The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-12-19

one; In fact, tell me all about every
thing As ever, yours,
BILLY"
Miss Courtland's black eyes snapped
and she crushed the letter In her hand.
"To write me letter like that" she
gasped, "after waiting whole year to
even ask for my address!
During the following week she wrote
six replies to Dempster's letter and
tore each one to bits almost as soon as
II was finished. The seventh she
thought somewhat tart, but concluding
It was better than he deserved anyway,
she finally sent 1t.
"Dear Billy Qt RAM: l probably
need not tell you that your letter was
n surprise. When an old friend
leaves you at time Of great crisis
In your life, without even good-by,
and for whole year forgets that you
ever existed, a letter from such a one
Is apt to come as surprise; don't you
think so? Since you are alive and are
good enough to feel an interest In
knowing that l am too, don't mind
telling you that am reaching music
here In Chicago and like my work very
much. have no husband In sight. and
II / ever acquire such possession, 1t
will be because his pockets are so well
lined with gold that II would be folly
for me to let him slip through my fin
gers. At present l am very well and
contented. Sincerely,
"BESS COURTLAND."
II Bess could have seen Dempster
when he read this letter all Idea that
he regarded her carelessly or that he
was deceived as to her own feeling for
him would have vanished as June
frost. AS II was, she never knew how
she managed to live through the next
week until an answer to her letter ar
rived. Then, one morning, as she was
leaving the boarding house for the
studio, the postman handed her anoth'
er envelope bearing the familiar writ
Ing, and she almost ran TO the little
park, where she sat down on bench
to open II.
Dearest girl" she read. ~ am the
man you are after-the possession you
really ought to acquire. My pockets
are 50 well lined with filthy lucre that
I'm bent with the weight Of 1t. II
would be worse than folly to let me
slip through your fingers and nothing
could possibly suit me so well as to
lodge In those same fingers forever.
Seriously, Bess. don't you still care n
little? I'm In position now to ask
you to marry me-will you? You'll
never know how | suffered because
was not able TO ask this when your fa.
ther died and left you so little; but Il
peculiar round of circumstances over.
took me just then and left me no al
tentative. My little sister, who was
out here visiting, met with n terrible
accident, which necessitated very
difficult operation, and my resources
were so taxed to take care Of this stu.
alton | did not dare assume another
obligation. / left without seeing you,
and I've remained silent because did
not wish to stand In the way of your
comfort elsewhere. Perhaps did
wrong, dear; but my heart was right
and ask to be forgiven. have never
ceased to want you, Bess, and now, the
remnant of my savings happily invest.
ed, has brought me returns which per.
NIT me to ask you with clear con-
science to share my lot. I'm coming
East for my answer and shall prob
ably be with you almost as soon as
you read this. Always your lover,
BILLY"
When she had finished reading, tears
blinded her and little shivers Of shame
chased themselves up and down her
spine at the thought of her own sordld.
ness; but through the tumult within
her, her heart kept singing, "Bllly Is
coming-Bllly is comingw She had
only Just removed her wraps ut the
studio when Billy came, and there,
from the safe shelter of his arms, she
said to him:
"Billy, dear, I'd have jumped Mt the
chance to share your lot any time and
any place, if you hadn't had thing
In all this world but penny with o
hole in it,"