The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-03-08

inquired of a porter the next train on
TO the junction for Applebury, and
then discovered that he was both hun
CRY and faint for want of food He
went out into the slippery. muddy
street at the back of the house on the
Parade, and at length found a quiet
little eating house, where he was
served with meal by girl who had
n plying eye, after consultation with
her superior in command. At o'clock
he was again on his way in the train.
in the company this time of other fell
low creatures, who one and all regard
ed him with feeling akin to that
with which they would have submitted
TO the company of dangerous animal.
Harborde noticed it after a time, and
putting his hand to his head suddenly
made the discovery that his hair was
noticeably short After this he real
lied that he was marked man, and no
longer wondered why the lady opposite
drew her warm plaid dress away from
his feet, and the other lady with two
children sidled MS far from him as pos
sible, and asked the guard TO find her
seats in another carriage at the next
station.
He was innocent, bat how could he
explain 1t TO them? If they could but
know how he had suffered surely they
would weep. He hadn't the paper with
him; even if he had perhaps they would
not believe that he and the Thomas
Harborde mentioned in the paragraph
Were one and the same. Two men got
in where the lady with the children
got out They each of them threw
him a glance. shrugged their shoulders
and then became immersed in their
papers
1t was quite dark when Applebury
was reached and Harborde. luggage
less. speedily passed out of the station
without being recognized. There
seemed little alteration in the place.
Several of the shops-now gay with
Christmas goods and finery--in the
main street now had large plate-glass
windows in place of more countrified
fronts, but were otherwise much as
fifteen years ago. For moment he
stood confused, staring up and down
the street, regarded by the passers-by
with curiosity. Then he remembered
that he would have to go along the
street. past the grocer's whose window
projected Il yard into the footpath.
turn down the by-street, and then again
turning take the road leading TO his
home.
In ten minutes lie reached the garden
gate. He had run part of the way,
and now he could not make up his
mind to go up the drive to the door
What if they We're all dead? He grew
sick at the very idea There was
light in his mothers room, which was
at the front of the house. What if she
was ill-perhaps dying? At last his
legs carried him up the drive which
swept around the little front lawn in
semi-circle. He heard the bell tinkle
shrilly at the back of the house. The
sound seemed like home. All at once
he remembered how, years ago, he
banged it with q long-handled broom
till it tangled against its fellow on
either side.
The door opened. A flood of light
streamed out on to the gravel 1t was
a strange face, and the face sent an
icy shock to his heart. Far outside
himself he heard a voice he did not
recognize as his own asking if DR..
Harborde We're in. A year seemed to
pass before the servant said: NO."
adding, did you wish to see him par
ticular?"
eyes"
Hell be in in half an hour"
Isis Mrs. Harborde in? Is she
alive?" said the man at the door,
throwing the words at her when once
his tongue consented to frame them.
"Why, Lor' bless me, yes Come,
none of that"
But 1t was no use. The man she had
just noticed had suspiciously short
hair and strange, Withholding face,
had pushed past her, thrown open the
sitting-room door, stumbled into it and
thrown his arms around a sweet-faced
old lady who rose in alarm at his sud.
den entrance.
"My son. my SOM" rang out through
the house. Mother! motherw
The girl stood rooted to the spot,
then she ran to Jane, and the two of
them came out into the passage. In
the Nsitting-room with its pink-shaded
lamp a woman was seated kissing
every line on her sons face-every line
that the long years had written. And
he stroked the hair that still lay thick,
though white, in a coil at the back of
her head.
Suddenly the man started up.
"JessY he asked, huskily.
Some one who had lain, half-stunned
with joy, in a wicker chair well out
of the range of the lamp.llght, came
into his vision.
"Jessw he cried, folding her in his
arms whilst the room swan round,
my Jess"
Tom came the answer.
"But am old" said he; $50 Old"
"And I also, with the sadness and
loneliness of waiting. But now--now
l am young again"
The voice of the elder woman broke
the silence after a moment: "For this
my son was dead and is alive again"
And they began TO be merry.-Black
and White.