Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-09-23
A NATIVE"
By N. LOUISE CUMAiINS

bcreeH uooT u where GertTuue NOOu-
ford stood under large elm.
II think the train IL In" she an
swered, entering the cool, pleasant
house In answer to her mothers call.
For the lands sakeV Mrs. Wood
ford tnrned to her handmade and gave
an order with some asperity. Keeping
summer boarders was really the one
excitement OF her dull life, eagerly
looked forward to during the long win
ter months when her daughter pursued
her musical career In the city and she
lived alone on the rugged Cape.
Small this year, aren't they2" she
said, watching her daughters pretty
bent head and referring to the fruit.
mot more 30 than usual" the girl
laughed
We'll. l don't care" Mrs. Woodford
declared. MIR. Garst says he never
tasted sweeter peaches, and as to Mr.
Clifford
who's trlfing with my august ap
pellatlon" called gay voice as q
young fellow swung himself on to the
piazza. Miss Woodford, | don't know
which | shall devour first, you or the
peaches, I'm so ravenousw
Il was just going to say that your
appetite was all right anyhow" Mrs.
Woodford laughed. Did your cousin
come down with you" she added.
Yes, Garst got as far as the ham
mock and collapsed"
go and call him, Gertrude. Supper
is ready" her mother said.
The girl rose and went through the
hall. Inside the door she paused, look
ing with darkening eyes at the man
who lay full length In the hammock.
The slight clash of the screen as she
stepped outside caused him to turn.
He sprang up at once and came toward
her, showing strong, clean shaver
In spite Of the fact that he walked
with a slight limp.
1T IL heavenly here after even O
day In town." he said. 81 have JUS
been thinking that the most marvel
Gus changes In our lives come wheI
we least expect them. wonder 4
you know what this summer has beer
to meW
He was looking gravely into hel
eyes, and the color mounted to her TEN
pies.
stephen, the fish Ii getting cold
his cousin called impatiently, and Ger
trude went quickly into the house.
| N aamnIla nna NTH "A nrauiauu nrorn.
Use to Jack Clifford she went with him
after supper to see the sunset from a
hill near by. When they were seated
on b0wlder watching the vast sweep
of ocean and crimsonlng sky she turn.
ed suddenly to her companion.
why Ii Mr.. Garst lameT she asked
gently.
well, suppose It won't do any
harm to tell you" Jack hesitated,
though we never speak Of It when he
IL present. His leg was crushed In a
railway accident trying to save the
girl to whom he was engaged"
Did he save herT
YES"
'Then why were they not marriedT
"Oh, she threw him over for man
twice his age and the tri1ing adjunct
OF $3,OOO,OOO"
Gertrude Woodford drew her breath
sharply
"She tried to stun It down Stephens
throat that she was saclfcing herself
to save her father from financial ruin.
and | think he believed her" Jack
went on Then she attempted q
platOnlc correspondence with him aft
err her marriage, but be would have
none Of 1t. All the same ! don't be-
lieve he has ever quite forgotten her.
II he would"
What do you mean"
"'FOr she IL come, for she IL here
as Jean lngelow says In The Letter
L."
"HereW
Eyes, at the Ocean View. | saw her
on the piazza tonight as | came up
from the train. Handsomer than ever,
by Joye! Tall woman. with bronze
hair"
"Bronzed, you mean. | saw her ar.
rive this morning" Gertrude said cold
ly.
"The old man very considerably
'shufied OF this mortal COLI two years
ago, leaving her complete mistress OF
his Millions" Jack rambled on. MY
own opinion Ii that this alighting next
door to where she knew Stephen was
staying In the subdued attractlveness
Of second mourning Is the beginning Of
the end You should have seen him
start when he saw her on the hotel
piazza tonight"
Gertrude rose quickly.
"How cold 1t IL up here" she said,
with a SILVER. Let w get back TO the
house"
A group from the summer hotels and
cottages was standing near Mrs. Wood.
fords house watching the sunset when
they descended. Gertrude would have
passed on, but Jack Clifford detained
her. Unwilling as she was, she had to
submit to an Introduction TO Mrs. Ar.
mitage, Stephen Garsts former fancss
The latter turned 10 her nj once. with
a scrutinlzing look. The girl was too
pretty not 10 be dangerous
ut IL beautiful here In these late
summer weeks" she drawled.
II think II beautiful at all times. The
Cape is my home" Gertrude answered
quietly.
Indeed Then you are native. I
should hardly have thought H."
A faint color rose under the girls
skin at the supercilious tone.
Miss WOodford's forefa theirs settled
here over 200 years ago" 0arst broke
In quietly. II believe her ancestors
for six generations back are buried In
the little cemetery at Plum Cove. Not
many Of US can 20 as far back as
that"
Mrs Arnitage looked quickly from
Garst 10 the girl beyond him. But
Gertrude had left the group with her
head held bigh. She wanted none OF