The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-05-02

DIR. JARDINE WATCHED her, AMAZED.
sense of humor was touched per
feet" he murmured to himself as he
sent for cab.
At 10 East Eighty-fourth street the
cabman had to work with voice and
hand to rouse his fare
~ never knowed any gen'Pman so
far gone before 8 in the morning." he
observed to the area ratings.
Unconscious of the impression he had
left behind him, DR. Jardine stumbled
up the front steps.
"Jardine, sir? Out, 1 believe, sir, -
said sleepy hall boy.
81 know; l am DR.. Jardine"
The boy stared, succumbed to the
voice of authority and dozed again.
In the room at the end of the hall
the principal object of interest to the
weary man was the bed, a four poster,
with curtains, surprising enough to one
who was used to sleeping on an iron
cot
''Confound Maria!" he grumbled. IF
she starts collecting antique furniture
as well as plates / am lostv'
The four poster wore very inviting
air despite its unexpeetedness. DIR.
Jardine slowly pulled off his shoes and
Invested himself of coat and waistcoat
81 must lie down a moment" he muir
INJURED, "and-think-thi And
the bed received him into its depths.
He dreamed. A weird procession
passed before him like the figures in q
frieze-and every one was his Wife
Now she was laughing, now dancing,
now weeping, now stern as the angel
outside paradise, always gazing at him
with unseeing eyes. He struggled to
reach her, but could not. He heard her
retreating footsteps retreating, yet
sounding always nearer. Striving to
solve the puzzle, he awoke. The foot
steps continued, not loud and ominous
as in his dream, but light, fitting steps
They reminded him of some one he had
known. For moment he stared, be
wildered, into the darkness of the cur
tanned bed, the steps seeming to echo
from his dream. Then he remember
ed. Maria was in Ulster county. Who
was the intruder? He parted the cur
tains fingers breadth and looked out
The room beyond was dimly lighted
Trunks stood open, with books and
clothing in orderly piles beside them
The clink of silver came from the room
across the hall.
''Looting the place, by Jove" the
doctor whispered. He half arose, but
ut the sound of returning steps he sanB
back, his eye at the curtain parting.
"Of all things in heaven and earthY
Instead of leaping out he drew the
edges closer "a womanp'
A woman 1t was who had entered the
adjoining room and who proceeded
with a businesslike air to store ar
arInful of silver in one Of the yawnine
trunks. DR.. Jardine watched her, amaz
ed. Her back was toward him, and ht
noted its graceful lines as she lifted
and bestowed her booty. She looked {
lady. Gradually he began to feel like {
peeping Tom rather than an outraged
! householder How should he announc,
his presence? Would she faint? Wha
should he do with her? What would
Maria say?
At last she lifted the little shaded
lamp and turned straight toward him
Not four feet from him she put thu
lamp down and sighed like a tiret
child He wondered afterward how hi
lived through that moment. That she
the woman he still loved, who bore hi
name, who had forsaken him-coul(
she have become a common thief? In
crediblel 1t was a nightmare. The cur
talns stif1ed him. He tore them apart
The woman saw a pale, gasping fac
fronting her, the eyes horror struck, a
of one looking on ghost. An instan
her own matched it; then she tainted.
Molly" he cried and sprang to her
She revived readily. He remembered
she had never been fainting woman