The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-06-28
A "NATIYE"
-
By M. LOUISE CUMMINS
Copyright, 1908, By T. Q. Mcclure

peel these peacheSg It's most train
time, and supper isn't anywhere near
ready"
The voice came with a pleasantly
suggestive clink Of dishes through the
screen door to where Gertrude Wood
ford stood under large elm.
Il think the train is in" she an
swered, entering the cool, pleasant
house in answer to her mothers call.
For the lands sake!v Mrs. Wood
ford turned 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 they?' she
said, watching her daughters pretty
bent head and referring to the fruit.
Not more SO than usual" the girl
laughed.
well, don't care" Mrs. Woodford
declared. "Mr. Garst says he never
tasted sweeter peaches, and as to Mr..
Clifford
Who's trifing with my august APP
pellation?" called a gay voice as a
young fellow swung himself on to the
piazza. Miss Woodford, don't know
which / shall devour first, you or the
peaches, I'm so ravenousr'
rxrac i14c% frS,;,,fr r.. Gov bof rro41..
appetite was all right anyhow" Mrs.
Woodford laughed. did your cousin
come down with you?" she added
Eyes, 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 shaven
face and a figure singularly muscular
in spite of the fact that he walked
with slight limp.
1T is heavenly here after even
day in town." he said. Il have just
been thinking that the most marvel
GUS changes in our lives come when
we least expect them. / wonder If
you know what this summer has been
to me?'
He was looking gravely into her
! eyes, and the color mounted to her tenn
pies
stephen, the fish is getting cold,"
his cousin called impatiently, and Ger
trude went quickly into the house.
In compliance with previous prom
Use to Jack Clifford she went with him
after supper to see the sunset from a
hill near by. When they were seated
on bowlder watching the vast sweep
of ocean and crimsoning sky she turn
ed suddenly to her companion.
why is Mr.. Garst lame?' she asked
gently.
''Well, suppose it won't do any.
harm to tell you," Jack hesitated,
Though we never speak Of it when he
is present His leg was crushed in a
railway accident trying to save the
girl to whom he was engaged"
did he save hery7
eyes"
'Then why were they not married?"
twice his age and the trif1ing adjunct
of $3,OO0,00or'
Gertrude Woodford drew her breath
sharply
"She tried to stuff 1t down Stephens
throat that she was sacificing herself
to save her father from financial ruin,
and | think he believed her." Jack
went ON. 'Then she attempted a
platonic correspondence with him aft
er her marriage, but he would have
none of il. All the same l don't be-
lieve he has ever quite forgotten her.
Anyway. he could not do so now, even
II he would"
What do you meanT'
For she is come, for she is here
as Jean Ingelow says in The Letter
L."
."Here?''
Eyes. at the Ocean View. saw her
on the piazza tonight as l came up
from the train. Handsomer than ever,
by Jove! Tall woman, with bronze
hair
"Bronzed, you mean. saw her ar
rive this morning" Gertrude said cold
~.
sThe old man very considerably
tshufiied off this mortal coll two years
ago, leaving her complete mistress of
his millions" Jack rambled on MY
own opinion is that this alighting next
door to where she knew stephen was
staying in the subdued attractiveness
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 is up here" she said,
with SILVER. LET us get back to the
house"
A group from the summer hotels and
cottages was standing near Mrs. Wood
ford's 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 Garst's former fiancee
The latter turned to her at once, with
q scf11finizinp look The pirl was too