The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-11-06
Drearn strangely IKE one or reller.


avoiding each other in abrupt zigzags
and sudden loops of fame. There was no
moon, but the sky was still visibly blue.
Furman threw his coat aside and gazed
at the stars. In his ears the hum of in
scots still sounded, the water seemed to
call and the night to wait The air was
alive with caresses, redolent with the
balm of the pine and the odors Of many
flowers
81 must go tomorrow" he told him
self, and as he tried to think of his de-
parture the tinkle of football across
the hall routed and disturbed his
thoughts. Unsummoned, there visited
him melody, the accompaniment Of a
love song heard long ago. With GEES
ture he forced it back and remembered
that there would be no boat for several
days, but he could drive to the nearest
station and take a southwark train.
Yes, he could do that
Meditatively he continued to disrobe,
and in spite of the light of the stars and
heavy warmth of the night he lighted
his lamp, talking to himself the while.
And as his monologue continued he was
aware of that lettering, overmastering
force which visits youth but once-the
abnegation of self before that which is.
And now, as he flung himself ON the
bed, he sighed. He hoped for nothing,
but it was bliss to be conquered and en-
chained. The contest was done During
the coming week his captor would move
before him a living melody; then he
would go, leaving the melody undis-
turbed.
For moment that might have out
lasted an hour he dreamed that he was
goat herd of the fabulous days who
had fallen in love with a goddess, and
in his dream he caught the rhythm of
tinkling feet, and as the measures sank
him into deeper sleep monstrous beetle
shot through the window and extin-
guished his light. The persistent hum
of insects and the whir of the beetles
wings disturbed him ever so little. For
a moment he was bending over Mrs
Pages wrist; then all was blank.
At the noon luncheon the major was
absent. ''It is usually So" his daughter
explained. He works harder than the
overseers in his employ. 1t is very fool
ish of him to exhaust himself, as he SO
often does, and she shook her peerless
head disapprovingly. During the morn
ing Furman idled on the white sandy
highroad and explored the grounds. He
had lost himself in the ferny depths of
a sparkling wood, and green bank be-
meath dense cedars had invited him to
rest, and then, languidly tired, he had
found his way back to the house for
luncheon.
In the pauses of his stroll he had half
promised himself that during the after
noon he would find an opportunity to
say something of that which was on his
mind, but fate was against him Mrs
Page excused herself Immediately after
lunch, and he was left alone with Miss
Leith on the gallery.
"You are from New York, are you
notP" asked the young lady She pro-
nounced the first syllable of the name in
a manner that sounded curious to Fur
mans unaccustomed ears. IT. not SO
much an accent as an information, as
though the word were spelled Meow. "
All her gowns, she told him, came from
that enchanted city, but she herself had
never been there. ''She had seen New
Orleans, and again he noted the pc
culiar expression. And was New York
grander than the Crescent City? When
she married, most likely she would visit
1t on her wedding tour. She seemed less
reserved and less languid sitting in the
soft scented shade of the gallery and
rid Of the restraint of her future step
mothers presence 1t had occurred to
Furman that the relations between the
majors daughter and his bride elect
were trif1e strained. Yet his admira-
ton wavered between the charm Of the
one and the daring beauty Of the other.
They were she6rly dissimilar, but 1t
was in the eyes they differed most.
Those of the widow were moist as some
blue flower pluoked at dawn. The dew
seemed still upon them. Those of the
young girl were sidereal, not white, not
cobalt, but something that combined tho
two. To the imaginative they would
have suggested gems.
That evening the major was still alb
sent, and the three dined alone Fur
man and the bride elect were in very
fine spirits, but Miss Leith seemed more
absorbed than usual In the middle of
gay story a servant offered Furman
some sweets. He would have let them
pass but Mrs. Page interposed.
TRY some, " she insisted. Belinda
prepared them. She will be offended If
YOU She glanced at the girl, who
arched her brows.
Furman took small portion of the
candied fruit and ate it slowly.
1T is excellent. he said. MAY l
have another?"
Belinda left the room, excusing her
self on the pretext Of some household
duty.
"She is exquisite, " confided the guest
to Mrs. Page in half whisper. The
lady assented but you are'-- He
hesitated and stopped short
LET us go to the piazza. 1t is cooler
there
Mrs Page led the way, and Furman,
hesitating still, followed. She found a
seat and he another.
''But you" he added at last, ''you
are perfect. +"
She shut and unfurled her fan with
nervous click. but presently her hand
fell to her side. He caught it up and
kissed the finger tips. She drew it from
him hastily.
ut is the climate that affects you,
and you fancy 1t is l, f" she said, smiling
family.
ut is you'll lis your he murmured.
"Well, it is Let it rest so. /"
''But cannot rest, /" he insisted II
love you" He started, shocked at his
own temerity, and as her eyelids droop-
ed he would have caught her hand.
''If you do love me, say nothing.
She looked In his face with wide open
eyes and Strengthened herself in the
chair.
IF the major should even imagine
An expressive gesture completed the
sentence
Furman nodded, confident and as
sured. The thought Of the major had no
fears for him.
Mrs Page looked cautiously around.
"Belindas mother, she said, che
drove to suicide. He suspected she was
flirting with the handsome son of
near neighbor. He had him out and shot
him, and yet it is not for that reason
fear, for l have no intention Of flirting
with you You know that, because''--
Don't hunt for reason. "
Mrs Page laughed, but 1t sounded
thin, as forced laughter always does.
and she agitated her fan with sudden
vigor. 1T may not be, she murmured,
and as she turned to him it seemed that
her eyes were compassionate, sympathet
ID, g. ~