The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-10-11

| VI II HeHNN, Nncdnt luce, OF tne EngllSn
language spoken in way never before
heard in those high halls of learning.
This was Helen Shellhammer's motherl
Kate" said Agatha. one afternoon,
"why do you suppose Helen doesn't in.
troduce me to her mother?'
~ suppose because she's ashamed OF
her. | told you that Helen doesn't
appreciate either you or college"
There were many thoughts in
| Agatha's head those last days. but one
thought never left her. and that was OF
Helen. Still no opportunity to speak
to her. TO find out, to know-not until
| the very morning of commencement.
| Fifteen minutes before the time
| when the class must assemble for the
entering march Agatha knocked at
Helen's door, and found her standing
before the bureau. Just putting on the
black gown and bachelors hood
Agatha wasted no prellminarles.
Tell me. Helen" she said.
miss Ainsley is going"
"And you. Helen?"
"Oh. | don't knowl Mother is here
you know, and I can't tell her. She
thinks I'm going home now to live.
But, Agatha. l can't give up college!
love it so!'
Agatha spoke with a strange stern.
ness: "If YOU loved it more you could
give il up"
Helen turned upon her. "would you
give it up-to go home, to my home
you, Agatha?''
Agatha raised wide eyes to Helen's
face, and in them there was-for the
first time to Helen's view-a great
WEAKNESS.
"Do you ask me-" whispered Agatha,
''if would give up college for the sake
of my mother?'
Just then came tapping at the door,
and some one entered who started back
shyly on seeing a stranger. The bird
in her bonnet was purple and orange.
The hair was drawn from the temples
in little braids looped over her ears,
from which dangled Jet earrings. Her
dress was made with a basque. The
black mitts showed the hands of the
farm wife who works along with her
maids. She spoke with q drawl. and
with a softening of SIS and an inter-
change of VS. aid VS..
Agatha held out both her hands. 81
am so glad to meet Helen's motherr
she said. I'm Agatha"
"Oh have heard my Nellie speak of
you!" cried the mother. "You are the
one she loves the best of them all. She
is good girl, my Nellie-and smartT'
Call that face dull or vacant, all
alight with love as it was!
Now she comes home at last to
her papa and me. Papa says. when he
put me on the cars. AT last she comes
home to stayr Papa he couldn't come,
and Nellie thought maybe I'd get tired,
but l guess mammas don't get tired.
And now we go home together! 1t is
quiet in the house without Nellie, and
four years is long at home alone. The
others are all gone away. Nellie is our
baby"
She turned from Agatha to gaze
proudly at her tall daughter. Helen
was quiet, looking into the mysterious
dark eyes that met hers in the mirror.
The two weeks battle was at its crisis;
it was to be fought through now.
The mother spoke again to Agatha:
Sometimes I worry. 1 do not say it
to papa. but sometimes think Nellie
will not like to stay at home. 1t is not
like her school. Perhaps she will not
like to stay with papa and me-" The
wisttulness Of her words made them a
question, which Agatha answered:
"Oh. yes, l know Helen will be happy
at home with you"
They We're speaking to each other,
but they both looked at Helen.
"So?" asked the mother, but of
Helen, not of Agatha. seeming almost
to guess the conflict, Then, when
Helen gave her no reassuring word,
she turned to Agatha with forced po-
liteness.
Your mamma, is she here?"
The words We're like a stab. under
which Agatha grew white. 81 have no
one here" she said. "My mother is
dead"
What was there in that still voice
that made the mother and daughter
turn so quickly to each other? A veil
fell from Helen's eyes. The battle was
won forever.
Helen folded her mother close in her
arms; she kissed her.
Mother" said Helen. and her voice
was solemn with love, Il would rather
20 home to live with you and father
than anything else in all the world"
The mother did not speak. The
tears We're running down her cheeks,
but her face was beautiful with the
beauty of a mother who has missed
her child, and whose longing is sat
isfied.
1t was not Helen, but her mother,
who first remembered Agatha. She
put aside Helen's clinging hands, and
turned to the other girl. She stretched
out her arms to her "Dearyw' she
said
Agatha put her arms round her neck
and bowed her head on her shoulder.
kiss me-" she whispered. kiss me,
because my mother isn't here
Youths Companion
King Edward Playing Croquet.
The King has taken up crOquet again
and His Majesty played on three af-
J,trfper hfg cfav