The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-12-14

purInsh, giving thick velvety out
lines 10 the hedges and lending to the
houses unaccuStomed shapes.
But there was one man In Kestor
who lid not see the fog or feel its
moisture. David Greet swung oper
the door of his house and looked out
but the cloudy street might not have
existed for all the impression it made
upon his brain. After a few seconds
of that dull stare he pulled the door
roughly to behind him and strobe
down the street.
The sound of his footsteps fell
sharply in the silence. The fishers
Were all in, SO were the laborlng peo-
pie. Each tiny house turned upon the
darkness a little yellow eye of light.
That eye looked askance at any person
foolish enough to leave Il comfortable
home on such night; for its glance
did not travel far. The fog covered
1t with an eyeid of dusly gloom.
Keston might have lain in the glare
of the sunlight for all the difference
1t made to David Greet, but the fog
was more ia accord with his mood.
With a sure foot he travcrsed streets
and turned corners. When he found
the house he wanted he paused just
a moment at the door. That was not
the pause of hesitation. On the mans
dark face no waverng showed itself.
only q dull foreboding. His lips moved
as IL he were formulating some speech
of which he wished to make himself
word certain before entering. Final
ly he turned the handle of the door and
entered.
The first footstep took Him into the
one lighted room in the house, for the
front door gave upon it.
1t was occupied b. two women-one,
slight and bent as a withered bough,
looked up from the fire and the COM
pound she was stirring 10 greet the
tall figure in the doorway; the other
did not raised her head from the work
at which she sewed.
She was quite young woman, tall
rather than otherwise, dark skinned
and dark eyed. About her was n re-
gal air that seemed TO fill the small
room and dwarf all it contained.
The mans gaze was upon her but
she showed 10 consciousness of the
fact. She went on sewing, sewing,
pulling the needle out with deliber-
ate movement that in some subtle way
spoke of nerves all awry. Her lips
said, in their settled curves. that the
silence might remain unbroken for
l.fnua la 1.
one uneasy glance at her face the old
woman SET down her pOrridgc stick
and turned again 10 her son. ITS you,
David, Is it, she said, stifily. "Shut
the door at your back You're lettin'
MI ,he mist in, and the air Is chill"
The man shut the door. When lie
turned again there was an added som.
brencss on his face. I'm not going to
wait long. mother" he said quietly.
81 have come to fetch Margot home"
There waSa silence.
'Do you hear, Margot?" said Jane
Greet.
The other woman did not reply. But
for the moving needle she might have
been carved from stone.
The old woman looked from the girl
"a her son, from one dark face to the
other. They were curlously alike,
those two faces. beth showing the i'm
press of a strong and stubborn Will;
they were curiously alike, too, the va
ryinG fires IN the girls eyes leaping
out to meet sober practically and
steadfastness TO those Of the man.
"Margot, are you ready?" said
David.
He waited again. and again the nee
de went in and out, his only reply.
After a pause. "She says she is not |
eoin' back to you," said Jane Greet I'M
Willingly
she has said that TO me, too" said |
David Greet; that is 10 say, she has |
written ii. She wrote 1t in hard,
crue. letter. which she left for me to
read when came in"
In spite Of himself his voice shook
He paused for a moment to steady 1t.
81 shall not believe that letter. Mar
got, IL was unworthy of you. | shall
not believe that you mean 10 do any'
thing so cruel and wicked The word
came out with a jerk. "Margot, am
waiting TO take you home"
she would not answer.
with a quick stride he crossed the
room. by God. you shall speak to
mey' he cried. II am not n dog that
do not deserve word--though you
are not a woman. but stone, or you
would not sit there and refuse to utter
~ Speakare you or are you not com
ing homer'
Without raising her eyes, Il am not
coming" said MargOt Greet.
These were her only words; she
could not be induced to speak again.
Jane Greet went with her son out,
side the door.
"she will come round, lad she will |
come round she said.
He shook his head, his face harden
Ing. ''fou do not know Margot II
she says she will not come, she will
never come lie said.
The old woman caught his arm.
"What was II all about? You we're
foolish 10 cross her. You knew her.
you say; you might have known better
than to set her contrary Ike this"
David turned away. breathing heav.
tiy. There's the weakness OF
strength and the ss>-riness OF weak
ness.v be SAID "Xou can give In to Z |
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