The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-04-10

| q gentle rytnmlcdl nOtlOn. ne Si"'S-
full tendris of seaweed attached to the
rocks foated back and forth and back
in the water that had returned to them
once more. Slowly, slowly the incom-
| ing flood drew nearer TO the foot OF
| the cliff. where, on the hard dry sand,
man lay face downwards. Nearer
| and vet nearer it came to the motion
less form with a soothing. caressing
murmur as to q tired child until 1t
broke upon the fingers of the out
stretched hand-and still the silent
figure lay rigid and undisturbed.
When the morning dawned, and the
little white sailed boats left tie shore
in the glad sunlight of the opening
| day. there was found, at the foot OF
the cliff, where the winding path leads
up to Mrs. Miller's house, a mans
hat with piece of paper pinned in
side. on which was written the one
word "Gocd-by." and the hat was
identified as that of Hugh Cameron.
SO 1t came to pass that in one single
day Grace Millers hair turned white.
so also 1t was that when q month
later John Howard. before leaving for
Glasgow, for a position in one Of the
principal banks in that city, asked her
once again IL she would be his wife.
she answered she had no heart for
matrinony and no love for any man.
Thus in one short month she lost the
two persons who were the centre Of
her world.
Time passed away. Then, after two
years, one clustering autumnal day,
when the waves were breaking on the
beach with n sound like thunder, John
Howard came again.
He entered Mrs. Miller's own little
room and stood before her. Her thin,
worn face, and dark shadows under
her eyes struck chill to his heart.
Grace" he blurted out, his love in
his voice, "are you still grieving for
Cameron?"
She looked up at him, smiling
through her tears.
why should you think 1 am still
grieving for any one?" she asked.
He touched her eyes. her forehead,
her cheek.
'You forget" she answered. "Time
changes one. 1T is eight years since
you first knew me, John"
He drew her nearer TO the window
and studied her face as If he would
read her very soul.
"The boy is still alive" he said
quietly, * saw him in London last
week"
She started and turned very pale;
then swayed slightly as If she would
have fallen, but she did not yield to
Howard's supporting arm.
Tell me ALL" she said family.
Still with his eyes upon her face
Howard went on.
After he left you that evening he
spent the night on the beach, but
walked to the junction in time to
catch the first train to London in the
morning. He left his hat, with the
paper in 1t, as a means of revenging
himself on you"
Then he asked the question that was
burning on his tongue.
"Grace, do you care for Cameron?"
The pink stole back into her cheeks,
the light into her eyes, the smile to
her lips.
Il care for him more than any one
in the world, except"
yes" he said, "except-except-"
Except yourself,p she replied.
The words We're uttered under her
breath, yet they reached his ear. He
bent his head to look into her eyes.
Reflect what you are saying.
Ora te," he urged. "Once you did not
care for me at ALL"
Her lashes dropped upon her cheeks.
Il always cared" she whispered.
Then why did you answer NO for
six long years:'
1T was a woman's No John"
"And now?"
IF have grieved it was not for
Hugh Cameron alone"
Then for whom. sweetheart?"
He took the answer from her lbs,
but 1t was not given in words
Waverley Magazine.