The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-10-17

whom he had come a thousand miles
to see She had sent for him and he
had come. Henceforth she was his
forever.
Suddenly muff1ed sob reached his
ear. "Oh, Frank" came a murmur,
I've lost you; lost your
Half smiling, half grieving, the man
started forward. "Oh, no, Kate" he
exclaimed. You haven't lost me-nor
shall you"
With startled cry the girl swung
round. Then she threw up her hand,
Tending him of. Mr.. Howardp' she
exclaimed. oh! Oh! Oh! II beg
your pardon. You-you startled me.
When-when did you arriveT
This minute. Old Tom let me in.
IL couldn't help hearing what you
said. Oh. Kate
You didn't. 1 didn't say anything.
You heard nothing Oh, If you are q
gentleman you will forget everything
you heard. On, can't stand 1t!
can't stand It." With a sudden turn
she tried to rush from the room.
But Frank intercepted her. Kate,
Katew he cried. "I'll forget it If you
want me to, though it was the sweet
est thing l ever heard. But
Cease! Ceasel You will drive me
mad!'
why SO. Kate. darling? Don't you
care for me at allf hoped when you
telegraphed me-
Il telegraphed you l didn't
didn't! What do you meanT
"You didn't telegraph me! Then who
didY' Instantly it flashed on Frank
that his letter must have fallen into the
hands of some practical joker, who had
taken advantage Of it to mock him. at
was cruel trick" he continued bitter
BY; "a cruel trick"
Trick echoed the gil, her eyes
half blinded with scalding tears, which
she tried desperately to crush back.
st was no trick. Kate telegraphed
you, Of course. Who elser
Kate? What Kate"
What Katel My cousin, Kate
Brock, of course"
kate Brecki What in Gods name
had she to do answering my letter to
your
ITO met" The girl faltered, and her
cheek changed suddenly from red to
white. ITO meY' she whispered again.
"To met Ohr' With a gesture Of
despair she buried her face In her
hands.
With single step, Frank was by her
side and had grasped her roughly in
hts arms. YES" he cried. Yes, to
you To you, whom have loved ever
since the first minute saw you. To
you, who have been my star Of hope
for more than year. To you, of whom
have thought, for whom / have toiled.
for whom l have Oh, how could
there be any mistake about It? l
wrote to you and to you only. r.
Your letter was addressed to Kate
Breck," sobbed the girl
1T couldn't have BEEN" insisted the
man, pressing the yielding form closer
and closer II remembered the SINH
larity of the names even when l was
writing and took particular pains to
make sure / addressed it to you-to
you-to you. But it doesn't matter
now-nothing matters now. My dar-
ling. | have surprised your secret For
give me for it. though God knows how
happy it makes me. But l give you
mine In exchange. / love you! l love
your
But the girl pushed him back, freeing
herself suddenly.
1T Is too late" she said hollowly-
too late. Your letter came to Kate,
and she accepted you. She loves you,
Frank, almost as much as do, think,
and she has accepted you You must
go through with it now. You viii pre-
tend-you will marry herY
Marry her! l will not! I'll do moth
ing so foolish. 1t was a mistake. III
not ruin all our lives by pretending"
but you must
There is no need,' interrupted a
voice. And Kate Breck, white to the
lips, but with a spot Of bright color
blazing on her cheeks, stepped into the
parlor. Il owe you both an apology"
she continued as the two faced her.
1T wasn't my fault at first, but after
ward. Your letter was addressed cor
rectly, Mr.. Howard, addressed to Kate
Mason, but 1t was delivered to me by
mistake with some other mall and was
opened by me without noticing. You
began Dear Kate and had read It
nearly fhrouOh hoFora I rooN1od fhak
something was wrong and looked at
the envelope. Then l saw what had
happened. My first impulse was to go
straight to Kate. My second was to
take advantage Of your proposal to
help me In a plan of my own. IL
quarreled-with friend Of mine-the
other day and wanted to revenge my
self. I-l-oh, it's hard to tell you this,
but It is my only excuse! l thought
that If | could make him think l was
engaged to some one would be even
with him. So telegraphed to you, Mr.
Howard, and limited to him that-oh,
you understand, don't you? You will
forgive n won't you, Mr.. Howard,
and you. KateT'
The other girl had listened with wide
set eyes, staring into the others face
as If they would read her very soul.
Are you sure" she asked, quite sure
that-that the letter was really ad-
dressed to meY
Kate Brock laughed lightly. why
Of course" she answered, "of course
1t was addressed to you. You will
forgive me, won't your she ended
pleadingly.
why certainly" murmured Frank
awkwardly, while Kate went straight
to the other and took her in her arms.
Dear Kate" she murmured.
Miss Brock freed herself gently, but
decidedly. There, there" she ex-
claimed hurriedly. 81 must go. I'll
get your letter for you, Kate. I've
I've burned your envelope, fear, but
have the letter safe, and I'll get 1t
for you at once"
AS the last words tumbled from her
lips the girl hurried from the parlor,
and, aided by the banisters, made her
way to her room. Once there, she
sank into chair and pressed her hand
to her heart Then, mastering her
emotion with an effort, she drew let
ter from her breast, hurriedly slipped
the Enclosure from II and threw the
empty envelope into the open fire that
blazed In the CRATE.
"qoodby, dear ioye" she murmursd