The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-09-06
HER EXPIRATION.

Aubrey Yeldham better than l could
have loved brother, but l had seen
her and had caught the reflection Of his
sentiment, though in tempered degree.
had met her but once, in verdurous
Devon lane, where she had lost her
bearings and we had come to her assist
ance.
Her name was Ruth Lascelles and
she was a widow. That was the sum
total Of our knowledge. She might have
been co. but we estimated her age at
%, deducing our theory from a certain
fatigued languor of voice and expression
that accorded i'll with the girlish satin
of her skin. This was arrived at on the
first day of our meeting-we had not
discussed her since. But one morning
when he had called at the little farm
cottage where she lived and had found
her flown without word of regret his
despair had been too much for him.
The whole story rolled from his lips;
his love for her, her seeming reciproc-
ity, their wanderings in the woods, her
reliant, trusting attitude-that had
taught him to wish himself some knight
of the Holy Grail and not mere be-
smirched man of many passions.
was so out of it, as the phrase is
that | could volunteer small elucida-
ton. That she was a coquette of the
first order seemed the most feasible So
luton, and offered it. He derided the
nation-it was apparently SO frivolous
venture that it failed to anger him.
But one day, after we had returned to
town and were working we'll in har-
ness, he with his book, / with my illus
trations for it, he burst out afresh:
"She unintentionally let out where
she lived. 1t is village ON the coast of
France, She must have returned. 4"
"Well?'' / said, suspending my work
and pretending to extract hair from
the fine point of my drawing pen.
"Well, - he burst out, the world is
our oyster. If we shirk opening it, we
can't hope to fitch pearls. /"
''That means?" hinged expectantly.
''That means, in plain words, that
don't intend to give up the biggest
pearl that God ever sent to make man
rich.
"You intend to follow her?'' ques-
fundamentally indeed, for his kim
ding eye contained fire of decision and
energy that for IA days. since the sorry
one of her disappearance, had smol-
dered
He had been absent but week when
/ received the telegram announcing his
intended return. l stood-with my
back against the mantel and hands
warming themselves behind my shelter
ing coattails-eager to recognize his
rampant mount of the stairs, to feel the
clasp of his hand or the thump on the
shoulder blade and hear his CHEEKY
Congratulate me, old fellowl" that
knew must come. A cab stopped outside
and key turned in the lock- Then
slow, heavy tread assembled. We met in
the passage. There was no need for
more than glance at him to abridge
the exuberance of welcome that had
bubbled to my lips.
The silence was so long-so pregnant
with unsyllabled anguish-that at last
L
as they clasped the arm end of his chair
"Well?''
"Well,' he said huskily, starting
little from his coma and poking coal
with the toe of his boot, ''it's over. -
$50 l supposed, and the pearl was
not
"Not for my handling" he inter
rupted. 81 knew you'd think something
hard of her, but you won't, you won't
wh3n tell YOU
He stretched his hand to his glass
and emptied it before continuing.
cit came about sooner than intend
ed-the horizon was so serene wanted
to lay to for bit-but it was no use.
We were talking of something-I for
get what-and Imade quotation. You
know the chap who said, Show me
woman's clothes at different periods of
her life and l will tell you her his
tory?'" Il
Eyes, forget his name, but 1 think
it was Frenchman.
"Well, l quoted him, pretending to
like perspicacity. 1t was sneaking,
cowardly ruse to know more of her. -
"Well?'
''She snapped at my offer-was al
most ardent in her wish to test me.
II caught her wrist as it turned the
handle of the wardrobe door and remon-
strated: l refuse to see them. I know
nothing of clothes, and I'm not detec-
tive. l won't pry into your past secrets
either of sorrow or of joy.
''Her hand shook in my clasp.
Don't stop me, she cried impera
lively. Help mel want you to know
them.
So be it, l said and pushed back
the door Then she suddenly flung her
self i'll front of it, between me and the
row of dainty frocks and shimmering
laces She looked like Cassandra guard.
ing the gate of citadel, though her
lips said in tone richer than wine.
sweeter than music, Kiss me first.
There was long pause eldham
sat blankly staring at the Goals, and
gazed intently into the mists of nicotine
that curled upward to the ceiling.
''There are some KISSES, he said
presently, "that are worth the whole
sum of human pleasure. Pleasurel
Faughl A rotten word-belonging to
those who only half live. ;"
He handled cigarette mechanically
and lit it.
1--WE had gone through most of the
dresses when we came to some fine azure
drapery incrusted with japanese gold.
g It was mine, she said, and was
worn by woman hated. She borrow
ed it one night after coming over in the
rain.
g yet you hated her?' l asked, TAX
ing my cue from the curl Of her lip.
Not then. In those days thought
men were true-George truest of all
and women good.
81 looked down at the gold storks on
the heavy eastern silk, and said, And
when did you change your opinion?'
When hung away this gown, and
determined it should never touch me-
81 rose to put my arm around her,
to break the skein Of unpleasant asso-
oiations but she moved away, and said
in hard, almost defiant voice:
There is one more, tell me its tale
if you can, and if not
''She paused while I took the fine
lace and lawn into my fingers. Itseemed
summer dress, scarcely crushed. In
front, however, and on the sleeve was
a splash of dull red brown.
Paint?' | suggested, or blood. An
accident perhaps?' and in questioning l
met her eyes.
Don't, don't' I cried. don't