The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-08-31

sHehce anu isoiation ike
- the relic of long dead
~o~ past. Not the abandoned
relic, however, for the hand of pains
taking florist and gardener was in evil
dence in the little yard on which the
house fronted.
In spite of TIE flowers. however
there was such an atmosphere of sa-
cred quiet about the house that except
for the presence of a .abby cat on the
step, it would have seemed to be unin-
habited. But any urchin along the
street could have told you who lived
there; IL was Miss Phoebe" while the
question, How long has she lived
there?" would invariably have brought
the answer. shes always lived there
Just across the road from Miss Phoe-
be's residence stood a plain. grim. old
two-story building, whose front door
step abutted on the pavement. AS of
the other house across the way, any
one I'm the neighborhood could have
told you who the occupant was, and
Of him, too. would have said that he
bad always lived there.
Certainly every morning for more
than twenty-five years Mr.. Lorton had
been seen to issue from his front door
punctually at o'clock, in order to
ride to the station in the old bus
which passed at that hour. And from
her window Miss Phoebe had watched
his departure each morning. and not
ed his return at evening. by the faint
glow of light through the chlnks of
the ever-closed blinds.
Thus had passed twenty-five years,
when one morning there occurred an
unprecedented break in the chain
forged by long habit; the old bus
passed down on its O'Clock trip, and
Mr.. LortOn failed to make his appear
ance. Naturally. Miss Phoebe was
moved from her wOnted placlllty, as
one planet in a system is disturbed by
the least erratic movement of another
In its orbit.
All through the long hours of the
morning she watched the door of the
house across the street for the appear
ance of its owner, but at last she was
forced to conclude that some import
ant engagement must have called him
forth before the fixed hour of his rls-
isg.
Late In the afternoon she went about
the garden attending the flowers with
her, usual car There was a small
square hole In the side of one of the
gatepCsts, where pair Of the prettlest
OF the, blue-coated songsters had nest
ed every year, feeling secure from mo-
lestation under Miss Phoebes kind
iy protection.
From time to time Miss Phoebe
glanced at the closed house over the
way. II was silent and still. II was
not yet time 70: the return OF Mr.
Loring. if lie had gone away that
morning.
While Miss Phoebe was leaning
against the little gate. her spirit drift
Ing with the gentle current Of happy
memories. she was suddenl- startled
from her drcamland voyage by {
strange noise in the post at her side.
Quickly she glanced around, just II
time 10 see a rat leap from the littl'
square hole in the post. dragging will
Il to the ground the debris Of blue
birds nest OF the season past. Th
agile rodent scampeged away amOn'
the ground Cinging vines, and Mis-
Phoebe stopped down to pick up tn
nest. II seemed the first time that til,
little square hole had ever been emp
ty; and as she rose she stopped 4
peer into the long,lnhabited shelter o
the nesting birds. now cleared OF III
little specimen of bird architecture
AS she glanced into the cavity, her ey'
caught sight OF some white object IA
back in It's depths. After trying in vail
to make ont what II was, she picked
uD little stick. ana thrustms It Int
She hoe. ncountered-what?
seemed Only a piece OF waste paper
yet at the sight Of ii Miss Phoeb,
Strengthened mp and leaned forwar,
with ono elbow placed on top Of tin
Old fence post. while her breath cam
and went In little quick gasps.
With nm effort she reused herself
and this fin'e dragged the little papa
from the hole. Perhaps the bluebird
had carried Il In. and. finding II III
available for their use. had pushed
10 the rear out OF their way. AT an
rate. 1t had evidently lain there Il
many years. as the curves OF the WI
ter mafss were brown with age. Ha
eagerly half fearfiily. she unfolde
the llt'le sheet. and. although the tw
light was deepenlng. aud Miss Pho
be's eyes were not as strong as the
once were. she read on til the In,
faded letter was deciphered. Thei
without sound she sank down ar
buried her face In her hands.
II vas almost dark when Miss Pho,
be nnally dragged herself from N
camp grass and entered the houy
once inside the stately old drawing
room. she drew the folded paper fro
lier bosom. and again read II owe
while tears coursed slowly down h
checks
She approached an old brown cal
net which stood In a corner OF Il
room. and. taking therefrom lltt
rosswooi casket laid the scrap OF .
Rss within It.