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

looking out across the way. Evidently
she was still uneasy about her neigh
Dor, for there was no light from his
window, nor did one appear while
Miss Phoebe watched. although 1t was
late when she retired.
The following morning she again
took her place by the window. But
the bus passed and Mr.. Lorton had not
appeared.
During the day Miss Phoebe called
Dinah to her room.
"Dlnah," she said. 81 believe some
thing has happened to Mr.. Lorton or
he is i'll over there in that house all
alone"
II spec you said it bout right, Miss
Phoebe. cause | ain seen i'm to-day,
nor yistiddy, neither
"Oh, Dinah, it would be awful If he
should die there all alone" and Miss
Phoebe turned away her head.
The afternoon wore away. At length
the shadows began to grow long and
the anxiety of Miss Phoebe's charlt-
able heart overcame her patience.
"Dinah," she said. as she passed
through the hall, II am going to Mr..
Lorton's. feel that it is my duty. for
| am sure he must be ILL.,; and think.
Dlnah, IL he should die there with no
one"-surely the sweet voice trem-
bled-"with no one to hear his last
words"
Out in the yard she sought among
the late flowers until she found sin
gle white rose ready to scatter its pet
ais This sh' plucked; then. passing
through the gateway, crossed the
street.
The Lorton house was an old-fash.
ioned one, with a street door at the
end Of an open entrance. Through this
doorway Miss Phoebe entered and ad-
yanced along the passage made dark
and gloomy by the dense, untrimmed
growth of shrubbery in the little side
yard.
Approaching the door Of what was
probably Mr.. Lorton's sleeping room
she tapped gently upon the panel.
After a moment a weak voice from
within said, Come in."
Miss Phoebe hesitated : moment,
while she felt the blood rush to her
temples; then she firmly turned the
knob and entered.
At the SC und of hes step the figure
turned. revealing the dazed, feever-
frightened eyes of Mr.. Lorton; then a
hand wandered toward table that
stood Gt the head OF the bed. and on
which rested pitcher Of water, q
goblet-and. yes. Miss Phoebe drew n
long breath as she saw that the hand
was reaching for little box in which
| lay the long-seered petals of once
red rose.
With a swift impulse Miss Phoebe
| placed the white rose over the with
! cred petals of the red one. Then lay
| ing her cool hand on the hot fingers of
/ the sick man, she said gently:
You are Ill. Why didn't you send
/ for some one-for-for me?"
The eyes OF the sick man met hers
with a half-dazed expression. Then
ha turned to the wall.
Il know you" he mu;tered. "You
seem real. but you're not-you with
your white rose"
Listen" she said. "Tm going to
send for a doctor now-at once-and
then | will come back and take care
OF you
Again the feyered eyes turned tc
hers. and again they sought the wall
mo use" murmured the hoarss
/ x.pipn NJ 10 If,.a f,,F,,
one who cares-only red roses-red
| roses"
But his visitor, her soft gray eyes
misted with tears, was already hurry
ing across the road; and, although Il
was dark. Dinah was dispatched a
once for doctor. while Miss Phoebe
| hastily gathering from her stores sucl
remedies as she thought might reliev,
the sick man, FASTENED back to his
bedside.
For more than q fo-tr,sh. Mr. I.or
ing lay in the grip OF The fever, attend
ed daily by the physician, and hourly
10y a gray-haired little woman, whC
always wore In the folds of her darl
gown single whlto rose.
Three weeks from the night that hi
npishbOr made he. rirst call he hat
improved so rapidly that Miss Phoe5,
ceased from her visits. though eacl
Gay she sent Dinah with little delicn
: eies and cordial inquiries. Finally
one golden autumn eyeI.lg. Mr.. Lor
ing took his first walk down the road
an occasion long remembered 10y III,
nelghbors. who remarked with de,Ish
the old kindly smile and his woltet
pleasant though short bow OF greet
ing.
Miss Phoebe had no thought Of nj
return until she looked up and saw hlr
pnusing before the gate As his eye
net hers she flushed ever so slight,
: siammered some little phrase OF plea'
} ure for his recovery and then turne
J. toward the house.
r Phoebe" said SIR Lorton.
"Well. Johnr
: He ppt out his hand. In which sh
G allowed her own 20 rest for moMen
e "Phoebe. it's twenty-five years sire
i --since we used to stand aud talk her
together at sunset; butts the littl