The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-11-28
Tom S Wife
BY A. M. DAVIES OGDEN
Copyright, 1905, by Z. c. PARCELS

Down in the street sudden BURSTING
of bombs announced an extra" and
the sick man lying ON the bed In the
little hotel room stirred YEARLY and
opened his eyes. A touch of "chuchu"
had taken strength and vitality, and
an intense depression weighed like a
stone on body and soul. There could be
no news in this South American repub-
lie that interested him. The president
had probably made a speech; the
weekly steamship from England had
arrived. At the thought sob surged
up into his throat. England. his coun-
try, how far away and how dear
Resting there, motionless, passive,
picture after picture began to fit
through his brain-the trim little coun-
try houses, covered with vines and
with trees where the rocks cawed eter-
nally; the narrow, honeysuckle hedged
lanes. And Tom-dear old Tom The
mans face softened. And Alice He
moved restlessly and strove to think of
other things, Of his life in the ten
years since he had watched the white
cliffs Of the Needles fading into the dis
lance. Sheep raising, farming, mining,
he had tried his hand at them ALL
And now, Ill and forlorn, he lay alone
in this room in Buenos Ayres. 1t was
time for his medicine. The doctor had
hidden him be particular about it, but
CnalxhfgI
Of getting well ? he unused listlessly. No
body cared; there was nobody to care.
The thoughts Of England came throng-
Ing back, strong, insistent, refusing to
be suppressed. Rockhill, weak physical
ly and mentally, let himself drift on
the tide. What had become of Tom
Tom, with his brave blue eyes, his
glorious voice? He could not remem-
Der the time when he and Tom had
not been sworn companions, robbing
the orchards, whipping the pools to-
gether. To Rockhill a lonely boy liv-
ing with stern old uncle, the com
partnership Of the other lad had been
the brilliant web woven against the
dull wool Of home life. And the golden
thread worked into the pattern, giving
1t the final touch of beauty and pre-
ciousness-ah, that had been Alice!
Closing his eyes, the man saw again
the sweet, girlish face surrounded by
its tangle Of gold brown hair. How
joyOusly they sill had lived and frolick-
ed together until the time when Rock
hill, eager and ambitious, had departed
for college.
The man ON the bed shivered, the
memory of that return from college
was yet so poignant. In one night the
hope Of life had been undone 1t
was then that he had left England.
And from that day he had heard no
word Of those behind Were they hap
py, those two? That Alice and Tom
were long since married he never
doubted. Did they ever speak of him,
wonder about his abrupt disappear
ance? He brooded over 1t wlstfully
Had they caredI
Still browsing in the grip of old
memories, Rockhill lay, as the daylight
faded, half dreaming. half awake.
WHICH, tAC oOuAu VI n NO1CC III
the next room brought him up with a
start. A man was singing softly below
his breath, but still quite distinguish.
ably. Rockhill, clutching the bed
clothes with shaking hands, tried to
reason with himself 1t was dream,
an Illusion conjured up by fancy and
fever But the voice kept steadily on.
There was no installing those clear,
mellow tones. 1t was Toms voice
Tom himself was singing In the next
room.
Rockhill's dry lips tried to form a
word. Tom he breathed, tom"
But no sound came. A sudden unrea-
soning despair seized him. Tom was
there, close to him, and he could not
call him, could not attract his atten-
ton. He would go and ROckhill would
be left alone again, this time forever.
He must make Tom hear, he must
And then slowly, carefully, his voice
breaking On the feeble notes, the man
on the bed began to sing. Weak, bare
ly audible, in phrasing and information
the notes were yet recognizable imi-
tation of Tom singing his favorite
song as he had sung it SO often in
those old days.
There was stir in the next room,
then the sound of the hasty opening
and shutting of a door, The next mo-
ment Rockhill's own door flew open
and on the threshold stood a man, tall,
eager faced, with clear blue eyes.
TOM cried Rockhill. "Tom! And
he tainted. When he recovered con-
seriousness Tom, his eyes suspiciously
bright. was kneeling by the bedside
He held Rockhill's two wasted hands
tightly clasped in his own.
Colbert, old fellow" he was saying,
Gilbert, where have you kept yourself
all these years?" he pursued, and his
voice was tenderly reproachful. How
could you run off that way?"
Gilbert smiled In pure content at
bearing the well known voice
'I-oh, never mind me-" he answered.
Il was all right till was taken Ill In
This COMPOUNDED hole But you, Tom
you," as If furnished for news-"hOw
aid you come here and your WIFE
bis voice falterIng ON the word.
But Tom did not notice
Yes, my wife Is with me-" he said
cheerily. But how did you know that
was married? Oh. guessed" as the
other nodded. You must know, too,
then, that am now celebrity" with
mock seriousness. mo? You hadn't
guessed that? Well. at least you were
aware that had taken up singing as
my profession. Therefore / let myself
be persuaded into coming to South
America for a series or concerts. ana
SO here l am" Struggling an amused
shoulder. But now you must tell me
about yourself, he went on, his tone
suddenly changing. why did you slip
off so, GILBERT Was it kind to leave
us all these years without a wordr
The sick man hesitated. What he
had done suddenly seemed to him small
and foolish. But at twenty-one herOics
are sometimes strong in their appeal.
And he had tried to do his best. 1t
was all over now, though. The truth
could do no harm now. He looked up
into Toms face.
DO you remember the night after
my return from college" he began
slowly-"how we sat in your room and
talked? had come home feeling that
at last had accomplished something;
that | was nearing the goal on which
my eyes had been set since | could re-
member seeing anything. And then
hf c..A ,fv, ,s.-lA &oIA
me of your love for Alice he said
quietly. And in that moment l re-
nounced my dream. Oh, don't mind,'
he added hastily as the other started.
1t is all ended long ago. l should not
tell were 1t not" lying manfully. Il
have long since left that love behind.
But, then, felt that there was nothing
for me but flight And sO'-