The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-09-09

L
into possession of a decent little leg
aev left me by my uncle, but l had
also won the hand and heart of Ada
Miller. the prettiest and most charm
ing young lady in the whole county.
People said her father was i'm
mensely rich and that she would
rome in for a handsome fortune at
his death, but what cared l about
that? For had l not sufficient for us
both, even If she were penniless?
And did 1 not love her with the
whole strength of pure and disin-
terested love?
cannot begin to describe her to
you, for the task is quite beyond me.
Suffice it to say she was admired by
all who knew her, and loved by not a
Few. The latter circumstances ceased
TO disturb me when once l became her
accepted lover, though before that
time it occasioned me a great deal of
anxiety, and caused me to spend
many a restless night.
OF one lover in particular had
been jealous, for to my excited and
fear-laden imagination he seemed to
possess everything that young lady
could desire. He was tall, broad
shouldered, handsome, with pleas
ing manner and faultless dress, and
In addition to all this, he was en-
dowed with more than an average
share of this worlds goods.
He was madly in love with Ada,
but conducted his wooing in a way
with which not even his closest rival
could find fault. Kind. considerate
and gentlemanly, never obtruding his
presence unnecessarily, he yet man
aged to pay her considerable atten-
tion, and many an anxious time did
! spend, fearing that his superior at
fractions would put me in the shade.
Fate, however, decided otherwise,
Tor when / summoned up courage to
put my fortune to the test, Ada shyly
accepted me, informing me in a most
engaging manner that she had never
loved anyone else. You may be sure
that | was in ecstasies, and scarcely
knew for the next few months
whether I walked upon air or upon
solid ground.
Our engagement was to last a
year. at the end of that time our
marriage was to take place. The
time had almost elapsed, and nothing
mad occurred to mar the harmony of
the scene, when, quite Unexpectedly,
something happened which filled me
with the deepest horror, and which
causes me to shudder even now as /
recall 1t. 1t has partly to do with
my rival, Horace Rishton, whose ex-
istence for the time had almost for
gotten.
He had received the news of our
engagement in an apparently calm
and quiet manner, and his subsequent
Dehavior had not led us to regard
MIN as being more than ordinarily
aHected by 1t, but in the event I am
ABOUT to describe, 1 was enabled to
see how deep and tragic the effect
upon him really was.
Inc revelation came in this wise:
II wanted but two days to our we'd
aing' and l had occasion to 90 on a
httie business connected with II to
q neighboring town, place some
Tour miles distant from my home.
having accomplished my errand. and
hnding that had some considerable
ume TO wait for train, / resolved to
waik back, so striking out, I soon
ieit the town behind me.
~ was fine moonlight night, and
as IL promised to continue 90. da-
.eihined TO take a short cut across
'he country, which / reckoned wonld
save quarter of an hour at the least
=, ne road would be very lonely, for
II was path that was seldom used.
uut that troubled me little. for INV
night 'nat
mad gone somewhere about two
mlies when the moon suddenly
ciopded over, and l was left in COM
para'iVe darkness. AS knew the
way however, l thought nothing of
~ put trudged cheerfu,ly along
en'nhlhg only of Ada and our an
pIoaehing union. Suddenly. and
"tnout a moments warning. the
srouhd gave way from under INV feet
Snu 1elt myself falling headlong
s sown' down into the depths of the
.arth, How far fell knew not AT
time-I learned afterward that
y was about thirty feet-but CIV
pected instant death when I reached
ne oottom, and without Doubt that
~ouio nave been my fate had NOT tbo
Dottom OF the hole been f,IIaa ,,,.,,
h.N' a,er 10 a considerable depth. This
nao oAe my fall. and also by its cold
restored me to my senses
o., struck out on coming to the sur
ace and swan around 10 find soma
'ning TO which could hold ON At,s..
considerable time spent in search
ing. during which the fur borror =,
"e situation began to dawn upon me
=. last discovered piece Of wood
orA hxed In the side OF the nit Tbis
eagerly grasped and resting mar
uaiiy on IT with half my body in ,ha
aition. my po-
i knew at once the piaca 49,,
"nlcn l had fallen. and as the know,
ause mashed across my mind cursad
sseh ior having been SO careless as
70 stumble into It, 1t was an old A. %
1seo shaft which had been ther. g.
sshsrauons. Not many people wsre
@"afe OF Us existence. for It was IN