The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-01-16

Q4Q uOJ AColldNC w Gay Lildb JuGlI buCC6DE
was due to The Independent
Brad was badly injured, and serious
illness was the result of the wound on
his head. He pulled through, thanks
to his good constitution and the faithful
nursing of Mrs. Smart, his landlady.
Virginia did all the work of the pa
per while Brad was i'll, but as soon as
he had sufficient strength she began
taking her editorials to him for criti-
cism, and before long he was able to
dictate to her. 1t was on one of these
instances, when Virginia's pencil was
running at its fastest and Brad was die
tating an editorial on the silver ques-
ton, that he stopped and laid his hand
on hers "Wait, he said.
Miss Kingsley held her pencil poised
over the paper, thinking that he wished
to make some correction.
Kingsley, you kissed me the night
was hurt. -
She turned deadly pale. Don't, I"
she said. "Oh, don't remember that. -
But can't forget it. You kissed
me and called me Brad, darling / did
not hear any more, for / became un-
conscious. Now, ! should like to know
what such demonstration meant. You
cannot sharpen that pencil; your hands
are trembling. Give me the knife. +"
Brad went on talking in a steady voice,
meanwhile cutting dainty shavings
from the pencil. 'The pencil was
sharp enough if you had let it alone. If
you were any one else, should say you
are nervous.
But to return to that night that you
kissed me. You and l were getting
along on purely platonic principles, as
supposed. We were pards, in the YER
nacular of this wild and woolly west,
but / never heard of a partner who
would hold a mans head in his lap,
kiss him and call him Brad, darling.
Of course this platonic business is play
ed out; you can see that as well as |.
The question is, What is to be done
about it?'
Through this long speech Miss Kings
ley had been trying to find her voice,
and as Brad paused for a reply she said
hoarsely:
II intend to tell you, Mr.. Harper,
that l shall leave Smoky City as soon as
you are able to take the helm again.
Brad felt the tears rush TO his eye.
Brute, he called himself, under his
breath, but even then he could not re-
sist teasing Miss Kingsley:
"Don't call me Mr.. Harper. Can't
you think of something more tender?
much prefer Brad, darling. >"
He threw down the pencil and knife
and tried to take Miss Kingsley's hand,
but it was snatched away from him.
81 think it is my turn now. Virginia
let me think of something less formal
Virginia, darling, you are not going
away if have influence with you.
Miss Kingsley rose and gathered up
the papers. . will take these edito-
rails and send over for the others. Mr..
Harper, did as you say did the night
you We're hurt; | do not attempt to deny
it. am sorry that i gre self
control / am surprised, though, that
you find SO much amusement in throw
ing my folly in my face. .
Brad's face was very grave as he an
swered. 81 am brute. Virginia
Kingsley almost said Harper-I love
you. / should have said so like man
at first, but was sure that you knew my
feeling for you, and l did enjoy teas
ing you little. Forgive mel / am go
ing to marry you as soon as l am well,
if you will have me. !"
q You say this because you are sorry
for me. You think love you because
| acted so that night, and you are try
ing to sacrifice yourself to my self re-
spect. :"
Il would not do that even for you,
Kingsley. If you doubt me, go into the
next room and find letter in the left
hand desk drawer, addressed to your
self, and notice the date. Please go
and find that letter, | beg.
She was gone long time. At last
Brad called out; Haven't you found it
yet? You have been gone long enough
to read all my private papers. sup
pose you have a right to my secrets
now. Oh, Virginia, do come here. |
shall come after you unless you hurry. "
Miss Kingsley put the letter in the
breastpocket of her jacket and buttoned
the jacket tightly; then she went into
the sitting room.
"Do you believe me now, dear? ]
found out several weeks ago that the
platonic business had come to an end,
and we had to begin on a new basis.
So let's form new partnership now.
Come here, Kingsley" stretching out
his hand. Kingsley, he pleaded,
as she still held aloof, hope you don't
think that letter fake. l tell you, on
my honor. that wrote that letter, ask
ing you to marry me the day / was
hurt. You believe me?"
YES F."
GOOD girl If you had received it
then, would you have accepted meT"
Eyes, " very slowly.
"Then. by all that is aggravating,
why don't you take me nows" asked
Brad, making frantic efforts to reach
her. But she moved away. "Oh,
dear, was ever a man so shamefully
used? If it were not for that gunshot
wound! Don't take such mean advan-
tage of cripple, Kingsley. Come here,
want to show you about this edito-
rial.
But Miss Kingsley saw danger ahead,
and she moved to more discreet dis
lance.
"Shot or no shot, shall walk across
this floor, Kingsley-oh, confound this
leg! Excuse me. Come here, Virginia,
like a sensible girl and kiss me. /
don't believe you care a row of pins for
me. have proposed to you by letter
and by word of mouth. am poor
lame devil, half sick yet, with all the
signs of relapse coming on, and you
won't call me Brad, darling, again. "
He rose and cautiously lowered one
foot to the floor. "Owl merciful good
ness, what twingel Oh, do bring me
something; there are salts on that ia
BILE. {"
Miss Kingsley, thus thrown off her
guard. ran with the smelling salts and
applied them to the sufferers nose
Only for a moment, though, for the
salts fell on the floor, and she was held
fast.
cit was mean advantage to take, "
said Brad a moment later, laughing tri-
umphantly, but what else could | dor
And truly that foot did make me vince
a little. Don't try to look SO severe,
Kingsley know You are not half SO
angry as you try to appear. Now 20