The Somerset reporter., 1905-10-12
WRITTEN IN
ASHES
BY Crittenden Marriott

CopW7Ght' 1905 by p {. Edstmen
Come to me. 1 must you. KATE.
The words on the telegraph blank
danced before Frank Towards eyes,
keeping tune to the joyful throbbing
of his heartstrings. Come to me- he
echoed gleefully. THAT means yes, of
course. Talk about luck. Let's see,
Its 8 O'Clock now; if l can catch the
8 o'clock train l ought to get there by
tomorrow noon"
Yes, sab, Miss Mason's in, sab.
Walk right in, sab" The old colored
man drew aside the thick portieres
that hung in the doorway ana adj
mtted Frank to the parlor. The voices
of both had been low and the mans
footsteps made no sound on the soft
| carpet as he advanced into the room
advanced SO silently that Il girl, stand
ing by the mantel, with her face rest
| ing on her 0uthung arm, did not hear
his approach
Frank halted and gazed at her with
| deyouring eyes. There she stood, She
| whom he had come thousand miles
to see She had sent for him and he
had come. Henceforth she was his
forever.
Suddenly mutfled sob reached his
ear. "Oh, Frank" came a murmur,
I'VE lost you; lost your
Half smiling, half grieyng, the man
started forward. "Oh, no, Kate" he
exclaimed. You haven't lost me-nor
shall you"
With a startled cry the girl swung
round. Then she threw up her hand.
Tending him off Mr. Howardw she
exclaimed. oh, OH Oh. II beg
your pardon. You-you startled me.
When-when did you arrlyeY
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. if you are a
gentleman you will forget everything
you heard Oh | can't stand it, l
can't stand it." With n sudden turn
! she tried to rush from the room.
! But Frank intercepted her. Kate,
Kate" he cried. I'm 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 50, Kate, darling? Don't you
care for me at all? l hoped when you
telegraphod me-
Il telegraphed you! l 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 fallen into the
hands of seine practical joker, who had
taken advantage of it to mock him. ut
was cruel trick" he continued bitter
| ly; "a cruel trick"
Trick echoed the girl, her eyes
half blinded with scalding tears, which
she tried desperately to crush back.
ut was no trick. Kate telegraphed
you, of course. Who else?'
Kate? What Kate?"
What Kate! My cousin, Kate
Breck, Of course"
kate Breck, What In Gods name
had she to do answering my letter to
your
ITO me-" The girl faltered, and her
cheek changed suddenly from red to
white ITO me2" she whispered again.
TO me? OH With gesture of
despair she buried her face In her
hQnds.
With single step, Frank was by her
| side and had grasped her roughly in
his arms. Yes" he cried. Yes, to
you. To you, whom l have loved ever
since the first minute | saw you. To
you, who have been my star Of hope
for more than year. To you, of whom
| have thought, for whom | have toiled.
for whom | 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," sobbed the girl.
1T couldn't have been" insisted the
man, pressing the yielding form closer
and closer II remembered the SINH
larity OF the names even when | was
writing and took particular pains to
make sure | addressed it to you-to
| you-to you. But it doesn't matter
now-nothing matters now. My dar
ling. have surprised your secret. For
give me for 1t, though God knows how
happy it makes me But l give you
mine In exchange. ! love you! | 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 as do, think,
and She has accepted you. You must
so through with it now. You will pre-
tend-you will marry herr"
Marry her. | will not. I'll do moth,
ing so foolish. 1t was a mistake. I'll
not ruin all our lives 10y pretending"
"Rut you must"
There is no need" interrupted II
voice And Kate I}reck. white to the
lips. but with spot of bright color
| blazing on her checks. stepped into the