The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-03-14
BERT'S
STRATEGY
By RUTH SANTELLE
Copyright, 1904, by K. M. Whitehead

ally dreamy eyes that elected a MUIR
nearest groups on the hotel piazza. He
made straight for the corner where
Dorothy Vane was holding merry court.
Mayhap it was rude to interrupt Up
rights best story, but the fair lady
lifted questioning eyes, and BERTHE
plunged into the hostile masculine cir
Gle
''If you please, Miss Dorothy, l should
like to beg few moments converse
tion-private, if l may make so bold"
Perhaps 1t was for the reason that
this frank request, made with such ap-
parent confidence In its being granted,
sounded so unlike difident, self depre-
catory BERTHE that her woman's curiosi-
ty was aroused At any rate, the furi-
Gus SWANS received a gracious but ag-
gregate smile for their kindness, and
Miss Dorothy was borne away down
the moonlit piazza on the arm of that
vandal, Temple
I'm IN deuce of hole, Dollie," be-
gan BERTHE, low and hurriedly. IT can't
tell anybody else, but / know you'll
help fellow out. It's that Miss Simp-
kns-oh, suppose it sounds frightful-
ly caddish-but l should think you
must have seen! Encouraged by my
childlike countenance to take advan-
tage, like all the others
Most unhappy infantr' interrupted
Dorothy, with sympathetic pat on his
white fianneled sleeve. You have had
our united considerations for a week
II that amiable spinster harbors no de-
sign upon your innocent head appear
ances are indeed misleading Only don't,
/ beseech you, ask me to abuse a faith
full conscience by hiding her false front
or anything ike that"
mo, Dollie, / have my plan-amaz-
ingly simple and, think you'll admit,
rather clever" Then he added, with a
sharp glance from the corners Of his
eyes, unobserved by the smiling maid
en-, "And If you'll only say yes, Dollie,
we ought to be able to get some fun out
of 1t thrown In"
"Unveil your mystery" came the an
mated command
tonholed me after dinner tonight and
whispered laughingly that she'd dis
covered the music room window behind
the portieres was the most heavenly
place to watch the moonlight on the
waves and that she was going to feast
he,- thto oh
you know the sort Of stuff OF course
1t would be the most natural thing in
the world for me to forget it If had
persuaded my fiancee to sit with me
Just outside the window" He stopped
suddenly as they reached the corner Of
the east piazza, caught both the girls
hands and held them for an instant.
"Dollie, will you be engaged to me for
an hour, just to save fellow from the
clutchesT
Dorothy's head went high, the scent
of battle in her delicate nostrils. Dur
ing the barely percep1ble hesitation
her mind held the picture Of a recent
day when she had been cheated out Of
an afternoons sailing with the adora-
BILE Freddie Burton by Miss Simpkins'
meddiing.
"Tll do it, Freddie" she whispered in
gay excitement.
A moment later Mr.. Temple was seat
ing his fiancee pro TEN. beneath the
wide, dark music room window.
"Ah, Dollie nine," he breathed in
admirably loverlike tones, while the
young lady thus possessively address
ed half suppressed hysterical giggles,
"at last I have you to myself and
away from all those Sinking cads that
cluster around you as If they had the
right. The right Is mine now, isn't 1t,
sweetheartT
'Ye-es," very family.
Thus encouraged, the happy lover
drew nearer and availed himself Of
two tempting white hands. Miss Dor
othy removed them from his tender
clasp with vehemence Now, BERTHE,
how many times have to tell YOU
There was Just the tiniest rustling
within the window.
"Dollie," he whispered, you mustn't
forget we're engagedv'
The hands resigned themselves Imply
to the inevitable.
II hope you realize, dearest"
voice became audible again. and
Dorothy was surprised to notice how
pleasantly caressing Berries voice
could that you have made me the
happiest man alive I've never want
ed anything as 1 have wanted this, and
now-oh, grille, it's almost unbeliev-
able yeti Tell me again that it's So;
that you truly love meI'
Dorothy's eyes opened wide in the
darkness. BERTHE Temple making love
In this magnificent fashion, 1t was al
most thrilling.
why, of course l do, silly. You
know it without my repeating it over
and over as II l had nothing else to
say"
"Do what, sweetheart mischiev-
ously.
Again a suggestion of movement on
the other side of the window.
BERTHE pressed the captive hands
warningly. Please" he whispered.
"She's there, listening. You prom
Used. Well both be in for it If yoy
fail now"
well, then behavep' she retorted
under her breath "Just this once,
mind" Then a little louder, but I'M
steadily, do l-l-love you, BERTHE, "
she said
"Oh, my little girl, my little girlr'
he said huskily, holding the hands
tighter than ever. II said l was happy
before, but I've never been absolutely
80 until this minute. Why, Dolliel You
remember we were interrupted last
night, and you've never let me kiss you.
It's Yes isn't it, dearT' leaning
very close.
why, BERTHE Temple, 1 should say
notl OF all the mean, deceiving adj
vantage taking tricks She paused
breathless, her voice quivering wrath
fully.
But BERTHE chung desperately to her
hands. "Dollie, don't spoil it allr' in
beseeching whisper Wen never
hear the last Of it,
She sank back weakly.
"Oh! Lifts so very new, you
know. I'm not accustomed to 1t yet.
You-you are not angry with me,
d-dear?"
Angry with your Never as long as
r.
"Of course l didn't mean that But
anyway you mustn't surprise me so
violently. 1t might make me l-l-like
you less. No. l guess I'd better not let
you tonight, just for punishment No
I-well! If you're going to feel so heart
broken, just one very tiny one right
here" indicating the tip of rosy ear.
The elaborate performance was hard
ly concluded when q small. agitated