The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-01-31

kM ma ing CAP, TOOK OH his FaH'
anna hat, and mopped his
perspiring brow. The brow had broken
from its oldtime limits and reached
nearly to the back of his head. He
was clean shaven and ruddy-a fine
specimen of well-preserved years.
"Whar you want TO go, SURF"
The negro cabman stood with his
hand on the door and bowed obse-
quiously. This was just the kind to
give a half.dollar and ask no charge.
"To Whaley's Hotel"
"Whaley's Hotel, Good gracious!
The negro stepped back and beckoned
to another driver. Then he turned re-
spectfully to his passenger. "Dey amt
no Whaley's Hotel now, sub, but a
passel O. rocks an ole chimney. 1t
done burn down, sub, TO 1 was born,
I reckon
"Hm-mw The stranger was evil
IDENTIFY disconnected "Well, take me
to some hotel"
AS the negro gathered up the lines,
window. "Driver, do we pass by the
presbyterian Cnurcn!
''Yass, suh Go right down Main
street"
"stop when you get there. And
here -
"Thankee, suh,'' said JEFF. He had
not mistaken the species.
Don't drive too fast. 1 want to see
the places as CO."
Judge Blashford was passing through
an experience that, under the most
favorable circumstances. is never with
out its pangs. He was revisiting for
the first time the scene of his early
manhood. He had been educated in
this little Missouri town. 1t was en-
deared to him by many tender assocla-
tions. He had left it youth of twen-
ty and now was returning, forty years
later, expecting to find everything un-
changed. AS he leaned back in the
carriage and closed his eyes, blessed
memories were forming a picture OF
the little old and bare church, which
had been the gate of heaven to his
soul.
"Hyeahs de chu'ch, suh." The car
riage stopped before handsome brick
edifice with cathedral glass and stone
steps.
"The church!'' The Judge sat up
right and looked bewildered.
"Yass, sub. Dis de Presbyterian
Church. Maybe you was thinkin' bout
de old one. Dat done pull down long
time ago, suh."
Judge Bashford experienced feeling
OF keen disappointment. "Drive on"
he said briefly.
He was looking out intently as they
passed down the street. Yes" he
said musingly, there's the old catalpa
in the Riley yard. That's the first
familiar thing I've seen;" and there
came into his mind a whimsical recol-
lection of Holmes words:
There's nothing on earth that keeps its
youth,
So far as l know, but tree and truth"
stop at the next corner, boy" said
the judge. The next corner would be
the old Dyer place. 1t rose before him
as if he had seen it yesterday. the big,
square white house with brick pave
ment leading up to it. Set in this walk
was generous heart filed with flow-
ers, painters brush" and golden but
TONS" pink and portulaca. BY the
side of the parlor window on the east
was smoke tree, and grape arbor
was in the garden. The carriage
stopped. "Hyeah's de corner, sub"
1t had been transformed into com
monplace business block. Not a yes
tige of smoke tree or flowers left.
Drive me to the hotel" said the
passenger, with kindling sympathy
for Rip Van Wrinkle in his heart. He
felt bereaved. The depression that
had fallen upon him deepened as he
talked with the landlord after dinner.
1t seemed to him that he had returned
to a-place Of tombs. The "boys" We're
gone; the "girls" had passed away 1t
was some minutes before he could
bring himself to the point of asking
that for which he had come back.
"And Colonel Cailborne's family?" he
said at last, -interrogatiyely. what
has become of them?"
The landlord shook his head. "AIost
of them are gone. The old Colonel
died twenty years ago, / reckon, and
his wife soon after. John, you remem-
Der John. the youngest boy; well. he
was killed. His girl lives here with
Miss Bette now; she raised her.
Mighty pretty girl she is, too. They
say she is going to marry young Fales.
You remember the Faleses, don't your
And the voluble landlord switched Off
to conversational sidetrack. The
judge did not follow him closely. He
had the information that he most de-
sired.
Miss Bette Claiborne was at that
precise moment making strawberry
preserves. II won't put up many"
she was thinking rather drearily, as
sue measured out the sugar. "When
little Bettie's gone there won't be any.
body but Delphy and me, and-rm
AFRAID we won't have much appetite"
Life looked little gray to Miss Bet
tie Little Bette had been discussing
only the night before. the arrangements
ior her marriage. All of this called
back Hood of memories to Miss Ret
ne, as she sat In her own room late I'm
tne day, rocking gently in the moon.
light. Little Bettie's confidence had
made her heart strangely tender. Did
she ever love anybody? All. she rose
from her chair iioh4~a 4a -~Ss