The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-10-15
1879.

| new styles or tff1es. And you-for am
not reader of the papers "a fib, for had
she not read every review of his bookD-
you remind me that it is probable that
you are no longer a bachelor"
Writing a book in central Africa does
not run to wooing."
"But your savages who are above the
average of the civilized? You may never
meet with such another opportunity"
Il intend to return to that society.
have only made flying visit home to ar
range with my publishers"
The conversation tagged; so did the
storm. A blaze of stars lit up the heav-
ems and made CLEAN even within the
coach by which the travellers could joint
ly discern each other Elizabeth sat well
back in her corner. The man presently
made an effort to carry on the conversa-
ton.
81 know something of the Princess
Pompilia, an agreeable woman. You
will find the Italians of that class inter-
esting people. You are particularly for
tunate."
'You think might write book about
them, versus the savages," said Eliza
beth. But here a rosy light appeared be-
hind the velvety blackness of the pines.
The travellers were clearly visible to
each other as the morning radiance pene-
trated into the interior of the diligence.
Each stole a long investigating look at
the opposite face and figure The woman
found that the man had grown bronzed
and older and that his mouth had got
harder lines The man saw the woman
like the pale and spiritualzed sister of
blooming girl who had plighted her troth
to him three or four years ago. He no.
ticed that her dress was black, of that
particular degree of somberness which
denotes the deepest mourning.
''She had no one but father" he
thought.
But just then the diligence came up
with a rush to the door of the hotel on
the summit Of the pass and stopped
there.
"Will you allow me to assist you to
alight, Miss Wethered? Will you give
me your handP
Elizabeth put out her hand-a long,
slim hand every line of which he knew.
He took it and held it as coldly as he
was able. They stood in the open dawn,
with carnation tinted glaciers above their
heads and the heavy green and purple
draperies of the huge pines looming up
out of the abysses of the earth shadows
that still hung on the lower valleys.
You look cold and ill. Come in and
rest while l order your coffee. Put your
feet to this stove. Let me take your
heavy hat l see you have no maid with
you. Bear with my clumsy attentions"
They had breakfast together, talking
carefully, as people will talk who are
both anxious to avoid a painful subject
present to both minds. The hour for the
starting of the diligence drew near.
Then the man looked at his watch.
sour ways part here" he said. eve have
half an hour still. And now, Elizabeth,
as we may never meet again, will you tell
me-you who were so kind to a pershing
fellow traveller, thinking him stranger
tell me that you forgive me for writing
You that abject letterY
Elizabeth opened her eyes wide and
gazed at him wonderingly.
What abject letterW
1.-The letter / wrote you the day after
we parted"
81 never got a letter from you since that
evening"
"You never got that letter."
"Never, assuredly. WHAT
She checked herself.
What did say in 1t, Elizabeth! Only
that | loved you, that was ashamed Of
my jealous words and prayed you to for
give me. l got no answer. l thought
you could not forgive, had never loved
me, and YOU
II thought the same" murmured Eliz-
abeth. "You went from me angry. and l
knew no more"
The half hour was too short to hold the
words that followed but the fellow trav-
elers finished the journey together, and
the Princess Pompilia is in search of an
English governess.