The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-10-27


the night. He closed his eyes in hope.
less surrender to homesick, longing
depression. And, even now, in the
midst of gloom, scared and over.
shadowed by the contrasting gayety
above. his thoughts turned to Natalie
and the days long past.
How sweet she had been! How
bravel How loyal to her ross-grain-
ed old father, who, in a burst of un.
governable rage, had forbidden Mar.
ston the house and further communi-
cation with his only daughter! 1t was
on that never-to-be-forgotten night Of
humiliation and dismay that Natalie
had explained, out under the stars of
the great suburban estate.
You see, Dick, he's very old, and
mother left him to me when she died.
Always think first of your father
she said, and so, Dick dear, you had
better go away somewhere, for | can't
possibly marry you. Go away some.
where and forget"
He had gone away, to the ends OF
the earth. 1t had seemed. At first he
from his far-away sweetheart, but
soon these were entirely dropped, and
his only news of her was CLEANED from
the monthold newspapers from home.
But, in spite of seeming Indifference
on her part, and persistent endeavor
on his, he had in no way followed out
the Injunction of the piteous, pleading
girl: Dick. please, Dick. forget"
Not even, after long period OF
neglect on the part of the social sec.
tion, when he had perceived this glar.
Ing headline. final and complete,
Brokers Daughter Betrothed-Miss
Vernon to Wed Son of British Peer"
had he denounced the loved one.
Natalie, Natalie. Without, the
wind whispered tender things to the
towering pines, and the stars still
shone, unheeding and unmindful OF
his hurt. Only the guitar, sounding
mellow and deep toned, seemed in
sympathy with the throbbing tyrant,
bound fast within his breast. MY
heart, my soul, l love you"
For long time he sat there, his
eyes closed, oblivious to his surround.
ings. So completely had he been
swept onward by the ever-increasing
current of his deep imaginings, that
when he opened his eyes again. 1t
seemed that a strangely familiar fig
ure stood framed within the doorway
The rising moon from without en-.
haloed her soft brown hair, heavy
cloak EMBODIED her; her hands reached
outward, and even In the shadows he
saw the questioning wonder of her
eyes.
She stepped forward, trembling and
half afraid. "Dick, you haven't for.
gotten? / came with Ellen Du Val,
Lewis Pembertons fiancee. Lewis
knew from the beginning. He told
me to find you here"
The boys chair legs were still tilt.
ed carelessly against the wall, his
mud-caked boots twisted rakishly
about them, his hands thrust deep into
his pockets. Though he had been
lounging thus for the last hour in
meditative abandon Of despair, he did
not feel the cramped unnaturalness Of
his position, nor the growing ache
across the muscles of his back, so for.
getful had he been of his physical self
In the pain of despondency.
Even now, confronted by the en-
trancing little figure, he did not move
muscle, so assured was he that It
was but the embodiment Of his dreams
before him. Surely, IL he quivered a
fraction of an inch, the silvery shin.
mering of the moon-crowned head
would vanish utterly into the fathom.
less nowhere whence 1t had so sud
denly arisen Dreams are good. He
would go on dreaming
Dick, you don't understand. You
see father-father- The voice fal
tered, then continued brokenly
Father died and there is no one to
care now. thought that you might
still want me. Dick. and so came"
He managed to stammer, as one
addressing pleasantly shimmering
but utterly impractical delusion. "The
Englishman!"
She laughed, "Dick, foolish Dick, II
was only rumori Surely you never
believed"
He stood then. his arms stretched
outward In a great longing for pos.
session, and she found her way to
them.
without a voice was raised. sweet
toned, melodious.
my soul. my life, love you"