The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1910-09-01

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Ever since he was boy the Morgan
place had been second home to him
and Mrs. Morgan and Carlotta his
chums, advisers and confidents. He
could see Carlotta's rapt little face,
pale, yet glowing like white flower
under her tawny hair, and her odd
brown eyes with the light in them
like sunlight through water as she sat
listening to his tale of baseball
game, on his entry into the medical
college, of his first real case. of most
things which had ever happened to
| him.
And now in the turmoil or this trag.
edy which he felt had come to him he
had a sudden desire for the long, cool
living room down there with Mrs.
Morgan placidly sewing by the open
window and Carlotta leaning forward
In the old mahogany divan listening
intently to whatever he had to say,
her face rejecting her interest.
For grown man. DR.. Duval was
very boyishly homesick and heart
sick. Gertrude Whitcomb parted from
| him at the hotel with some irritation.
The trip home had been dull. She had
exerted herself for a man so ad-
| stracted that he had scarcely answer
ed. Still, she comforted herself, 1t
was because of his disappointment
She really did not imagine he had
been so desperately devoted to her!
DR.. Duval at the same time was on
car speeding out toward the ram
bling cottage. 1t was almost like old
times to be so welcomed and fused
over and graciously forgiven for his
winters desertion.
You are so busy with your work,
we understand" Mrs. Morgan had said
as she got out his favorite preserves
And Carlotta, the wistfulness Of
whose face was hidden from him by
It's JOY in his presence, was like some
graceful white wrath in the shadows
of the big room.
Il had forgotten" he told her with
the privilege of lifelong acquaintance,
how wonderfully pretty you were,
Carlotta! What have you been doing
with yourself? You seem to shine"
Don't talk about me-" begged the girl,
nervously. A great fear was hers lest
this stupid, laundering man should
discover 1t was her happiness in see-
Ing him again that had transformed
her, Tell me of yourself, Of what
has happened to you this winter!"
He had come to tell them-selfishly
to demand comfort for his wounds
yet he held his tongue.
cto LOT.
when he left he felt oddly contented
and at peace for a man whose heart
had only that afternoon been broken.
He was surprised when next he saw
Miss Whitcomb that he felt none of
the bitter resentment which had at
first been his at her refusal In some
strange way that fever had burned
itself out as though a cool hand had
banished 1t utterly. He simply did
not care. She was just as beautiful
and fascinating as ever, but his ro-
nance had crashed that afternoon in
the foothills and he had no desire to
pick up the broken pieces She was
too glittering for comfort, and she had
hurt his pride by her carelessness.
Nothing cures mans devotion as
does a stab at his pride. Besides,
Carlotta's smile stayed in his memory.
1t was not, as he argued to himself
some weeks later in sort of Mortified
dismay, that he was f1ckle and a man
Of unstable affections-it was simply
that he had been under a spell, luckily
now broken, and had gone back to
where he belonged.
Having once found his welcome in
the rambling cottage, he found him
self drawn there irresistibly oftener
than in the years before. 1t was alb.
sence, he told. himself, that had
awakened him and shown him Car
lotta's real loveliness, her sweetness
and womaply sympathy. And when,
half tearfully, before the summer was
over and when Gertrude Whitcomb
was only a vague memory, DR.. Duval
told Carlotta Morgan he loved her, he
realized he had always loved her and
always should.
Il don't deserve anything SO won
derful." he told her. "as that you
should care about me, Carlotta I've
been stupid in many ways-but I'm in
my right mind now!"
1--we always cared" she told him
simply. For a moment she hesitated.
The previous winter. when he had
deserted the cottage. often troubled
her But with all her sweetness Car
lotta Morgan had clever instincts.
That winter was past and he was
hers now for always. and she was the
rare woman who knows when not to
question.
The night fragrance OF roses foated
In through the open window as they
talked Of the future In serene happi-
ness. In the mans heart was thank
full and wondering content that things
were as they were, and In Carlotta's
nothing except that she loved him.