The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-05-10

81 M letter from among the little
pile Of envelopes that lay
on the breakfast table Hes coming
home on a six months leave" she CON
tinued, glancing over the thin. rustling
leaves. Expects to be in New York
before the end of the month. Just
think of it, haven't seen him since he
went to the Philippines years ago.
You've heard Of Major Anderson"
she asked, handing the letter across
the table to her husband.
Bob Wharton propped the 0imsy
note paper against his coffee cup.
cousin or something. isn't he?' he in
quired.
Peggy nodded. Third cousin on
dads side, and an old sweetheart" she
added, laughing.
"Yesf"
"Oh, long ago, when I was at school"
"Well. hope we shall see something
OF him. said Rob. rolling a cigarette
preparatory TO his departure for the
day. "By the way, there's something
special on tonight, so don't wait up.
I'm afraid I shall be late"
Peggy's face clouded Very late?"
she asked In a low voice. He bent
tenderly over the small. dark head
"Never mind, little girl" he said.
"Must make hay while the sun shines.
you know"
When he had gone, Peggy glanced
through the letter again. and letting it
fall unheeded to the floor, lapsed into
reyerie. Old scenes and half forgotten
memories fitted by her mental vision
in pleasant panorama. She recalled
the little old-world fishing town where,
fresh from school, she and young Tom
Anderson had spent so many joyous
youthful hours, fishing, climbing the
rocks or pulling out against the tide
II wonder what he looks like after
all these years" she mused II don't
SUPPOSE | should know him now" and
she sighed deeply-possibly over her
lost youth.
When three years ago the bells had
rung for Peggy's wedding. there had
not been happier bride in the world.
Bob Wharton, with his clear-cut face
and tall, athletic figure had always
been her beau ideal of what a lover
should be; and when she had stepped, a
new-made bride, from the little ivy
covered church into the sunshine of
glorious June morning the future had
appeared bright and beautiful indeed.
But Bob Wharton was a writer-an
author Of no mean repute, and rising
man in the journalistic wOrld-and the
life of New York journalist is not all
that could be desired from q young
wife's point of view. The exigencies Of
this, the most strenuous Of the profes-
sions, necessitated rather too much alb
sence from home to be conducive TO
domestic bliss. Bob loved his wife
with strong, unshakable devotion,
but ambition is apt to narrow the men
tai field of vision, and so it happened
that the writer failed TO notice, as the
months merged into years, that his
wife had begun to suffer keenly from
his continued, If unlntentlonal neglect
Bob and his wife occupied a small
but attractive apartment in the centre
of New York Returning home one
evening rather earlier than usual, some
three weeks after the arrival Of the
letter from the Philippines, he OBJ
served that the reception room was
brilliantly lighted up.
On entering he discovered the cause
to be a tall, dark man in gray, who
rose TO meet him.
'This is Major Anderson" said
Peggy.
80
One morning, about six months later.
Bob Wharton stood before his wife
with an angry flush upon his face.
Where, then, do you propose going
to-night?" he asked uupleasantly.
Peggy leaned back I'm the low basket
chair, laughing softly.
"ro the OPERA" she replied. Tom
has bought the tickets. and Laura is
coming. It is Faust tonight. do love
Faust and she begun to hum the
"Salve dimora' softly, looking at heI
husband between half-closed eyes.
"Oh," he said, how very delightful;
you are indeed most fortunate.
should say you will miss Major Ander-
son rather much when he goes back to
his regiment"
She looked up quickly. and the
"Salye dimora" ceased. "Is It possible
that you are jealous Of JackT Hel
widely opened gray eyes expressing
unbounded astonishment.
"No, Of course mott Don't be alb
surd. Anderson is one Of the bes
fellows. But at the same time. Peggy
/ think you have been going about
great deal too much lately. Why ham
il, / hardly ever see you at all"
I'm here all day" she arglSd.
"You are here, but / am not. Whel
/ get night Off now, | invariably hayl
to spend 1t alone, because you have
made your own arrangements for tho
evening. 1t won't do Peggy; wife,
place should be Mt her own freslde.
lie tramped about the room, virtuousl,
indignant Peggy gave n little trill o
laughter. "Why, you We're only telllnt
Tom the other day how very glad yol
were to have some one 10 take M
about, because you had so little oppor
tunlty yourself" she cried.
Eyes, but dash 1t. Peggy, you ar
away nearly every night"
"And why not?" she asked. "Ton
will be going back TO the Philippine
soon, and want to euJoy myself Will
have the chance. Must make ha,