The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-23
BY HELEN M. QUINN
Copyright, 1901, by H. M. Quinn

is written by very dear friend of
mine perhaps l am partial Win you
give me your unbiased opinion?'
He crossed the room and took the
MSS. from her hand. A few minutes
later she closed her desk and put on
her hat
II am going home" she said as she
paused at the door. IF Mrs. White
should come in, would you mind ask
ing her to telephone me from hereY
1T will be pleasure. Miss King"
When she had gone. he laid down his
pen. put away his papers in a method
ical way. lighted a cigar and settled
himself comfortably back in his chair
The first story he took up was Reason
and Romance" 1t was short, and he
read it through quickly.
lymph! Well, yes. suppose there is
genius In it," he unused, but it GER
tainly wants cultivation"
He picked up the other and at first
glanced over it somewhat carelessly,
then suddenly a few lines brought back
his wandering thoughts. He turned the
pages to look at the authors name
Lillian Watsonr' he said thoughtful
ly. "Well, this is a coincidencep'
He read few pages further.
1T is surely more than coincidence,
because no one but Bessie could have
written this. no matter what the sigma
ture. Why, | remember this scene as
If it were yesterday. We were only
children then, to be sure, but there are
things one never forgets, and she has
remembered our very words"
Once more he turned to the sheets in
his hand. but soon they were laid on
the desk. and he sat with his forehead
resting on his palm and his deep gray
eyes looked YEARLY back through the
years.
How wildly the little story brought
1t all back to him-the two childish
playmates of long ago the scrapes they
fell into and out of together, the boy
and girl who were schoolmates and
shared each others sorrows and joys
and were loyal comrades, then the real
ization that this youthful companion
ship had developed into the passionate
love of man and woman and the deep
happiness this awakening had brought
to both of them! How well he remem-
bered his ardent wooing and her sweet
surrender
Then the gray eyes grew troubled as
he thought of the little rift within the
lutte" and the final quarrel and parting
brought about by woman's pride and
a mans stubbornness.
That was five years ago, but it
seemed as If he had just awakened
from a long dream He had tried so
hard to forget and until today almost
had convinced himself that he was sue
ceeding, but somehow all the old hopes
crowded into his heart and be realized
that they were mastering him in spite
of himself.
Il cannot forget" he said Il must
see her again and win her forgiveness.
She can not have forgotten the old
days, or she would not have written
this"
There came to him a great longing to
hear her voice, to feel her hand, soft
and cool. on his forehead, as she used
to lay it long ago when he was tired
or discouraged and came to her for
sympathy.
He was reused from his reverie by
the entrance of the Office boy bearing
a card.
Lady for Miss King, siry'
Bring her in here he said, without
glancing at the card which the boy
laid on his desk. He took 1t for granted
that the lady was Mrs White.
Was it fate? Was 1t chance? Who
knows?
In moment he heard the office boy
return, and he could hear the faint
rustic of a woman's skirt.
The shadows had gathered in the
office, and the light was somewhat dim.
He looked up and saw her standing
there in the doorway in her simple
sweet. girlish face just trifie more
serious perhaps than of old. but other
wise unchanged.
He jumped to his feet and came for
ward. but his back was to the light,
and she did not have good view of
his face
Has Miss King gone" she asked
in low voice. and the old tones
thrilled his very soul
Without answering her question, he
held out both hands.
''Bessp'
For a moment the woman's self pos
session left her: her lips were colorless,
and the roses in her cheeks turned
from red to white That deep. strong
voice then had power to move her after
FIVE long years. 1t was only for mo-
ment, however. She recovered and
held out her hand
why. Bert" she said. and her voice
was almost natural, this is a pleasant
surprise"
Her tone of simple friendliness stag
gered him, for he had been quick to
note the effect his greeting had on her.
but she continued:
"When did you come eastF'
six months ago But tell me about
yourself. Are you living in New
York;"
''Oh. no! l am only visiting here. My
home is still in Omaha, and l am going
back tomorrow. have been here
three whole weeks, and shall be so
glad to get back"
rs she perfectly indifferent?" he
asked himself. How can she be so
matter of fact after all that has passed
between u.s.
Once he had held her in his arms.
kissed her forehead and her lips, and
now he did not dare to even touch her
hand Could he let her go like this?
do you know" he continued desper-
ately, Il have been thinking of you all
afternoon
"Of meY' she questioned in a sur
prised tone.
Eyes; have been reading your story,
and He came closer to her, and his
gray eyes searched hers in silence.
the same look that in the old days had
seemed to read her very SOUL His eyes
told her now, as they did then. all that
he would say, much that was other
wise inexpressible. and her face
flushed crimson He had been reading
her story into which she had put SO
much of the long ago-their long ago.
What had it told him?
what do you think of it?" she asked