The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-01-17
THEIR
NIGH Thomas E.
OFF ~ A'''A"''
Copyright. 1901, By T. c. Mcclure

THE governor otherwise Thomas
Twombley, Sr., had been called sud-
denly to London, and Thomas Twom-
bley, Jr., was spending his summer in
the Office instead of at Newport or on
some friends yacht, as was his usual
custom. The summer nights in town
We're something of a revelation to the
young man, who, despite his city birth,
knew little of city life, so much had
he travelled with his mother.
The girl swung round to her desk,
and the typewriter clicked insistently.
Tom laid down his cigar and bent for
ward watching her curiously. 1t must
be devilish hard to work like that
when you know you were meant for
better things, thought the young fell
low, and the light of strong resolu-
ton shone on his smooth, square cut
face
II wonder how she'd like to spend
an evening as l do around town.
Then he paused uncertainty. Would
she have the clothes to wear? He
remembered the flmy, extravagant
gowns he had seen at the casino the
night before. Then he as quickly de-
cided that she'd look well no matter
what she wore. He strolled across
the room to draw down the shades
just trife.
"Beastly hot, isn't itf'
very warm" replied Miss Carruth
without looking up from her work
IF l owned the Stock Exchange or
controlled big business interests I'd
stop everything short in hot weather"
She looked up at him with a grave
smile. Then Pm afraid you couldn't
own yacht and a shooting box in the
Adirondacks.
That's SO. The wheels of commerce
must grind on the year around, sup
pose"
"And what a lot of poor people they
grind DOWN. The girl spoke to her.
self rather than to him.
"Oh, but the towns not so bad in
summer" he said. IT'S corking jolly
if you know the right sort of people.
I've had some good times the last few
weeks
She looked at him almost pityingly,
but he did not notice it.
You know, there are the roofs and
the gardens, and nearly all the fellows
in town have their automobiles. Oh,
it's not half bad"
She did not answer, but resumed her
writing. He went back to his desk,
but the idea of giving her an evening
out had become thoroughly imbedded
in his mind About o'clock he rose
with sudden determination.
ooh, say, Miss Caruth, let's knock
off for the day"
KNOCK OFF," she said wonderingly.
81 don't understand"
Lets take trip around town.
The girl swung around in her chair
and looked at him in silent amazement.
Twombley looked back at her with an
engaging, boyish smile, and the faint
flush which had come into her face
died down again.
II think we have been working pref
ty faithfully since the governor went
away, and we deserve a holiday. I'd
be awfully much obliged to you If
| you'd have dinner with me tonight,
and then we will go up on one of the
roof gardens and see the show"
! A faint smile curved the girls lips,
and he felt encouraged
cts awfully jolly, don't you know,
and If you have never seen that sort
of thing you'd like it."
'Oh, / understand" said the girl
you're going to give me just taste OF
the life you and your friends lead. But
1t might make me very dissatisfied
with my surroundings, you know"
Twombley found himself actually
blinking at her. She put it so badly.
"Oh, say, that's not fair. Just for
tonight I think we might be jolly good
pals and forget that my father pays
your salary"
The girl laughed. Twom' ley pulled
down the lid of his desk with a snap.
Wait" said the girl; you must sign
these letters"
"Oh, hang it." he said, 81 forgot"
While he dispatched that work the
girl was closing up her own affairs fol-
the day. and when she took the letters
from him and touched the bell for the
office boy to carry them away he no
ticed that she had her hat on and q
neat pair Of gloves were caught
through the handle of her purse.
well have time for spin in the
park before we go to dinner" he said.
81 must go home first and change my
frock."
He looked her over critically The
shirt waist suit was simple, but it had
an air. He didn't feel quite so safe
about the finery she might deem neces
sary for evening wear
"Oh, don't bother" he said quickly
''You look very fit in that"
She shook her head. 81 must go home
because mother would worry, and
have 10 way of telephoning to her"
Twombley saw that it was useless tt
argue the question.
when and where shall I call fol
your"
The girl flushed suddenly. ooh,
will meet you at the park entrance
It's not far from our house, and
would much rather do that than give
you the trouble of calling$
"All right" said Twombley cheerful
ly, and under his breath he added
Ashamed of mamma and the littl,
fat, / suppose. You can't exactly
blame her when she's made something
of herself
At o'clock she met him at the parl
entrance, and just for an instan
Twombley felt actually dazzled. He
statuesque figure was draped In som,
soft billowy gray stuff. He knew
somehow that it took an artist to de
sign and make such a dress. Her fac,
was shaded by picture hat of softes
gray chiffon clouding pink roses.
Twombley hailed hanson ant
they drove rapidly through the parl
to the casino, With a thrill of salts
faction he noticed that as they passet
down the aisle between the lines o
tables all eyes followed the slende
gray figure and low murmurs of ap
proval reached his ear. He wondered
whether this was a twentieth centur!
Cinderella, this graceful figure at hi
side. transformed by shimmering gra!
silk from the tailor made stenographe
who had worked beside him for tn
past few weeks. She was perfect,
self possessed, only a slight flush an.
singularly bright light in her eye
showed that she was excited.
/ All patronage died out of Twom
bley's bearing He was genuinely anx
ious now to please her. As for thl