The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-02-21

l.
stood watching with severe disap-
proval, they were gone, while the wo-
man. the slow tears yelling into her
tired eyes, turned steadily in the direc-
ton Of the nearest ferry.
All through dinner and into the next
day the woman's face haunted Miss
Mallory with a strange persistency.
She could not feel that she had done
wrong. If ever person looked in need
Of help that woman had done so. The
girl was conscious only of q regret for
not having questioned her, tried to
ind out something about her that real
assistance might be rendered But there
had been an air about the stranger,
suppliant though she was, which for
babe intrusion upon her personality.
Lying near the window In the gather
ing dusk, Miss Mallory let her fancy
wander whittier it would, wondering a
little at the odd tangle in her thoughts
which seemed somehow to link this wo-
man to Roland Humason, and then,
looking up. she saw him coming across
the room to her. For a moment she
stared, incredulous, but his warm
hand clasp was very real.
1.-The butler told me that l should
find you here" he exclaimed In a glad
voice. "Oh, how good it is to see you
again!' The girl, recovering, drew her
hands away.
How do you dor she said, with
chilly civility. The mans expression
changed.
Pardon me-" he returned more form
ally. The excitement of being here
must have gone to my head" Miss
Mallory's lip curled
There can hardly be much excite
ment in doing what you could have
done any day in the last three years.
she declared a bit disdainfully. HUI
mason's color deepened
"No," he said simply, you are wrong
have not been in New York. Three
years ago my father died" he added
Meeting the surprised question in her
Eyes. at changed all my life. found
myself with my mother and a widowed
sister to care for, left with barely q
pittance. 1t was necessary l should
try at least to carry on the old bust
by, and you were out And what could
have said? You, beautiful courted
the only child of an indulgent father
merely one of the many who sur
rounded you. How could I dream that
you would ever spare me even a
thought? So went away, resolved tc
forget And then
Yes" queried the girl as he paused
land thenP Her eyes were hidden
but there was note in the soft voice
that aroused his courage.
Il found out that 1 could not for
get" said the man. yet what claim
had I? And then, yesterday-oh, how
can l thank you properlyT' he broke
off earnestly "Yesterday-the woman
you helped-she was my sister'-speak
ing with steady tone. Not long age
her child died, and, half mad from the
loss, she came to the city, resolved tC
destroy herself here, where we would
not know of it. But when she reached
New York the commonplace, everyday
aspect of things seemed to calm hel
mood, and her resolution faltered- Yet
she had expended what money she had
not even the price of ticket home
being left. Determining to put fate t.
the test she wandered about, seeking
familiar face-my sister alone in this
great city, where she knew no one
resolved, should her plea for help b
refused, to put an end to her life. Ant
then she saw you"
For a moment the man was silent al
a shudder seized him at the thought o.
what might have happened.