The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-02-14

Lucianf Orme drew his chair lit.
tie nearer to her own.
"Dorothea," he said gently, 1--WE have
been old friends for ever so long. All
that concerns your welfare is of grave
Importance 10 me- Let us forget for
little while that l am your lawyer
and you my client. Let us remember
only that we are friends. Can you
do this?'
She looked at him tcarfully. He had
never seemed so strong before. She
wondered how 1t came about that she
had never before realized what no
bic man he was. 1t seemed SO natu-
raj to run TO him wheneve" che was
in trouble. She had done SO from
child. and was only now beginning to
realize what all this meant to her.
IL can't tell your she sobbed ITS
$3.50 humlliatlng TO have to tell it to
any one-even to you"
He flushed.
''You need not" he said gently. 81
know it already"
She dropped her lace handkerchief
with a start.
"You know itr she gasped. "oh, but
that is impo, slber'
He smiled.
We'll" he admitted quietly, az may
not quite lay claim to positive knowl-
edge. But l can guess. Mr.. Ashley
Greet and Miss Margaret Swan have
decided to throw their lot together
and have been quietly married this
morning. Am l not rlght?"
She nodded
How did you know it?" she asked
tremulously.
The lawyer glanced at the ashes in
the otherwise empty CRATE.
He came to me n little more than
an hour ago." he said dryly. II think
he was then on his way to the church.
He wanted to see the deed of gift"
Dorothea looked up.
But you hadn't one" she cried.
Il don't understand
The lawyer smiled again.
Il had one ready for him." he said.
Some instinct told me that he would
come. So | prepared one, and scrib-
Dled a few names at the foot. Some
people might call it forgery. But
was ready to risk that. He saw it,
and was deceived Then 1 burned It,"
He pointed to the little heap OF
ashes, and was silent
He has nor written to me-" said the
girl. But that horrid old woman has.
They were married half an hour ago.
Oh, dear!-what a miserable, heart
breaking world this lsp'
The lawyer smiled.
You should be thankful it is no
worse" he reminded her. "You have
had a narrow escape, Dorothea. Ash
ley Creet's motives were mercenary.
after all, and l always knew it. 1 am
only too glad to remember that he was
discovered through your own plan. He
will be amply punished when he learns
the truth
And serve him rlghtv' she comment
ed. II will never believe another man
as long as 1 liver
Lucian laughed.
isn't that rather premature-not to
say rude?" he inquired.
She looked into his gray eyes. and
held out her hand.
Except you," she said shyly. II
know can trust you"
THANK YOU" he said simply. 81
may put you to the test some day, Dor
othea."
She blushed prettily. He had let her
see his secret. Then she rose to 90.
"Good-by," she said timidly.
He held her hand for an instant.
"Good-by," he said.
Then he opened the door for her to
pass through.
MAY come and see you on Thurs
dayY he asked.
"Yes," she said, and left him stand
ing there by the open door. q smile
upon his face.
Presently he closed the door very
softly. and went back to his seat. But
he could not settle again to his work.
For he knew now that the way lay
clear before his feet, and Tat sooner
or later he would reach the goal in
which his dearest hopes were cen '~~-
New York Weekly.