The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-08-29

he remarked as he CHANGED to meet her
on the church steps after the service,
Il would ask to walk home with you.
didn't expect rain when left home,
so l am unprepared."
However," came her clear reply,
just arch enough to be frank, eff you'll
carry my umbrella and let me turn
my energies to keeping my dress
caught up out of the mud, III be very
thankful to you"
They had walked, strangely enough,
| half way home in most complete ST.
lence when man and a woman
passed, like them, under one umbrella,
but, unlike them, the woman was held
snugly close to the mans side as she
chung to his arm. 1t was a pretty
picture Of that open freedom which so
undeniably marks congenial man and
wife, whose companionship has rip
ened into frank trust.
AS they passed, Robert Cartwright
said, half thoughtlessiy, perhaps:
"They are sensible. If two are trying
to use one umbrella, they are surely to
be commended If they strive to take
up as little room as possible. Even if
1t be noon, won't you take my armY'
But they are plainly not such-such
strangers as We" she returned, con-
scious that both were treading on dan
gerous ground.
Are we strangersY' he asked quick
ly, turning his eyes searchingly to her.
The pretty face grew trifie pale
against its light brown hair. A lump
seemed to climb to her throat, but she
returned bravely, "Yes-that is, wen
always be strangers compared with
them"
He stopped for an instant and gazed
fixedly at her till hot flush flew up
from her collar and swept under the
velvet strings Of her dainty brown
bonnet.
"Always?" he asked simply.
Eyes. Why, can't you see that they
are married?
She tried to laugh it away, but 1t
would have been difficult to tell which
pair Of lips quivered the more or
which pair Of eyes swan in the deeper
mist as the two started on, both silent,
both sad, both realizing that a little
tragedy had occurred in that brief in
slant under that dripping umbrella.
Eight years went by and found Ca
brielle Vaughne alone in the world,
with necessity for keeping up a life
in which all interest and all energy
hn hOd ~ lo orfeo
a tedious illness, and the nurse her
self hardly recognized the tall, pale,
sad faced woman with the short, dark
curls, as the bright eyed, light haired
girl Of six months before.
Gabrielle had one thing dear to her,
and only one. and that was a memory
And some of our dearest memories are
the cruelest parts of our lives. When
finally she stood before a mirror and
realized that that changed creature was
herself, mighty resolve filed her
she would go to the source of that
memory.
She knew where he was; she knew
that he had married three years after
that bitter morning In the rain and had
married a wealthy wife. That was
the reason that she had thrust him
back from her long ago, just because
of his poverty. Not that it would pain
her, thousand times no! Hadn't she
cried out night after night since that
starvation with him would be only
bliss?
But she had known his ambitions
and his capabilities; knew his dreams
of success, and she realized his ability
to turn the dreams to realities She was
poor. Would she permit herself to
hSpg a milestone about his neck?
Would she hold him always In the
depths of poverty by being his wife
and the mother Of his needy children?
No; she would hurt his heart before
she would ruin his life.
Time had proved that she had been
right His wife was beautiful woman,
and her wealth had opened boundless
opportunities to him. He had risen
she had known that he would But
now that she scarcely was able to
know herself she would venture into
his world and see for herself how
happy and prosperous he was.
So, having spent all but her last
sovereign for her ticket, she stepped |
into Langinham one spring evening,
steeling her heart to what might fol
low. The next evening she had walk
ed past his great house and was start
ing back when a sudden shower burst |
Unexpectedly upon her She gathered
up her skirts in that particular way so
characteristic of a dainty woman and |
was hurrying along when all at once
she was conscious of a sharp. childish |
cry at her side. Turning, she beheld
a tall. sad faced man trying to quiet |
a fretful baby of about years, which
held out its dimpled hands to her and
cried, Mamma. mammal
The gentleman strove to quiet 1t,
and Gabrielle started on. But sharp
and piercing came the cry of mann
mar ana ner heart babe her iinger.
For the FIRST time the man spoke to
her.
II must beg your pardon, madam.
His mother has just died, and some
thing about you seems to have recalled
her to him."
Gabrielle's heart softened at once.
Going straight up, she took the tiny,
outstretehed hands in her own and |
Poor. motherless little
onew
The father held out his umbrella
over her, and for the first time she
looked at him. The face was Rob
ert's.
She was glad for the excuse of turn
ing to the baby again and murmured
unintelligible.
However, he had not recognized her,
SO she drew all her strength to her
assistance and succeeded In hiding her
emotion
If you will walk under my umbrel-
Ia, as am going your way, you can
Keep dry. And, too. fear baby won't
ike to part with you now"
There was no easy way to retreat.
It would have been absurd to scud off
n changed direction through the
)elting rain, so she continued talking
lurriedly to the child.
AS they reached the foot Of the
broad stone steps she stopped.
Il cannot thank you enough for hav-
ng Gained Leslie. His nurse left this
morning, and he will not be consoled
)y any of the other servants. So
inally told Mrs. Clarke, the house
Keeper, that l would try him for a
walk But will You not take the UNI
,rella? 1t will be shame to expose
Yourself to such deluge."
She gracefully declined all thanks
ind such kind offers and glided quick +,
y of, tall, black robed figure, daring