The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-03-16

man! exclaimed the Jovia,
TcN rector OF Menstone, the
Rev. Harry Ingold, squarson Of the
Old school, now fast passing away.
Mountjoy started as the older man
laid his hand OH his shoulder.
Not toothache. I'm thankful TO say
I've never been troubled with that III
my life
Then It must be the other thing.
lngold linked his arm into his friend
and drew him into recess. There were
several Of these convenient resting
places in the great ballroom of Mel
lans Castle.
The scene was certainly not one
which favored either melancholy ol
abstraction. Sir Harry Gayter. thc
owner of Mellans. was giving a bal
to inaugurate his shrievalty of the low
liest county of England, in the eyes Of
at any rate, its inhabitants, Devon. Ii
was an affair of the elite of the coun.
ty, with n large military. naval and
marine element thrown in, to give Il
touch of brilliGnce and color TO the Ell.
semble. 1t may be doubted whether
more beautiful women or finer body
of men had ever before responded to
the hospitable invitation of the lord
OF Mellans Castle than on this particl.
lar occasion
From the alcove to which Ingold and
Mountjoy had retired glimpses could
be obtained of the dancers as they
foated past on the carefully polished
floor. Gerald sat forward looking ca.
gerly at the couples gracefully circline
round to the tune of waltz, played
by the marine band from Plymouth
stationed in the whispering gallery.
The younger man was so intent and
preoccupied that he seemed already to
have forgotten-at any rate, he was OBJ
Hvious of-the propinquity of his COM
panion.
Ingold looked at the fresh. strong,
handsome face with evident sympathy
He knew perfectly what was passing
behind that inadequate. ill-fittlng mask.
He knew that every time the revolu.
ton Of the dance brought Bertha
Reeve and her partner, Lord Dayre,
into Mountjoy's line of vision. hard
ness came about the flexible mouth,
and something very like pain showed
itself in the clear gray eyes.
You don't think Bertha would ever
look at him. do you, Gerald? Why,
she could crumple him up in tlO pa I'm
Of one hand. She is the finest girl in
the room, and that's not saying little.
And he! Why. he has the intellect and
frame of an understood monkey.
What does it matter to me whether
she looks at him or not? Besides. yo,l
never know what u woman thinks or
what she likes"
Don't you? / do. l never was q
marrying man; but not the most in
veterate husband in this room, or any.
where else, for that matter. can teach
me about what q woman likes or dis
likes"
Perhaps, then" he remarked, some.
what testify, you will tell me what
they do likeg"
well, above all things. some one
stronger than themselves-more inches,
more fibre, more strength. Only q
woman who wants title, and can
content herself with that and nothing
more, will marry Dayre; and can
assure you. with all the confidence in
ufe. that woman is not Bertha Reeve"
II cannot help thinking some
times" Gerald said almost under
his breath.
That Bertha cares for you loves
you" put in the parson.
Almost that" Mountjoy assented,
after pause.
why don't You take your COURAGE
In both hands. and ask herr"
Gerald looked at his friend.
How can I?'
"Why not?"
"You know the state Of my ex-
chequer just as well as I do. have
the Oldest name In the county and the
poorest property. My pedigree is as
long as my rent roll is short. Bertha
Is Miss Reeve. of Reeve, the richest
girl In the west, absolute mistress of
herself and all her belongings. If she
were poor would ask her to 20 with
me to Canada, or somewhere. and we
would make out life together somehow.
But as 1t Is! Would not men say I
was fortune hunter? Nay. should
[ not feel like one myself? cannot
even talk to her like can TO other
girls. / should say that she thinks
that fellow Dayre genius by the side
VI me. Look at them now"
The dance was over. They were now
At the further end Of the salon. Lord
Dayre was half head shorter than
his companion. An ill-matched pair
physically. any one would have said
off-hand. But those who knew the cir.
cumstanees might have judged difYer.
sntly. For In rank Dayre would take
rank Of any one at the ball. and In
wealth the mistress OF Reeve, an Or
phan ruling In her own right. had NO
peer.
Neither Ingold nor Afountjoy spoke
word for the next few minutes,
which sscmed like an eternity to one
81 them At any rate. Gerald felt per-
eectly certain that what he loved r,ost