The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-10-19

than most men of her acquaintance.
Tears Of vexation stood in her blue eyes
as she thought Of her folly. Her girl
friends one and all refused to believe
that literature always formed the sub
ject of those long discussions she held
with him in secluded corners and were
beginning to talk :"
At Lady Barrowmere's reception she
was sitting beneath big palm discuss
ing "a Trifing Affair" with its au-
thor Most girls of Mary's age called
him old. He was barely 30, but GER
tain thinness in the dark hair made him
appear more.
$50 you think it the best thing
have ever done?" he said.
"Oh, yes. .
"Yet some of the critics say other
wise. Kirk, now, in The Scarifer, sim
ply tears it to shreds.
She tossed her head in contempt.
"Oh, Kirk Why, he is go, and, as
every one knows, he was Tilted in his
youth.
"What has that got to do with it?''
he asked in surprise.
Everything. You can't expect a
woman hater to appreciate a love story. :"
True y
"Only girl should criticise such a
book. think it is perfect, and when 1
know that you have written it-well, I
think it is wonderful 4"
why should you think that?''
Because had no idea you knew
such lot about girls-about love-.
81 don't know much.
"You know everything. That girl in
your story-Beatrice-is very lifelike. :"
81 am glad you think SO, he said,
his pale face flushing with pleasure
There is one part especially that
seems to me so very true. "
What part is that?"
Where she is thinking of her future
lover, picturing the kind of man she
would like. T"
"You believe all girls have such fam
cies?''
She bent her head 81 know they
have, she answered shyly.
"You--you have had them YOURSELF"
he said, after short pause
"Ye-es. y
He leaned back in his chair and fixed
his mild eyes refectively on the ceiling.
81 wonder if 1 could picture the hero of
your dream, he murmured in a mus
ing tone.
She laughed little, nervous laugh
Il don't think YOU could.
Now / do, he said briskly.
TRY"
VERY we'll First of all, he must be
young. y
He needn't be very young
About 25?"
"Oh, morel"
"Thirty?'
"Thirty-f would be better" she
murmured, studying the point of her
satin slipper
Thirty -fvel Why, that's my age
You don't want an old mani"
You're not an old man.
81 must seem so to you.
Indeed you DON'T" she replied
earnestly. Besides, don't like boys I"
He nodded II see. Well, 30. Hand
some?'
"N-o, / shouldn't call him exactly
handsome. mean-that is, )" blushing
furiously, tits not absolutely neces-
sary"
"Rich?"
Moderately"
"Clever?''
Eyes, very clever.
"Ahl A brilliant Politician
"No; l think l should prefer him to
be a-writer "
"A poet, eh?''
mo"
"a novelist?''
Eyes a nUvelist-a distinguished
novelist
He looked at her in puzzled kind Of
way and saw that her cheeks were
flushed and that her eyes shone with
strange excitement.
GOOD tempered, of course, he re-
sumed at length, "and not the kind Of
man who would be always wrapped up
in his work-one who would unbend at
times and behave like an ordinary NOR
tal?'
"Oh, no; shouldn't expect him to
do that. Novelists are so very different
from ordinary mortals. +"
Gam very Different"
"Ye-es -
Gin what way?"
"Well, you don't seem-to-care-
for-girls.
He looked at her with astonished
eyes "Why, adore them.
"Them, yes-but most men adore
one. F"
"Ahl"
Here a glance, brief as fash of
lightning. passed between them, and he
realized that he had been in love for
some time without knowing it.
'Perhaps-perhaps you do adore
one?" she murmured after short pc
riod of silence.
"Well, l believe do, ne answered,
as if surprised at himself. soften when
sitting before the fire have pictured a
girls face in the embers.
"What kind of faceT" she asked
jealously.
"a very beautiful one
Fair or dark?''
"Fair. -
She seemed a little relieved After
all, her fears might be unfounded
"And you would marry her If she ex-
isted2"
''She does exist F"
"And-and you have spoken to her?''
"No."
But you mean to do sop