The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-10-01

full choice of hours. and I to retain
the waltz"
"Oh. couldn't be SO selfish as to
agree to that and so spoil your work.
she exclaimed hastily. II am only a
beginner, and Baby Barron would be
quite tired out with two sittings In
one day"
1Then suppose we paint together
and interchange ideas?" he suggested
eagerly. 1.-TWO heads, you know
Leslie Maynard hesitated for some
moments.
at is very generous Of you 70 put
It that way" she said with a little
smile. @But II you wish it, H.
sThe ayes have 1t, Miss Maynard" "
he broke in laughingly. "And well
pass now, with your permission. to
the next order OF the day. He
turned quickly to Baby Barron. who
had been watching the scene with
gravely observant eyes.
"How would you like new frock
"a new frock with frills and lace,
Baby Barron, to have your portrait
taken in by your pity lady?''
A sudden light came into the big
blue eyes, but she said nothing
"And socks" he continued eagerly,
brown ones and little brown shoee?"
Still Baby Barron said nothing.
Only she passed her hands slowly
over the frayed brown frock and
glanced down meditatively at the
crinkled, cavernous boots.
"And a sash, too--a big blue sash
round your waist, Baby Barron?" he
added hastily.
A slow smile overspread her face.
She nodded vigorously as the smile
reached the deep blue eyes, which
shone like twin stars.
"You shall have them, then-to-
morrow, perhaps. Now, what do you
say?"
With a quantity demure gravity
Baby Barron put her soft little grub
by hand into his, looking up to him
with simple childlike winsomeness.
Jack Ethan lifted her up in his arms
and left on her cheek soft kind OF
baby caress.
The friendship thus oddly insti-
tuted between the man and the girl
grew and deepened daily In Leslie
Maynard Jack Ethan speedily recog-
nized a kindred soul in the art they
both loved.
Insensibly on Jack Eltham's side
friendship deepened and passed into
richer, stronger feeling. And she
to Leslie Maynard those days were
strangely sweet. Though she hardly
dare acknowledge, even to herself
the true cause, yet in her innermost
heart she felt and knew it. She
hoped he would forget her--that
promise of one short year ago, so hur
riedly and wildly, yet so solemnly
given, would ever obtrude itself; ye
even as she hoped she took pleasure
In doubling. For she was woman
and very young one. withal.
In the stern of boat that lay al
most motionless in the soft lap, lap
ping of the incoming tide in tn,
drowsy hush of the summer day
Leslie Maynard reclined, her lef
hand playing with the tiller, the littl,
figure of Baby Barron, great tgeI
lily clutched tight In her hands anC
a look of solemn content in the larg'
blue eyes, curled up beside ner. Op
posite the two, on one of the eros
thwarts, sat Jack Ethan.
Isn't it too perfect for words?
said the girl softly, breaking a loni
silence that neither had noted, he
glance wandering shoreward, wher
cleaning white in the sun the quain
sea girt Brighton of the North la,
nesting at the feet of low foreste,
hills, over whose crest the pine tree
hung like dark green cloud. Z"
shall be so sorry to leave it all. L
am going away tomorrow, a faint
hesitating note in her voice.
"Going away tomorrow" JacI
Ethan could only repeat her word
DULY.
yes; I must 60 My holiday i
up" she almost whispered. 1t wa
harder far, this parting, than she ha
thought. The sudden stricken loo
in the eyes of the man before her ha
thrilled her with the keenest pain.
But your picture--it is not We
finished" he stammered in reply
why are you leaving so suddenly"
She was silent, but her eyes me
his gaze with look of strange appes
In their depths.
"Tell me, Miss Maynard-Leslie-
claim a right to know-the right c
one who loves you," he insiste
gently. "You must know-you mus
have seen 1t. Tell me, may hope
: some day.-you will return it?"
: "Don't. don,tl" she cried piteousl!
turning aside that he might not wi
ness the struggle at her heart.
Have l spoken, then, too late? ]
there another? Answer me, Lesli,
and will go and not again troubl
you"
There is another, but-but not 9
you think" she added in fair
whisper
"Who is It? must hear. Yo
, must tell me all now" His eye
sought and held hers masterfully.
A quick wave of color flooded h
cheeks. 1T is no one you know" sh
! answered, with = little catch in he
voice. 1T was to--to please m
/ father--a year ago--when he died.
4 "Do you love him. Leslie, tn
man? Answer me from your heart
: Jack Eltham's voice shook with II
earnestness of his appeal. In II