The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-08-23
I'm Angels Uniform.

bOyish race, at WnOm the Otner pas
sengers had glanced so often, gripped
his teeth to keep back a shout-or a
sob. Home! For him, the gap In
hose white cliffs looked like the
gate of a paradise. Dear England
after two and a half years In the
Australian husband! London, and
then-his precious Lottie, waiting for
him all these dull months
He would catch the pale, slight
agure by surprise in his strong brown
arms, and tell her that love alone
had drawn him back six months be-
tore his allotted time, and how it had
secretly almost broken his heart to
leave her to her lonely nurses rou-
tine with only his old chum Ferrars
TO watch from distance that no
harm befel her. Only his loye-not
because of that Incredible letter that
had reached him in the wilds two
months ago.
He was clutching 1t now. He
would tear it up and throw the pieces
at her feet. Her tired eyes would fill
and brim over; she would sob out on
mis- shoulder that she had written 1t
on a wild, inexplicable impulse, when
the loneliness of life seemed too
heavy to bear. Yes! He had not
once doubted It, His quiet. trusting
Lottie!
No, there was some strange mis-
take that would be puffed away In a
moment Ferrars would have whis-
pered the word of comfort for him!
Ferrars, the actor, was the one man
living whom he had cared to trust
with his hearts deepest longing. For
that last brief letter that her fingers
had penued had been one to crush
and brutalize any man not so sure of
the woman he had asked to wait!
My Dear Mr.. Joyce--I shall not
be able to write again. You will
think it hard, for a time, maybe, but
you would think still less of me as a
woman if let you go on hoping and
looking forward. Against my will
my feelings have gradually changed.
| shall only ask you, as man, not to
cause unnecessary pain by ever try
ing to see me again. l hold you to
that. Goodbye. e.-Lottie Haynes"
Oh, to see her lips quiver close to
his own againl-to kiss away all the
haze of misunderstanding 'Lottie!
Lottie!" he was whispering to him
self all the way.
London--Amies street.-the house
ltself-at last! One minute more!
1t passed He was turning
away, quite steadily, but with a queer
pallor under his tan. Miss Haynes
was gone away to some hospital, they
told him, staring curiously; that was
all they knew. Lottie had promised
never to give up that room of hers
until he came to take her from 1t as
his dear wife. She had gone. leaving
no clew.
Ten minutes more and he had rung
the same old bell. "Oh, yes, Mr.. Fer
rars is still with u.s. We knew he
expected some friends, but he is not
at home yet" She hesitated.
"Thanks-thanks Archie won't
mind me waitingl" he said, clearing
his husky throat. And he found him
self going dazedly up the stairs.
An then presently he drew in his
breath sharply. A sudden buzz of
voices below; men laughing and chat
tering. Now they were coming up
Archie leaping on ahead. He could
pick out the old careless, rich voice
hn
sands. Then suddenly the door was
pushed back and Ferrars stood there.
Ferrars, not changed an atom!-the
old smile on his dark, keen, good
looking face.
1t died out. Dan Joyce had
sprung, his hand out. that husky
Archie, old fellow" warm and bro
ken on his lips. But that was all.
In the dying light all the blood had
seemed to drain from Ferrars face
and left it gray; hestood like thing
of stone. For a full minute. while
that muffled laughter came in from
the next room, life seemed to have no
meaning, and then Ferrars had closed
the door and held 1t fast.
"You!" he strained out. "You
here--back in England! What
what"
I'm sorry" Dan whispered. 81
never meant to give you that shock
Archie, she = she's gone! Gone!"
His voice broke, he reached out
again, gropingly.
Dan! thought of you as thou
sands of miles away, and-to see you
standing in my room." The hand
fell away. He stood back as if
scarcely breathing, his face turned.
Where is she?" Dan asked
thickly. Il came-I came home be-
cause couldn't live longer without
her, Tell me that, IL you know. and
lIll 60 Where's my LottieP"
Il do know" He had tiptoed to
the door and clicked the key. When
he turned there was sweat on his
forehead, as after a great mental
ordeal. Dan, do know-and cant
help you. Now you know why |
have not written lately-I could not.
l heard heard there was another
man. What could l do when she
asked me, on my honor, never to tell
you where she had gone? I prom
ised; had to. | can't break my
word to a womani"
fou must-and will" Dan whis-
pered' never moving. His blue eyes.
staring past, seemed to see nothing.
l ieit her in your keeping. as my
VIC lllSuu ON elrll. Ynu nnulh haNn