The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-09-26

given him a chance to explain, now,
by the force of his love, grown strong
through months of hunger, he would
compel her to listen. Perhaps she
would ignore that foolish misunder-
standing after these two long years.
She was very near now-in another
moment she must pass him. He rose,
and his face was very bright and eager
as he stood, tall and straight, beside
his chair. On she came, pausing a mo-
ment at the table next to his own.
Now she was so close he could have
touched her, and his heart throbbed
painfully. Then slowly, deliberately,
coolly, without a glance. she passed
him. her soft white draperies trailing
gracefully down the long room.
Outside in the corridor little Billy
Preston hurried past her, his fat, good
natured face aglow.
See Bobby WOODBURY. he painted.
Must be in there-name's on the
register-not in room-must have come
by late boat-I missed him-sailing!'
he gasped explainingly.
The smile on Elizabeth's lips-every-
body always smiled at Bobby-faded.
With quick shock of comprehension
she glanced back into the dining room.
So that was Robert Woodruff, that
tall, splendid fellow smiling an answer
to Billy's ELUSIVE greeting; he had
been SO near and she had not known.
Her heart beat in great, suffoeating
throbs, the lights were swimming be-
fore her eyes. and In her ears rang
Billy's high pitched voice.
Here he Is, Miss Worthington.
Here's the prodlgalr' he dubbed joy
ously. Keeping to himself Just be-
cause the papers are full of that old
bridge he managed to build down there
in South America. Can't shake his old
friends like that, can he, Miss Worth
ington? Doesn't he look fine, though p
And Billy beamed ecstatically.
Il am SO glad to see YOU" she said,
with tremulous little smile, trying to
speak steadily. Her dark eyes were
full of tender light.
But there was no answering smile
on the stern face above her. Miss
Worthington Is very kind" he said
courteously and bowling gravely.
Her face was very white as she
turned proudly aside She had lived
In the hope of his coming-and he had
come-and did not care.
Later in the evening, so late that the
long suffering chaperons had already
begun to issue warning signals to their
unheeding charges, Billy finished a
waltz with Miss Worthington. His
companion had been singularly silent.
you look done up" he said anx-
iously. Come out on the porch. where
Woodruff and the rest of the crowd
are"
"Oh, no-I"- she commenced In q
quick, pleading voice, then stopped and
walked beside him with gentle dignity
Billy drew her chair within the
friendly circle and she leaned CRATE
fully back in her shadowy corner. The
sound of violins came softly from the
distance; below them was the mufIied
beating of the surf against the rocks
an unusual spell of silence lay upon
the little group.
Woodruff. tell us story" said Billy
suddenly.
Eyes, do"-"About South America
IAN adventure''-"No, a love story
chorused the others. The girl In the
shadowy corner said nothing, but
Woodruff's eyes turned to her for one
brief instant before he spoke.
"Well-it isn't really a story; there
isn't enough Of it." he began. .'There
was fellow down there. l knew him
pretty well, better than any one else
did, | think. He lived In South Amer
ica-had been there for long time
and when we began on the bridge he
went out to the mountains with US
He was an odd sort of a chap and
hadn't much to. say to the rest of the
boys He used to go off by himself and
smoke in the moonlight. Some way Il
was sitting here in the moonlight that
made me think of him.
"Well, one night he told me his story
He had been in love with a girl in
Brazil, we will say. To hear him rave
about her you would think she was the
only woman in the world. He thought
she loved him-she said she did-but
they were not formally engaged be
cause, while she was wealthy, he had
only his profession One day. wheI
affairs were at this stage, he received
two letters, one from a syndicate Of
wealthy men offering him an oppor
tunity that meant an assured future
the other from the widow of an ole
friend, asking for an interview, ant
saying that she would be at his Office
that afternoon. She came and told hel
story. She had two little children and
1t seems they were pretty badly off.
well, this fellow was so overjoyed
at his own good fortune-because now
he could marry the girl-that he prom
Used to do what he could for the poor
woman. At that-she had been having
pretty hard time, you must remember
she broke down completely. fell on
her knees and thanked him, and all
that. OF course. the fellow was pretty
well embarrassed and tried to lift her
up again. and just as they were in the
midst of 1t the door opened and who
should walk in but the girl and her
aunt"
He paused. There was little tense
sound from the shadowy corner. The
others waited with breathles$ interest.
We'll, go on. What happened then"
asked Billy eagerly.
Woodruff rose and pushed back his
chair sharply THAT was ALL" he con
tinued slowly. she wouldn't hear his
explanation He left without seeing
her He took 1t pretty hard. You see.
she had filled his life so completely
that when she went there wasn't much
left"
The little group relaxed. "She wasn't
worth It," exclaimed one girl indig-
nantly.
Poor chap" said Billy thoughtfully,
his fat face unusually solemn.
you must admit, though, that it did
look queer" said another judicially.
The strains of a twostep doated In
willingly through the windows. Come
on" called couple from the doorway.
And with much laughing adjustment
of partners the little group Joined the
dancers inside.
When they were alone the girl In
the shadow leaned forward slightly.
They were right She was not