The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-09-05

who is TO take me in?" she asket
ut the foot of the stairs, but Helen wal
already bowling and smiling to anothe
guest as she answered:
You're always late, dear. aren'
you? No excuse, though, please Dom
you see the senator looking helpless
and alone over there? He's to take mG
In and thinks I'm lost"
But Rosemary stopped short
and went upstairs to the dressing room
with little sudden heartache. For 6
whole month one only had had the
right and privilege of claiming her, and
now she was free again. She hoped
Helen would not give her to any one
brilliant and strenuous tonight, who
would bother her by trying to make
an impression. She didn't want to be
| impressed. In a measure she blamed
impressionism for her engagement to
Dean. He was royal comrade, clever
and responsive. but not too clever or
too responsive. There was difference
Looking back on the joyous days of the
month, she decided that it had been this
element of chumship, Of mindful aff1ni-
ty, which had been responsible for the
whole thing.
AS comrade Dean was splendid, but
as a lover in the role Of prospective
husband to be welded to for life she
had suddenly discovered that he was
exacting- most exacting
Any man who was engaged to a girl
and positively forbade any other man
falling in love with her was exacting.
Moreover, it was foolish, because, real
ly, it was in the abstract compliment
to his own good taste.
She could not help Jack Stowell tell
ing her that he loved her. OF course
he loved her. He had told her so on an
average Of twice month for over a
year. And he was dear, dear boy.
She smiled contentedly at the mir
rored image of herself in the dressing
room as she paused to tuck in few
refractory hairpins. Who could help
loving her? Even Dean had called
her the dearest girl in the world. 1t
was sweet to remember that. OF course
he had behaved intolerably about Jack,
but when a man is in love
She laughed softly and buried her
lips caressingly in the heart of q
single long stemmed La France rose
that lay lightly on her breast
The last trailing gown was vanish
ing beyond the heavy velvet portieres
OF the dining room as she came down
stairs. Only one lone figure awaited
her coming in the wide hall, and she
wondered who 1t could be- Not Jack.
Mrs. Creighton did not approve of
Jack. In fact, she had once called
him cub. Mild, but irritating-to
Jack. The figure turned suddenly at
the sound of her coming. 1t was Dean
himself. Half unconsciously she hes
itated, her head lifted a trihe higher
than usual, her lashes dropping OBJ
stinately over telltale eyes.
He was terribly grave and dignihed.
II am to have the pleasure of TAX
ing you in, Mrs. Creighton said She
evidently does not know"
II had no idea that you would be
here" She spoke Indignantly. 1t was
almost impertinent of him, when only
last night she had told him she never
wished to even look at him again.
II could hardly help myself, after
accepting the invitation a week ago.
We will probably meet in the same
places for some time, until the break
ing Of the engagement is announced.
At present people consider us indis-
pensable to each others happiness"
His quiet, courteous sarcasm was
under the circumstances.
She resolved not to even speak to him
again. Old Mr.. Rathburn sat at her
other hand, and she devoted herself to
him with earnest fervor. He was in
terested in a plan for the irrigation of
the great American desert by means OF
huge spinning hose MOBILES to be op-
grated from balloons.
But you'll have to get the water up
there before you can get it down." OBJ
jected Rosemary anxiously for the sew
enth time. She knew that Dean was
smiling amusedly. UNLESS you attach
It to the Clouds"
Mr.. Rathburn was silent, and she
felt withered by a sense Of his dis
pleasure, and she hated the theory of
irrigation by balloons or any other way.
Dean was talking across the table
10 Eleanor Lee, and she suddenly class
ID Eleanor with irrigation and other
unpleasant topics. Next to Dean was
Mrs. Chadwick. Her gray curls were
lust visible beyond his brown ones.
She was congratulating him, Rosemary
Knew. She had been in Europe all
summer and had only heard of the be-
rothal few days ago. 1t seemed to
Rosemary that she was unnecessarily
'apturous and voluble on the subject.
ut is the sweetest time Of your life,"
The was saying. "The betrothal hour
when we laugh and love and let Cupid
bind us in rose chains and drive us at
his dear, capricious will, span or tan
1eIu"-
It's generally tandem. Mrs. Chad
wick" said Dean, with merry scorn.
There must be a leader. you know,
and Cupid's law is ladies' first"
"Ah, but they are only rose chains, |
Dean" The gray curls were shaken at
him rebukingly. And they break SO |
easily. Once married, they are rose
chains still, but some wise fate has
slipped links of steel beneath the pet !
ils"
And if we break them now Dean
paused.
Then there are only scattered roses
n the dust and Cupid weeping and
aosemary-for remembrance. Nav II
lever come to you" She smiled at both
voung faces. memory is dear, but not
when all it brings TO mind are the
broken rose chains"
There was a momentary hush. The
Iweetly modulated old voice had car
led to the far ends Of the table. and
Ill were listening. Rosemary's gaze
'ested on her plate. She dared not
meet Deans eyes. The hush passed,
md there was the low, light babel of
'oices again. She heard him speaking
o her and held her breath to listen.
isn't she an old darling to say
hatY
"She doesn't know they are already
'roken." He could hardly catch the
Ialf whisper.
But are they7 Only last night, and
10 one knows. and it was all a mis-
AXE He bent, with pleasing eyes, to-
yard her. Rosemary, my Rosemary"
For remembrance? She laughed,
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