The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-09-21
OLEANDERS.

startled eyes and parted lips, while the
flowers in her lap were scattered in a
rosy mass about her feet.
II was thinking of you, the man
went on in a soft voice. of entire glad
ness. ''In all the years, the long ten
years, since we said goodby you have
been in my remembrance always, al
ways. At every little pause In the life
which has been SO full and yet SO empty
your face has come before me, and here
just now, looking at the sea and the
sunlight, the pain was more than
could bear. / turned to leave the ter
race, and there you were among the
flowers, Margaret. In all my life it is
the first good turn that fate has done
me. Tell me you are glad to see me
again.
Margaret drew her hands from his
with sigh, still looking up at the thin,
keen face, the gray eyes bent eagerly
upon her.
"Glad-yes, am glad." she said,
1t her voice was sad with the remem-
brance of long pain and much weeping.
sit will be worse afterward-but for
the moment-ah, John, how long the
years have beenl How lonelyp'
There was a pause between them,
and he sat beside her on the low bench,
each afraid to break the silence, while
he gathered up the flowers and laid
them on her knees again. Round them
azaleas and Oleanders grew in glow
ing curve of rosy color, shutting out the
length of terrace Before them, beyond
the glitter of the white houses on the
beach, lay the sea, blue and sail fecked,
meeting the blue curves Of the oloudless
sky in it's serenest mood.
''Tell me Of yourself. he said at last,
leaning forward and touching the fiut-
ter of black ribbons on her white dress.
81 know so little-just few meager
lines in the paper or chance remark
in a mans letter. / know that he is
dead, that you are free, but that is all.
Tell me, Margaret
The spell of his entreating voice was
on her, and the long sorrow of her lone
ly life came to her in vivid stroke
which caught her by the throat in sob
and drowned the blueness of her eyes in
tears.
"There is not much to tell, she an
swered, leaving her fingers in his clasp.
"Six months after you left for India 1
was married to him, as you read, of
course. -
Her brow knitted sharply in an in
slant g contraction of pain, but he did
not turn away.
"Yes?"
"Well, there it is-the story of my
life," Margaret said, with little smile
sadder than her tears 81 was 90, PEN
niless and pretty. | married million
aire of so, and you-you went to India. !"
A silence, while the eyes of both were
bent upon the sea and the sound of mu-
sic from the hotel terrace above came
family over the howery screen around
them.
He was generous in his way Mar
garet went on after little. HE freed
my father from the money he owed
him. and the boys got on all right and
Dolly made a good match. Father and
mother got their part of the bargain,
and newell, he got his too. -
John Stair flung her hand from him
suddenly and turned away sharply.
"Ah, you wincep' said Margaret bit
terly. but for me-think of 1.-THE was
hard and misery and coarse, and was
his wife and loved you. :"
Stair. turned to her again.
"But now? You are freeP'
EYES," she answered slowly, 81 am
free. Two years ago he died and left
me free and rich and childless. Tell me
now, John-tell me about your wife. .
"Ah, no; not now," Stair said eager
ly. "Let us forget for few hours
forget all except that we have been SO
long apart that we have met again,
Margaret. F"
mo, no, you shall tell me" Mar
garet cried sharply "Why. why did
you marry? You were a man, and
strong. There was no one to torture
you. You shall tell me.
The eager look on Stairs keen face
faded, and his face grew white.
"It was in India. / was i'll, down
for months with fever, and she nursed
me at the risk of her own life and good
name. l could do nothing else but
marry her. Poor Martial"
"Martha-is that her manner"
Eyes.
"What is she like-your Martha9''
There was a ring of scorn in Margaret q
voice, but her eyes saw the sea through
the glitter of her unshed tears. "What
is she like9"
IA homely little body, very small
and very plain. Her whole soul ant
affection, l think, is conferred in hel
boy. She worships him
"Ah, she has child?"
Eyes. The little one was born in In
dia, grew up very delicate, and tw,
years ago she brought him home He il
all right now, I believe, and she seem
happy about him at last got leav'
about month before expected. Sh
does not know that am in Europe
wandered here out of my way-not be
ing in hurry to get home to Martha
and found you, Margaret.
The thrill of gladness softened hi
voice again as he uttered her name, 81
long unspoken, and his eyes noted ten
derby every little detail of her beauty
the glitter of her fair hair, the curve
of her lovely face, the folds of her sof
white dress From the terrace abov
the sound of the music came family il
dreamy air. A warm, Light breez
touched the laces and ribbons Of he
dress and swayed the leaves above then
till the little lights and shadows dance
to and fro over her figure and the flow
ers on her lap. The years had only add
ed to her beauty, and they had been s
long apart.
Better that you had not-in the en-
better Thousand times We must pa
for it afterward with such a heav
pricel Fate has been such heavy usul
er to us, my dear. !"
"If could only pay for both of us,
said Stair. "But, in spite of the price
tell me, Margaret, you are glad that W
have met Let fate exact what pric
she will, tell me that you are glad jus
for one minute-glad to be together an
alone, dearest. !"
His lips touched hers, and for me
ment her head lay on his shoulder. Th
music walled above them, and tn
breeze gave shivering sigh and lei