The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-09-07

pain, which yet was keenest pleasure,
smote her heart.
The days gl!ded on. The moon fulied
and waned. A month had passed since
Jack Raymond had flung down the
gauntlet, and she, with fearless fingers.
had stopped and picked it up. y
month! but what had it brought to
them both? No longer they jested as
before--no longer they spoke of trl-
umph or defeat; yet each knew their
blades were crossed, and they them
selves in the hottest Of the fight.
August was nearing its close. The
pleasant summer was almost at an
end.
"The winter soon will be here" said
Ethc.. as they sauntered together. late
one afternoon. upon the cliffs. with the
sen lashing itself far below them into
white. impotent foam. Are YOU
sorry
Il have not thought of it," he re-
piled.
The next moment the girl clapped her
hands.
"Oh, look"' she exclaimed. "The new
moon. Let us wish"
An instant they stood silent, regard
ing the pale crescent far above them.
what was your wish?' she ques-
toned.
THAT you would ordain that for me
there should be no winter, but an eter-
nal, glorious summer" he answered,
earnestly, turning and taking both her
hands.
1t had come, then. She had seen it
from afar; yet its coming found her all
unprepared to meet it. Her very soul
was in chaos. she had lost the power
to think or reason.
'I-what have | to do with changing
the seasons?" she stammered, ut last
with Il little, embarrassed laugh.
Ethel. do not trihe, Must | tell the
wonderful fascination You have eXer-
cised over me from the first moment
OF our meeting? Is the road to your
heart so long, so hard a one, that. after
MI my struggle, l bave missed my
wayT'
How Subtly sweet were his words.
| One moment she was tempted to up
| lift the lovely eyes and let him read
| his answer; the next, she steeled her
self against it.
He had boldly prophesied this way
not thus should his prophecy be full
| filed. Were he earnest, the future
would tell ii; We're lie jesting, the Jest
should not be at her expense
Has the play grown monotonous,
that you would ring the curtain down
so sOon?" she said.
What do you mean?" he asked.
II have enjoyed it so much that
almost hate to have it end" she an
swered. you are a capital actor, Mr..
Raymond"
His grasp tlghtened on her arm
his face grew very white.
Dare you tell me you have been
only acting, Ethel? Unsay those
words! love you, darling. Have
you no return for me?"
Again she hesitated. Could II be
love which was tugging at her heart
strings-love which tempted her to lay
down her weapons, and declare defeat
swecter than any victory? Not yet
not yet!
She looked up in his face; she fancled
she detected a little gimmer in his
eyes, stern and dark though they were
"Do you know what I wished:" she
said, in answer to his question, and
pointing to the moon. 81 wished my
new dresses, Oh their way from Paris
might be a success. Worth is so apt
to make bunders, nowadays. Let Us
20 in, Mr.. Raymond. 1t Is almost
tea time and | am growing hungry"
Certainly" he answered, haughtily
and in silence they returned to til,
house.
But, that evening, Ethel looked fo
; her friend in vain. On going to hel
room, she found on her table q note
. Hastily tearing it open, she read thes
lines
1t Is right that you should have tn
t palm Of victory. Freely | accord /
l. you. | stuked all, and lost. Yo,
! staked nothing, and won! love,
Il you-heartless, souless though you ar
/ loved you In the first hour we met
/ Gods knows | would have striven 4
/ prove it to you, even as | shall nov
strive to wrench it from my heart
j Were you at my feet as few hour
4 ago was at yours, would turn you
t prayer to mockery, as you turned mine
My one earnest wish foi your futur
Z! happiness is that your Partisan toilet
!, always may prove success"
This, and the signature, were al
5 Once. twice, thrice, Ethel read and re
d read the cold, cutting words.
r Were you at my feet, | would tur
g your prayer to mockery, as you turne
Il mine" So soon, then, he had ceased I
Il love her, and she-ah, In this momeI
q her punishment had commenced.
d She had but meant to try q lltt
Longer. She had forgotten a mans dii
nifty, mans love. are not always to |
valued at q woman's weak caprice.
II She had thrust her bare. unprotecte
| hands into the fame, and willed thu
ig 1t should not burn. Now that 1t Ia
eaten Its cruel way into the flesh. 81
~ could not wiring them in impotent a.
20 guish, knowing that she herself ha
thrust aside the cool, healing bal
~ which would have brought oblivion ,
TO any pain.
lt All night she lay with wlde-ops
eyes, fully dressed as she had throw
I herself upon her couch, and the lett
I'd the first and only letter Jack had ev
| G..l 10 In. H.. A