The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-10-06
WRITTEN IN
ASHES
BY Crittendcn Marriott
COPYRIGHT, 1905, bu T. c. Eustmsnt

or MS ncnrtStrlnSS come TO me, lie
echoed glcefully. That means yes OF
course. Talk about luck, Let's see!
It's 8 o'clock now; II can catch the
o o'clock train I ought to get there by
tomorrow noon
Yes, sab, Miss Mason's In, sab.
Walk right In, sah." The old colorcd
man drew aside the thick portiercs
that hung In the doorway and adj
mittcd Frank to the parlor. The voices
of both had been low and the mans
footsteps made no sound on the soft
carpet rs he advanced into the roon-
advanced so silently that girl. stand
ing by the mantel, with her face rest
Ing on her outflung arm, did not hear
his approach.
Frank halted and gazed at her with
devouring eyes. There she stood. she
whom he had come a thousand miles
to see. She had sent for him and he
had come. IIenceforth she was his
forever
Suddenly mutiled sob reached his
ear. "Oh. Frank" came murlnur
1--WE lost YOU: lost YOU
Half smiling. half grieving. the man
started forward. "Oh. no. Kate" he
exclaimed. You haven't lost mc--nor
shall YOU"
With startled cry the girl swung
rounl. Then she threw up her hand,
Tending him off. "Mr. Howard" she
exclaimed. "Oh. Oh. Oh. IL beg
your pardon. You-you startled me.
When-whcn did you arrive?"
This minute. Old Tom let me in.
IL couldn't help hearing what you
said. Oh, Kate
You didn't. didn't say anything.
You heard nothing. Oh. II you are Il
gentleman YOU will forget everything
you heard. oh, l can't stand it, I
can't stand it," With Il sudden turn
she tried to rush from the room.
But Frank intercepted her. Kate,
Kate he cried. I'll forget it If YOU
want me to, though it was the sweet
est thing l ever heard. But
Cease. Cease! You will drive me
mad"
"Why so, Kate. darling? Don't you
care for me at all? I hoped when you
te!cgraph"l me-
Il telcgraphed you. I didn't
didn't. What do you mean?'
You didn't telegraph me! Then who
did," Instantly it flashed on Frank
that his letter must have 6RlenI nIii5 int" "I, ti,r
taken advantage Of it to mock him. 1T
ly: "a cruel trick"
Trick echoed the girl. her eyes
half bllnled with scalding tears, which
she tried desperately to crush back
ut was no trick Kate telcgraphcd
You, OF course. Who clse?"
Kate? What Kate?'
What Kate! My cousin, Kate
Brcck. OF course"
Kate Brock! What in Gods name
had she to do answering my letter to
you?'
ITO me-" The girl faltcred, and her
cheek changed suddenly from red to
white. ITO mc?" she whispered again.
To me? OH With gesture Of
hands.
With single step. Frank was by hcr
side and had grasped her roughly in
his arms. Yes" lie cried Yes, to
you. To you, whom have loved ever
since the first minute saw you. To
you. who have been my star of hone
for more than year. To you. of whom
| have thought. for whom / have toiled.
for whom l have Oh, how could
there be any mistake about it,
wrote to you and to you only. T.
Your letter was addressed to Kate
Breck,' Sobbcd the girl
1T couldn't have been" insisted the
man, pressing the yielding form closer
larity Of the names even when | was
writing and took particular pains to
make sure | addressed it to you-to
You to you. But il doesn't matter
now-nOthng matters now My dar-
ling. have surprised your secret. For
give me for It. though God knows how
happy IT makes he. But / give you
mine in exchange. / love you. I love
you"
But the girl pushed him back, freeing
herself suddenly
1T Is too late" she said hollowly-
too late. Your letter came to Kate,
and she accepted you. She loves you.
Frank, almost as much rs do. think,
and she has accepted you You must
20 through with it now. You Will pre-
tcnd-you will marry herr
Marry her. ! will not. I'll do moth !
Ing so foolish. 1t was mistake. I'll |
not ruin all our lives by pretending"
"But you must
There Is no need" Interrupted a
voice. And Kate Breck, white to the
lips. but with n spot OF bright color
blazing on her cheeks, stepped into the
parlor. II owe you both an apology"
she continued as the two faced her
1T wasn't my fault at first, but after
ward. Your letter was addressed cor
rectly, Mr.. Howard, addressed to Kate
Mason. Dut II wnG fiaIIyoroH 70 p,o b,,