The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-05-27

IL 10 lAC odlCA way BIC lnOuSht, I'LL
locking the door, "and Hilda will thank
me for it when she's the Countess Won
Grundmann 1t was sheer luck that
his paper sent Dick Forbes west for six
weeks. fancy it was simply my adroit
management of the situation that pre-
vented his proposing to Hilda that
night in Mrs. Schuyler's conservatory
And | am certain that if he had Hilda
would have thrown away her chance of
being a countess and accepted him."
A brisk northeast wind, with just
enough power in it's elbow to send the
long Atlantic swells in a creamy smoth
er against the Lucania's bow, greeted
Mrs. Ware as she came on deck.
what perfect morning!' she said
to herself, taking deep breath. "Sea
and sky look as if they had been scrub
bed. If Hilda has particle of sense.
she'll pick up some spirits on such a
morning.
Mrs. Wares eyes searched diligently
among the scattered knots of people
along the rail, and presently she dis
covered the slim. ulster clad form of
her niece standing by one of the life,
boats. staring steadily over the heaving
brightness astern.
Something in the pensive droop of
the small head intruded sudden un
comfortable quaIm into Harriet Wares
inner consciousness. The firm, mascu
line penmanship tracing her niece's
name and address on every one of the
vanished letters rose before her minds
eye accusingly, like veritable writ
ing on the wall" She took her con
science resolutely by the throat.
''I've made Hilda believe MIR. Forbes
Tilted her because of that absurd ru
NOR about the loss of her fortune l'll
take care she continues to think so I'M
til it is too late to make any difference
Mrs Ware found her steamer chair.
There's Won Grundmann speaking
to Hilda now" she meditated II i'm
agine l can expedite matters much
better If flock by myself for awhile
Six days of shipboard companionship
and maybe a moonlight evening or
two ought to bring about a satisfacto-
y
of Mr.. Richard Forbes. | wouldn't
like to meet him. though" with little
shiver, when he reads that note per
suaded Hilda to leave for him"
She opened her magazine and dis
missed from her thoughts the hapless
Forbes. No prophetic vision was
vouchsafed her of luckless. wild eyed
had thrown himself bodily on the plat
form of the moving Pullman at the
Boston terminal, to the terror of the
porter. and. with wrath, dismay and
outraged love seething in his heart.
! had spent the hours of his journey in
alternately gazing at his watch and
reading over and over again stray
paragraph half way down the first
page of the Boston Mercury
If any thought of this same Richard
Forbes crossed Carl Won Grundmann's
mind as he stepped to Hilda Wares
side it was only such as one bestows
on an adversary. worthy doubtless but
hopelessly beaten
Miss Ware turned at Won Grund-
mann's greeting "Oh good morning.
captain" she said gravely. with sub
tie touch of WEAKNESS In her voice.
do you know how far we have conner
"I'm not sure" replied the captain,
''but recollect hearing one Of the Of
ficers say something about the Shoals
as passed him. That means some
thing like 300 miles nearer England,
doesn't itY'
Il dare say" replied the girl indif
ferently. putting up her hand to push
back a lock of rebellious dead gold
hair that had blown across her fore
head
The unconscious grace of the action
famed the passion in Won Grund-
mann's breast into fame.
"Hilda.' be said abruptly and vehe-
mently,. there is something ! must say
to you. hadn't meant it to be so
soon. but can wait no longer. love
you. Hilda Surely you must have
guessed my secret. must have realized
what it would mean when you agreed
to your aunt's hasty plan for us to
cross together. Will you be my wifeT'
Miss Ware leaned family against the
davit
II am very sorry you have said this
to me, Captain Won Grundmann," she
said presently, "and | ask you to for
give me if my answer is no. ought
to have foreseen. When auntie plan
ned this trip, | was In sore trouble. My
only thought was to get away from
Boston and familiar places. | didn't
consider that you might think
prolonged repeated cheer from the
handful Of people grouped about the
mast broke in on her faltering speech.
! Involuntarily the captain turned.
One of the boats officers was coming
along the deca scrap of paper flut-
tering in his hand lie stopped here
and there MS IL inquiring for some one.
Hilda caught the echo Of her name
81 am Miss Ware" she called. What
is wantedY
The officer advanced
Here is a message by wireless teleg-
raphy. This has come over almost
hundred miles of Atlantic ocean"
He extended the paper with bow.
"A message, Hilda = broke in dom
mating voi1o. Mrs. Ware had Joined
them unobserved "How very singu-
lar! Who is 1t from? Let me have it,
pray"
1T is for me, I think" responded
Hilda quietly with your permissionT
to Won Grundmann.
E..so
sudden wave of color flooded Hilda's
,&R cheeks, and she stood transfig-
fred, radiant.
SIS it possible to send an answer"
she asked TREMENDOUSLY.
Nothing easier" replied the officer
courteously "The conditions are ex-
cellent, almost perfect. We shall prob
ably be in communication with the
lightship and Nantucket for an hour"
"Will you kindly telegraph Yes to-
to the one who sent this?' said Hilds
simply.
The officer bowed and departed.
"If you have quite finished. Hilda,'
observed Mrs. Ware icily, 81 beg you
will give Count Won Grundmann and
myself an explanation. We are some
what mystifed."
Hilda thrust the paper into her aunt'a
hand. A premonition of coming disas
ter seized on Mrs. Ware as she DELHI
erately adjusted her glasses.
Richard Godfrey Forbes. Boston Mer-
curry Wireless Telegraph Station, Nam
tucket. to Miss Hilda Ware, on board
8. 8. Lucania:
Dear Hilda-Don't understand note and
allusion to fortune hunter Wrong me.
Mystery about failure to receive letters.
VIII you be my wife? Wire answer Yes"
VIII take next boat. DICK.