The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-09-20

SHINE uOOulHS lut llOOT was iOl
brighter than that which glowed
within her own heart For tomorrow
her betrothed, whom she had not
seen for three long months. was ex-
pected at Royden Court, the ancient
mansion which had recently become
her home.
She wandered on over the heath,
transformed into a garden of beauty
by the abundant purple heather and
rich, yellow gorse, drinking in with
satisfied eyes the loveliness OF the
scene around-all new and fresh to
her. Behind, nesting in wooded
hollow, lay the old picturesque town
of Somerton; on one side she caught
distant glimpses of the blue ocean,
while before her, bathed in sunlight.
the moor stretched as far as the eye
could reach
Bye-and-bye she sat down amid
the bracken, and was soon lost in
thought, dreaming happy day-dreams
in which DR.. Edwin Talbot bore a
significant part.a
So pleasant were her reflections
that she needed not the fight of
time, nor knew that the sunshine had
faded, until she was startled from
her reverie by a distant peal of
thunder. Looking up in dismay, she
saw that heavy threatening clouds
had effaced the blue of the sky, and
there was every prospect of storm
in the near future.
Clarissa had nervous dread of
thunderstorms, and to be caught in
one out here on the lovely moor
appeared anything but inviting.
She began to retrace her steps hur-
riedly, hoping to be able to reach the
high road and take shelter in some
farmhouse before the storm broke.
but soon found it would be impos-
sible. The clouds grew rapidly
darker, the thunder louder and more
frequent, and huge drops of rain
commenced to fall.
At length, to Clarissa's relief, she
espied in "a hollow tiny cottage
which she had passed unnoticed be-
fore. The door was opened ere she
could knock. and pleasant-faced
old woman bade her welcome to the
shelter of her little home.
Thankful to escape from the
storm, which seemed likely to prove a
severe one. Clarissa entered and took
the chair which was placed for her,
and was soon chatting pleasantly
with her hostess, who led some
what lonely life, having no near
neighbors with whom to exchange
condolences, and hailed this unex-
pected visitor with delight.
Encouraged by her guests's fair
face and sweet smiles, she was soon
launched on the theme so dear to a
mothers heart-the praises of an
only son-and the young girl listened
with sympathetic interest.
Somehow this simple cottager, her
honest, kindly face shining with
pride as she spoke of her boy, at
tracted Clarissa, who had come little
into contact with the lives of the
poor.
He often comes to see me. They
tell me as how he's a grand gentle
man in Lunnon, but he don't forget
his old mother for all that, my boy
Ted don't He do want me to live in
a bigger house in the village, but
like to stay in this little old place.
where l was so happy with my man
for nigh forty years. Look here
missile" taking a photo from be-
tween the leaves of q large Bible
which lay on the shelf, "Ain't he a
4 lad as any mother might be proud
of"
Clarissa took the picture, and
looked at it. A low cry of surprise
escaped her.
Mrs. Brown interpreted the ejacu'
lation as one of admiration, and hel
mothers heart was gratified. She
talked on, but Clarissa heard as one
!. III a dream, her brain bewildered
For the face she gazed upon was thai
OF Edwin Talbot, her afianced hus
band.
How was it this poor old woman
a spoke of him as her boy? 1t could
not be-Edwin was the son of Gen
q eral Talbot, of Heatherton Hall
e Perhaps she had been his nurse
Looking up and striving to speal
calmly, she said:
And Is this your own son? He i!
n very handsome"
81 Yes, miss. that's my boy, the onl!
Fl child as the Lord ever give me, bu
+ he's worth dozen O some folks
sons" asserted the fond mother, un
conscious of tho dismay and conster
nation her words were causing in he
Il visitors mind.
AS Clarissa handed back the treas
a ured portrait, to be replaced in tn
n Bible. she caught sight on the bacl
OF an affectionate inscription to hi
h mother in Edwin's familiar writing
The storm had partially clearel
"A now, and. feeling that she must b
alone 10 think her way through tn
mist OF perplexity which had sud
a denly enveloped her. she starte
nomeward, with gentle words O
thanks to tho widow. who fain woul
nave detained her longer.
Sir Jasper Blois was lnordinatel
proud OF his noble name and Ion
hne OF ancestors. and his daughte
inherited this weakness in no smaI
degrcc. She loved to hear her fathe
tell how their forefathers had com
oven to England with the Conauerol
and 1t had been great satisfactio
10 her to think that her fiance wa