The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-06-03
Copyright, 1907, by the
s. S. Mcclure Company
M.,..4- aA.s..s-m MGA.s-s.An.s..s

what was said by either at first. The
unexpectedness Of the meeting made
both perfunctory. Then Thalia re-
! Taxed.
Il was determined If 1t were you that
you should not go out Of town until we
had talked over old times. How is
Helen? Did you bring her with you"
Il am here alone on business" he
said, with grave dignity which SEEM
ed to reprove her fiippant manner. II
shall be here ten days only at the fur
thest. Ny mission is to handle the in
terests of mining syndicate. and then
/ return to Helena. But tell me all
about yourself. Are you still Thalia
Lambert, freer
Thalia was smarting a little. Here
was the old, masterful manner of the
one man in the world of whom she had
ever been afraid. She gave a coquet-
fish shrug.
II am none other than Thalia Lam
bert, and woman is always free until
she puts her neck into the marriage
yoke"
He smiled.
That evening they dined together.
The constraint of their first meeting
had worn off. though the judge had
been told by mutual friend that Tha-
liza was engaged to Stewart Curtiss,
and Curtiss himself, lunching with
Thalia. had told her that her old friend
was now q wealthy and influential
lawyer, likely to be nominated for the
senate.
The orchestra played Loves Young
Dream" as they dallied with their cot
fee after dinner. Judge Ballard smiled
across the table at his companion.
"Do you remember all the foolish lit
tie things we used to do in the old
academy days-the notes we used to
write in class?"
''Of course do. But do you remem-
Der the time we got caught? l wrote
you note-'W What time is it? Do you
love meY-and you wrote on the mar
gin: Half past 10. OF course do And
Professor Foster got hold of 1t and
wrote on the bottom, "A pretty time of
day. and sent it to me-"
well, the old man was right. Wasn't
it nice timer"
"Oh, yes" vaguely is, nice for
the first time"
"Have there been other times, Tha-
Hap
"Why notY' defantly.
Surely; many other times = times
and half times and times between
times. That's woman's record"
The music throbbed In Thalia's veins.
Her throat swelled, but she met his
gaze steadily.
After that they were more or less
formal
The last night of Judge Billiards. Wis
it came, and ID was 10 o'clock when he
rang the bell of Thalia's fat Curtiss
in the act of departing almost ran into
him. Thalla stood near her desk, pale
and agitated
"I'm sorry Mr.. Curtiss went on my
account" said the judge. ITS not
worth while to spoil your evening by
my brief leavetaking."
Thalia recovered herself with difficult
ty, and her breath was still irregular.
He took both of her hands in his mas
terful way and fixed on her the dark,
powerful look that had always com
PEELED both men and women At the
magnetic clasp strange calm fell upon
Thalia. She knew that she would rath-
er tell this man the truth and walk
alone the rest of her days than to part
from him with half lie, acted If not
4 MT
squarely.
''Mr. Curtiss has not gone on your ac-
count" she said. "He went on NINE"
Judge Ballard regarded her gravely,
it seemed to her almost sternly.
Let it be only lovers quarrel, Tha-
liza. Life is too short to waste in trivi-
alities."
ut is not lovers quarrel" she said
holly. 1T is final"
Don't say that, Thalia. Very few
things are final in this world"
The warning solemnity of his tone
carried a chill Insensibly she leaned
toward him as If for protection.
But it is final" she whispered. Il
have sent him away, and he will not
dare to come back"
Judge Billiards. tall. dignihed figure
seemed to grow rigid.
And why have you sent your prom
ised husband away" he asked as If
cross examining a witness.
"My promised husbandr' gasped Tha-
lia. why. I've just refused him."
"My darling! My darlingw
He snatched her in strong arms and
showered on face and hair fervent and
specifically injudicial kisses not pro-
vided for in the statutes of Black
stone Thalia, half drowned in this.
lawless onslaught, finally managed to
partially free herself and to pant indig-
nantly, "How dare your
He only said, 81 couldn't help It," like
any schoolboy, but he looked totally I'M
repentant and remained In dangerous
proximity
Thalia, her cheeks burning and her
heart humping, gasped: You have no
right to say that You should have re-
membered-your wife!'
''My wife! Thalia, my wife has been
dead for five years.
He caught her swaying form and
supported her tenderly.
You inquired about her in such a
way that for the moment merely said
that l was alone, intending to tell you
about it later When l asked you II
you were free, you gave me an evasive
answer, so when l was told ON the aft
ernoOn of the same day that you were
engaged to Stewart Curtiss l thought
you had deliberately equivocated.
met him here. You said nothing What
was | to think? Naturally / withheld
my own confidence and got what pleas
ure l could out of the last times ever
expected to see you. Then, you told
me just now-and-I couldn't help it,
His voice deepened to a sonorous
whisper as he paused. but Thalia's
head was bowed low on his breast, and
he felt her CULVER.
Dear, are you angry"
No answer.
"Are you angry"
Silence.
He deliberately lifted up her face and
devoured it with look, And then he