Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-10-12
WRITTEN IN
ASHES
BY crittenden Marriott
Copyright, 1905, bp r. G. Eastnesat


The words on the telegraph blank
danced before Frank Howard's 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 seel
| It's 5 o'clock now; If / can catch the
D o'clock train ought to get there by
tomorrow noon."
Eyes, sab, Miss Mason's in, sab.
Walk right In, sah." The old colored
man drew aside the thick portiereS
that hung in the doorway and adj
mitted 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 girl, stand
I Ing by the mantel, with her face rest
Ing on her outhung arm, did not hear
his approach.
Frank halted and gazed at her with
whom he had come thousand miles
to see. She had sent for him and he
had come. Henceforth she was his
forever.
Suddenly a mufled sob reached his
ear. ooh, Frank came murmur,
1--WE lost you: lost your
Half smiling, half grieving, 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. mfr. Howardr' she
exclaimed. ''Oh! Oh! Oh! IL beg
your pardon. You-you startled me.
When-when did you arrive7"
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 q
gentleman you will forget everything
you heard. Oh. can't stand 1t!
can't stand it" With sudden turn
she tried to rush from the room.
But Frank intercepted her. kate,
Katev' he cried. "I'll forget 1t If you
want me to, though it was the sweet
est thing / ever heard. But
Cease! Cease! You Will drive me
madr
'Why so, Kate, darling? Don't you
care for me at all? hoped when you
telegraphed me-"
Il telegraphed you! / didn't! l
didn't! What do you meanY
you didn't telegraph me! Then who
did? Instantly 1t flashed on Frank
that his letter must have fallen into the
hands of scme practical joker, who had
taken advantage of 1t to mock him. 1T
was cruel trick he continued bitter
"; "a cruel trick
Trick echoed the girl, her eyes
half blinded with scalding tears, which
she tried desperately to crush back.
1T was no trick. Kate telegraphed
you. of course. Who else|
Kate? What Kate?"
what Katel 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 me?r she whispered again.
| ITO me? Ohr' With gesture of
| despair she buried her face in her
hands.
With single step, Frank was by her
| side and had grasped her roughly in
| his arms. Yes he cried. Eyes, to
you. To you, whom I have loved ever
/ since the first minute saw you. To
you, who have been my star of hope
| for more than a year. To you, of whom
have thought, for whom have toiled.
for whom I have Oh, how could
/ there be any mistake about it? l
wrote to you and to you only. r.
Your letter was addressed to Kate
Brock" sobbed the girl
1T couldn't have been," insisted the
man, pressing the yielding form closer
and closer Il 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. Ny dar-
| ling. have surprised your secret. For
give me for it. though God knows how
happy it makes me. But / give you
mine in exchange. / love you. love
your
But the girl pushed him back, freeing
herself suddenly.
1T is too Late she said holloway
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
go through with it now. You viii pre-
tend-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 Brock, white to the
lips, but with a spot Of bright color
blazing on her cheeks, stepped into the