tor the inevitable denouement: all save
his hostess. Mrs. Miller. the friend Of
MS dead mother.
In n small sunny room at the back
of the house Mrs. Miller sat thinking
one morning in July. Her eyes were
ixed with a far-away look upon the
Hills that lay in a dark ridge against
the horizon. Her lips were COM
pressed. her brow knitted. her attl-
tude resolute and determined.
Suddenly the sound of footsteps in
The hall caught her ear. Rising from
1er seat she went to the door, and
called:
Mr.. Howard"
John Howard. the only permanent
ooarder at Cliff House, and cashier in
the bank in town, came in, tall, spare
man of thirty with a plain but
pleasing face, and a manner that
stamped him Enthusiastically as a gen
.leman. The troubled look passed
from Mrs Miller's brow as he en-
tered, and she greeted him with a
smile.
II have been thinking of Hugh
Cameron" she said. as he came up to
he window where she was seated and
ieant against it, looking down at her
bent head. with the coils OF soft brown
hair only partially hidden by her wild
=
widow at twenty.
The mans face clouded.
''The boy is very dear to you" he
remarked, cynically.
Very" was the brief reply.
The cloud deepened perceptlbly.
'That he is considerably your iu-
nior does not matter-he is handsome
fascinating and rich
She rose from her chair. and stood
beside him, laying her hand upon his
arm. Her voice trembled as she spoke,
HE is the only son of dead friend
who was dearer to me than a sister"
yet you have never seen him until
within the last year"
''That makes no difference. l owe
it to his mother to care for her son, -
she answered.
John Howard did not reply A stray
breeze luttered the window curtain
and played with a soft tendril of hair
that had escaped from beneath Mrs
Miller's cap, but her thoughts were
only of the boy.
'Mr. Howard-John-" she said at
last. 81 want you to help me-"
I'm what way?" he asked. His tone
was without enthusiasm.
"To help me to save Hugh Cameron
from the woman who would ruin him
body and soul.
How do you propose to do it,"
81 have a plan. l cannot send her
away from this house-he would fol
low her. 1t is useless to expostulate
with him-he would not listen. No
one has any authority over him"
''Well?"
''There must be a counter and q
stronger attraction. Nothing else will
save him"
"Where will You find such?"
Her face flushed. Her head
dropped, but her voice was firm.
I'm myself" she said
He looked away through the window
again to where the lights and shadows
played OH the soft, smooth turf, ant
the bees droned drowslly in the sun
shine. Her proposition did not strike
him as too self assured or egotistical
for to him she had long been the ont
woman in the world,
She gathered courage and went on
II do not think | am biased by van
ity. All these years since I have ha(
this house | have stri' en-. as you know
to make myself look old. BY my cap
by my dress, by my general style.
have done this"
He nodded acquiescence. No mai
kuew better than John Howard how
beautiful Grace Miller could be wheI
she chose.
'But-but If leave off this disguise
II l allow myself TO look my best, Il
put on one side the consideration
which have prompted me to kill m.
youth"
"Yes-what then?"
She laughed a soft, low laugh, fron
which nervousness was not entlrel,
absent.
'Then-I do not doubt that I coul,
take the boy from the woman VIII
enthralls him."
"And when you have done so, wha
is to follow" he asked in a hard, dr.,
voice.
Having undermined Miss Martin
vile influence. 1t VIII be 4 comparative
ly easy task TO cure the nfatuatio
which has been the means 10 tha