The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-07-02
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her nervous, excited pacing Of the
floor. She was very pale, but there
was a logged. set expression about
her mouth.
Come in, dear" she said, in a
manner that showed she had been
expecting the visit. Have you seen
him."
Sara closed the door, and then stood
with her back against 1t, regarding
her agitated friend with serious, COM
passionate eyes.
Eyes. He is terribly upset. 1t was
a blow to him, Hetty"
81 am sorry for him, Sara. He was
so dreadfully in earnest But, thank
God, 1t is overt" She threw back
her head and breathed deeply. THAT
horrible, horrible nightmare is ended
| suppose it had to be. But the mock
cry Of n-think of 1t, Sara!-the
damnable mockery of it,"
Poor Leslie!" sighed the other.
Poor old Leslie"
Hetty's eyes filed with tears. "Oh,
| am sorry for him. He didn't deserve
It. God IN heaven, II he really knew
everything! II he knew why could
not listen to him, why ! almost
screamed when he held my hands in
his and begged actually begged me
to- oh, it was ghastly, Sara!"
She covered her face with her
hands, and swayed as If about to fall.
Sara came quickly to her side. Put.
ting an arm about the auivering
shoulders, she led the girl to the
broad window seat and threw open
the blinds.
Don't speak OF It, dearest-don't
think of that. Sit here quietly in the
air and pull yourself together. Let
me talk to you. Let me tell you how
deeply distressed | am, not only on
your account, but his"
They were silent for a long time
the girl lying still and almost breath,
less against the others shoulders. She
was still wearing the delicate blue
dinner gown. but in her fingers was
the exquisite pearl necklace Sara had
given her for Christmas She had
taken it off and had forgotten TO drop
it in her jewel box.
81 suppose he will 60 up to the city
early" she said monotonously.
Leslie is better loser than you
think, my DEAR" said Sara, looking out
over the tops of the cedars. "He will
not run away"
Hetty looked up in alarm. you
mean he will persist in-in his atten
tions," she cried.
"Oh, no. / don't believe you will
find him to be the bugbear you imag
inc. He can take defeat like a man
He is devoted to you, he is devoted
to me. Your decision no doubt wrecks
his fondest hopes in life. but it doesn't
make a weakling of him."
81 don't quite understand"
"Ie is sustained by the belief thai
he has paid you the highest honor &
man can pay to woman. There Is
no reason why he should turn his bacl
on you, as a sulky boy might do. No
my dear, think you may count oil
him as your best, most loyal frient
from this night on. He has just salt
to me that his greatest pain lies IL
the fear that you may not be Willing
to accept him as a simple, honest, un
presuming friend since"
"Oh, Sara, II he will only be tina
and nothing more!" cried the girl Won
deringly.
Sara smiled confidently. 81 fame
you haven't much to fear in that dlreC
ton, my dear. 1t isn't in Leslie Wrar
dall's makeup to court a second rS
pulse. He is all pride. The blow
suffered tonight can't be repeated
least, not by the same person."
81 am 80 sorry it had to be Leslie,
murmured Hetty.
BE nice to him, Hetty. He deserve
that much Of you, to say the least.
should miss him II he found 1t impoi
sible to come here on account Of"
81 wouldn't have that happen 70
the world" cried the girl in distress