The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-13

! M |;
NNoE'


III AVA Now and again she looked
To< with sad eyes on her gar.
den bloom. for flowers were almost all
of sweetness and joy in life left to her
|now.
Her life had been sorrow all through:
onow. when she began to hope she might
be within measurable distance OF the
lend. an acGuescence and a peace had
|come 10 her unknown hitherto in her
|stormy life. Something akin to pleas.
lure she felt at the growing and the
kthrivng of her flowers, watching the
small shoots working through the
..round and the gradual unfolding OF
Ileaf and bud to flower. Each plant was
"a nursling. each separate plot the re-
&sult of work and economy. And Sylvia
<NIilvain often thanked God that.
Though nearly all of earth's goods
had been taken from her. still enough
had been left to make one little garden
beautiful. Her cottage. too. expressed
herself; she had only three rooms. hut
These were delicate and dainty, though
her sitting room was but cottage
Kitchen and the walls of her little bed
chamber were whitewashed.
Still, woman must have something
10 love, and Sylvia, who had had
ches with sorrow. now accepted pow
frty with peace.
A man walked through the woods
which surrounded the tiny cottage.
Ind came straight up to the wooden
|kate, and looked down the tagged path
between its candytuft and ivy leafed
Reranium. to where the fair woman sat
n her spinning wheel. For IA: she
was. though youth had long left her,
but age had forgotten her, being merci-
Hui to some: for age has its favorites,
Ind Sylvia was one. She was dressed
Ike a Quakeress rather than peasant.
IN plain, straight. gray gown; a
Ehte fichu. folded, showed n white
found neck. Her face was absolutely
|fEhite, except for her mouth. which
y lad not lost the red of her girlhood.
~ md the eyes were calm and large and
Tray. with eyelashes curling up to-
Eard the level brows.
X All this the man noted as he stood
fifth his hand on the latch. and the
tenderness of her figure and of her
rms and wrists. as she paused in her
pinnlng to look at nlm. He waited
pr her to speak, and she, being a lone
woman in cottage, perhaps had
pine momentary thrill of fear at his
pproach.
But he was old, she thought. and she
NV that he was tired. and ii was q
|ng way to the nearest village, so Mrs
Iilvain spoke.
DO you want to find Westford Lees?
is nearly mile from here
II am very tired" he said simply.
nd leaned with his arms on the gar
Fn gate.
He seemed to breathe in the sweet
ess and beauty of the garden, and
RS Mlvain waited. wondering wheth-
to bid him come in and rest. for
was very tired and worn way
rer. and she saw on his scanned
rown face the marks of much toll and
any sorrows. While Sylvia Milva.n
oked rs If she could never grow old.
wayfarer looked as if he had never
Zen young.
VIII you come and rest hcre:" she
id, and went herself to open her
te, and he followed rs in a dream.
She, going on before, could not sec
expression Of his face-surprise
cceeding rapture. and rapture anX-
y. But he said nothing till they
Pre- inside her cottage-a little
|ssagc, with primitive wooden
Pircasc OH one side of he- open
Ichen door. For ii was really a
chen, with stone floor and red brick
eplace and oven. and brick hearth
side which Persian kitten lay
He'd up on sheepskin rug. In con,
st 10 the dresser with It's willow
b ttern dishes. its pewter plates and
lgs, the tall clock, the old straight
fked chairs. We're the embroidery
tine, a gold thimble. a rosewood
'rkbox lined with blue satin, a pail
silver handled scissors. On til,
IN, unyarnlshed oak table stood {
wi OF flowers, and at the widely
ned lattice windows short linen cur
d hs. worked in crewels. and wild,
hd0w seats cushioned like sofas
q Dade him rest in one while sh,
% pared the tea. She realized at one,
& ~ ne was not a common wayfarer
speech was as her own. Each rec
/, hzed the true position of the other
\. ugh she lived in n cottage Kitchen
f; ne was a tired, shabby wandere
ii 'he roads and fields. She saw hi
D Fs turn to her bookcase beside tn
q Fpiace over her table and within
eh of her hand when she sat Il
straight-backed armchair.
y an that Keats-you--" He s.oppe,
70 her look of surprise.
VIVA saw him turning over til
yes Of little first edition OF Keats
N ms. given her years ago by he
nd love- She sighed; he heard til
ana echoed 1t as he replaced th
le volume.
% 10 you live all alone here" h
al ted.
p range to say, she d.d not resen
ha familiarity.
live alone, except for my lltti
e sani; but | wait for my SON"
! Your son:r
es' he Is away; but lie is on hi
/ home"
ny Where has he been?"
mere do all mothers sons go now
y" SAID, and. alas! often stay? NJ
~ ,nahi God, is coming home. II