The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-12-03

as she turned away, and with cheeks
blushing with anger walked slowly into
the house. So this was how Harry talked
OF her-what Harry thought of her really!
There was not a word of that beautiful
sentiment he had spoken to her-not a
word of love at all. She was difficult
catch, she was worth a lot of money,
those were the things he said about her.
She resolved to control herself and have
no more to do with the man. Indeed,
within an hour she had resolved to break
off her engagement at once, and she
hoped that her cousin would Immediately
quit the Hall farm if she did so.
Dwight was considerably astonished
when he went in to tea at the change
which had taken place in the behavior OF
Rose toward him. She sat silent and re-
served throughout the meal, over which
her aunt presided, and allowed Hardcas-
tie and her uncle, usually the most silent
members of the party, to sustain the con-
yersation. At the close Of the meal she
requested Dwight to grant her the favor
of a few minutes conversation, and to-
Rether they walked down to the summer
house at the bottom of the garden.
"Have done something amiss, Rose 2"
said Dwight lightly as they entered.
81 can enter into no explanations with
you, Mr.. Dwight" replied Rose steadily.
81 must beg you to ask none from me. l
have only to request that you will release
me from the engagement / entered into
with you"
Release you from our engagement"
stammered Harry Dwight. What do
| you mean, Rose? You cannot be in ear
nest"
81 am thoroughly In earnest"
"But whatever can your reasons be? l
am not conscious Of having done any
thing to offend you"
81 have my reasons, Mr.. Dwight. l
trust that you have enough Of the gentle
man about you to accede to my request
without demanding explanations"
"But 1t is deuced hard on fellow"
protested Harry, "to be sent to the right
about without word of explanation"
Nevertheless, beg you to accept the
situation"
"Of course" said Dwight brokenly, ''if
you give me no alternative, / must &C
cede to your request for a release. But
cannot help thinking that there is some
misunderstanding. If you know how
love you, Rose
"Mr. Dwight, neither know nor desire
to know what your feelings may be-"
This answer naturally awakened some
resentment i, the mind of the young man.
He attempted to expostulate, but Rose
cut him short.
Nothing is to be gained by discussing
the matter further, Mr.. Dwight" she
said.
And realizing that such was the case,
Harry quietly raised his hat and slowly
and despondently returned to the house.
The following morning he announced that
he was about to leave the farm and that
he would return to the city upon the fol-
lowing day.
1t was still, calm, altogether lovely
evening on which Dwight set off for what
| he expected would be his last walk
through Wadsworth wood-for some time
ut any rate. AS usual. upon his solitary
rambles, he carried the green net which
marks the entomologist, for Harry was
enthusiastic In his pursuit Of that study.
On that particular evening, however, 1t
was questionable If the rarest moth that
ever took wing would have succeeded In
attracting his attention, for he was in
state Of utter, abject and absorbed de-
spondency.
Perhaps 1t was something of coinci-
dence that Rose, whose anger had evap-
GRATED and who was in a state of wretch
edness as complete as Harry's own,
should also be attracted out of doors by
the cool Of the evening and should also
select Wadsworth wood as her destina-
ton. However that may be, the lovers
met, in place where they had often met
before, just within the shade of the trees.
On seing Dwight, Roses first impulse
was to return in the direction from which
she had just come. She had retraced her
steps q few yards, without speaking q
word to the young man, when she heard
his steps behind her, and in another mo-
ment an arm slipped around her waist.
Harry Dwight had resolved to use to the
| utmost his influence in order to obtain an
explanation from her.
"Mr. Dwight" cried Rose Indignantly.
81 request you to desist at once from your
impertinence."
The young man, perhaps encouraged BY
q suspicious trembling in the voice Of the
girl, did not in the least obviate his objec-
tionable conduct.
"Rose, darling" he said without re-
moving his arm, don't be so cruel to me.
/ cannot bear to go away tomorrow leav-
ing matters as they are at present. In
Gods sight, Rose, can say that have
not done anything to make myself more
unworthy of you than l have always
known myself to be-"
"That may be-" reJoined the girl, "but
did not previously know how unworthy
that was"
"Rose, Rose! Every word you say cuts
me to the heart. protest that l have
nothing on my conscience. Rose, darling,
remember all the walks we have had here
at times, and for the sake of the memory
Of what we have been to each other give
me the chance to explain away this mis-
understanding"
Perhaps 1t was the sentimentality al
ways produced in the mind Of youth by
beautiful summer evening that led Rose
to break the resolve she had made.
Harry" she said, standing still, and In
the dim light he could not perceive in her
eyes the tears of which he could detect the
presence through her voice. Harry,
will tell you all, though it seems impossi-
BILE that you should ever be able to ex-
plain it away. / have been judging you
out of your own mouth. / overheard by
| accident the conversation between you
and Mr.. Hardcastle yesterday. l was be-
hind the hedge while you were speaking"
II do not recollect what Hardcastle
and were talking about" said Dwight.
"Oh, Harry! Don't make things worse
by telling lies! You must recollect."
"On my honor / do not. Or, stay,
think we were talking about entomology.
What was 1t you heard that upset your"
The tone in which Dwight spoke was
one Of genuine surprise and innocence.
For a moment Rose INDUCED in hope, and
then, as the words she had overheard
came back to her mind with freshness,
she burst into sobs.
"You began by talking about this
wood" she said. "Mr. Hardcastle said
something about taking an old lady here.
Then you said" went on Rose tearfully,
shat what you were after now was the
girl from CamberwelL And xoH said