The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-06-25

Elections by the sound of a light footstep,
and, looking round, saw young girl APP
preaching him.
''Not teatime yet, Joan?' he cried.
She smilingly shook her head. She was
a pretty girl of 81, with steady gray eyes
and a complexion as clear as the Cornish
air itself. Sitting down on the ledge of
rock beside him, she gravely criticised the
canvas.
''What say you, o child of the sea and
winds?" he asked, with glance at the
flush on her cheeks.
81 think it's splendid" she said, "the
best you've done since you've been with
u.s."
"Only fair to medium, l fancy. I've
never got beyond that, you know" he
added thoughtfully.
The girl glanced at him and saw that
he was gazing seaward in vacant fash
ion. Instinctively she knew the bend of
his thoughts.
"a failure couldn't have done thisp'
she said gently, her eyes on the picture.
He gave a slight start and laughed
softly.
sThank you, little girl" he cried. "But
even your kindly comment doesn't alter
the one great undeniable fact"
"What was the life you mapped out?'
she asked quietly.
A momentary CLEAN kindled in his eyes.
"My dreams? Oh, the usual ones of
the young man who does not know that
the thing that has been given him is not
genius, but only a tiny spark of it. l was
to be a big artist, paint wonderful pic
lures that would bring me lasting fame
and position. was to lead dazzling
life, see the world, mix with its masters,
explore its treasures. My hopes one by
one have disappeared, until now you see
me as l am, my very small private in
! come and the proceeds of selling my pic
lures to the dealers just enabling me to
lead a life in quiet out of the way place
like Penelth."
His eyes rested for a moment on the
clear roofs Of the tiny town; then he turn
ed round quickly to her with smile.
"You see, l am reconciled now" he
said. 'The months l have spent here
living in the house with you and your
aunt have been the best thing in my life.
We've had a jolly time together, haven't
WEI"
Joan rose to her feet. She was smiling
now, and the color in her cheeks had
deepened slightly.
eyes, we've got on WELL" she said 81
must run on now to see about tea-mind
you are not more than a quarter of an
hour" she added in a laughing tone of
command as she hurried away.
She walked swiftly along the road to
the town, her head bent in thought The
daughter of a Cornish clergyman, Joan
Hesketh had on his death found herself
practically penniless.
She had gone to live at Penelth with
her aunt, who, owing to stroke of i'll
! fortune, was obliged to let a portion of
grave, the artist, had come to live with
them some IL months ago. what ms
presence now meant to the girl she her.
self only knew
She brushed a tear from her eye as she
entered the house.
He only dreams of the past" she
murmured, a half sob IN her voice. lie
will never know.
A few minutes later Wargrave was
Flooding leisurely along the road, his
easel under MS arm, LOOKING ahead' ne
noticed an open carriage sweep round the
curve, and as II came nearer ne saw tnere
was only one occupant lady. Catching
| S-SA~ ~ - -,%SN, - o. -
prise and came to an abrupt matt.
one nau seen nill, too' anu nau gwen
an order TO the coachman. Inc next mo-
ment the carriage hau Drawn up III front
OF nlm' ana Win wnite race ne was
staring at tne woman VINO so sniilngiy
neio out ner mana TO MIN. She was ABOUT
oo' remarkaply handsome ana dressed III
the latest Iashlon.
came Gown 10 tell you' sne saia IN
low voice. Nansittart mas peen oeao Two
years. l am rree again. ana wealthy
woman.
She was looking straight into his eyes,
and he gave a slight start. Utterlng
! soft exclamation, she rose from her seat
and stood by his side.
"Yes. in those old days, Austin, you
loved me-" she cried quickly You
C,ita +bo r;obt word Ioved Won hnt
knew NV temnerament wasn't horn TO
no tha wife Of q STRUGGLING man. novertv
would hove made mo ,n;sorahIe. ua
should bo+b have been av+rameIv nnban-
nv aid what Won know-married =
rich man Now am free 7 como to Won
o,o;n. u ;sn,+ FOO Lotto Aus+;n-wo GRO al.
neos+ young st;Iln
NJ nossed q bond ovor bic forobaad
"Yop would he willing n marry me-
| b,ro mo i've on yorr noono19n
Sbo Io;d hon5 o,on+Ir ~, bic sborldar
"Monev ;s absolntelv of No consequence
+o mo. tbo+ mart of tbo arranoemont
.vo,,ld noyar oross INV mind We nav
no+ 1.-Two as wa did vot think what If
,ror,d r,oon AnstinI I should have tho
husband I uorId have cbosan-von some
90 ro,r droams realized Eyervth;ny
th.+ I;as Of rich mans hands will he
-, oa,, oo,,o +h;s .rro, I;fo for
>,
n Ala ,o4 snooI- Tho s,ddonrass o4
a. th;- 10 80 III hro;, ~ 1rhirI
~If ~ lono a., ar+;st;, oomrod asb;n ;,
che so;d softJT
az +bo doys whom u,o woro tooathor
,ro,, 900 ~, rorr loot nanny 70 safety
my whim; now let me show you the beau
ties of the world-let us enjoy them to-
gether.' 1t is not good to see you here
with all your ambition killed"
So she talked, and he listened with the
blood throbbing through his veins. Pres
emily she had to go, and he accompanied
her to the station. Then, when the train
had finally vanished from sight, he turned
and walked down to the seashore. If he
consented, he was to go up to London to-
morrow, they were to be married and inn
mediately to start for long tour through
Italy.
He strobe up and down the lonely
sands, fighting the thing out 1t was all
so curious, so unutterably strange. He
knew that the love he had once felt for
her was dead, stamped out-the mar
riage with Vanstittart had done that.
He might like her; he could never love
her again. But she did not ask that