The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-06-10
The Long Arm
Of Coincidence.
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WONDER why you never
married. Sir Edgar?"
Sir Edgar Winter lifted his

Sir Edgar Winter lifted his
oars out of the water and
looked up at the dainty figure of bis
companion, seated luxuriously among
the cushions of the boat.
81 did once think of marrying, nearly
twenty-five years ago." he replied
thoughtfully.
Really! Oh, do tell me about it.
Or perhaps you would rather not?"
Sir Edgar smiled gravely.
"Oh, there are no painful memories
connected with the subject, 1 assure
you. l will tell you the story"
THANK you. Women are always
interested in love tale, you know. I
should like to hear it," and Mrs. Els
worth was all attention.
She was n pretty woman Of about
thirty-five, the widow of a rich Ian
cashire manufacturer. Some ten years
ago she had married a man nearly
forty years her senior. and had re-
joiced at the opportunity of exchang-
ing the somewhat dull existence of an
obscure country parsonage for life of
wealth and luxury. John Ellsworth
had been both proud and fond of his
young wife, and when, after five years
Of happiness, his death took place he
left her sole mistress of his large
fortune.
But Madge Ellsworth had no inten-
ton of remaining n widow. Her
wealth, together with rather more than
the usual amount of tact-so indispen-
sable for her purpose-had enabled her
to plant her foot on the first rung of
the social ladder, and she meant it to
aid her in mounting a good deal higher.
Chance had thrown her much lately
into the society of Sir Edgar Winter. a
handsome, well-preserved bachelor on
the right side Of fifty. He had proved
to be-if not one of the most devoted
at least an admirer Of hers. and sew
eral of her friends had remarked his
attentions. And Mrs. Ellsworth was
more than willing to receive those at
tentions. Sir Edgar was popular
man, much sought after, and the bar
0netcy was an old one.
They were both at the present time
guests Of Lady Popham at her charm
ing house on the Thames. and Mrs.
Ellsworth had by little strategy man.
aged to get Sir Edgar to take her on
the river for moonlight row. Moon
light on the water savored of sentiment
and romance. and even the coolest had
been known to thaw under such cir
cumstances.
1t was certainly lovely evening.
The moon was climbing higher and
higher in an opal sky. A soft wind
and there was perfect stiffness save
for the cawing of n few rocks and an
occasional slight ripple on the water.
Sir Edgar drew in the oars, letting
the boat drift slowly down the stream.
Then he lit cigarette.
''It was just before left Oxford"
be began. that met Kitty Montgom-
cry. She used to sing and dance at
some theatre in London, and was all
the rage at the time. l don't remem-
ber much about her now. except that
she had very red hair. I thought hel
an adorable creature, and fell violently
in love with her. think Kitty was 0
bit fond of me, too. and I was rather
proud of my conquest, as most of the
fellows of my time had lost theil
hearts, and some of them would have
given lot for even a smile from
Kitty Montgomery.
well, one Sunday happened to bt
spending the day on n friends house
boat up the river. He had invited
lot of theatrical people, and Kitty wal
among the number. Somehow during
the evening she and l managed to Sc
cure boat TO ourselves, and We stol'
away from the rest of the party. /
was n ripping evening, just the sor
Of night to make us sentimental ant
foolish. Moonlight, ripping water
music In the distance-y0u know tn
kind Of thing"
Mrs. Ellsworth nodded. She under
stood perfectly.
well, We were sitting In the stern
and had just begun to talk the usua
sort OF nonsense, and was on the poin
OF asking her to marry me when
party OF Cockney trippers came sud
denly round bend in the river, an
before We had time to realize wha
was happening they ran into us. uI
setting our boat. and turning us Int
the water"
How very dreadful! And so tn
poor thing was drowned, was she?"
Drowned! Not a bit of it," n
turned Sir Edgar, shortly. 1--WE bot
scrambled ashore hardly a bit tn
worse. They managed to rig us OF
with some sort of dry clothing o
the launch, and then we had just tin
to catch our train to Waterloo"
"Thcn you did not finish your pr
posalf"
mo. One does not feel inclined
finish a proposal in railway carrias
among ones friends. We got prett
well chaffed rs II was"
"Of course. quite understand
said Mrs. Ellsworth.
II never had chance of finishing.
was obliged to leave England the Il
lowing day. and. alas! for the co
stancy of man. when returned I hi
completely forgotten her."
How fortunate! l must congrat
Iate you on your escape. Sir Edgs
such marriage would have been litt
short Of madness. Aud what becau
OF ths-the-of Miss MontgomeryY'
sns married . publican shortly {
berward."