The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-06-19


They had been friends-"chums,"
they called 1t in their warmer moments
for four years, when Lila Gardeners
wedding, with it's demands for best
man and maid Of honor service. con-
fronted them.
eff only Lila had asked some other
girl or Martin had asked some other
man." said Helen uncomfortably, ~
shouldn't In the least mind being maid
Of honor to Lance Folsom's best man,
or Tom or even Dan Harris-but with
you it's different. One has to hirt with
the best man. It's part Of the ceremo-
n.y." She glanced across the moonlit
space between them. We're friends,
and l won't firt with you"
"Of course not" said Randolph with
unnecessary flrmness. "Are you going
up tomorrow
Evening train," she responded
briefly.
mo need for me to wait over, is
thereY he inquired. ~ thought Of go
ing In the morning"
How absurd" protested Helen
why should you wait? I'd much
rather you didn't. 1t would look so
significant"
very well, see you tomorrow then"
he said, and left her with handshake,
cool and friendly.
She did not see him till o'clock the
next night, when, after a late train
and later dinner, she descended to
the library In search Of the other men,
bers of the bridal party. In a nook by
an open window she found Lila and
Martin absorbed in certain arrange
With them was Randolph, and Helen
fell at once into the discussion OF evad-
ing the rice and old shoes by means Of
the side door and hired vehicle
Once the question was settled, how
ever, the conversation languished, and
at the interrogation of third telepathic
communication between the lovers
Helen sprang up In desperation.
Its too warm In here" she COM
planned. Let's go find the others,
Donald"
They went out there somewhere"
Lila suggested cordially.
II dare say we can find Them" said
Helen with a smile.
She stepped through the window on to
the wide porch and Randolph followed
without delay.
Nov this is what / object to-" she
broke out, turning when they were out
of hearing Of the two inside, lone
doesn't want an enforced tete-a-tete.
Do you know where the others areT
Dancing in the schoolroom," said
Randolph, without interest.
Dancing" cried Helen. THAT settles
it. simply cannot dance tonight. I'm
tired to death. It's good thing we're
chums and don't have to talk, isn't 1t?
| know I'm not at all interesting to-
night" She sat down In a hammock
swung behind her and motioned to
big wicker chair Smoke If you like
and don't bother to talk unless you
want to-"
Randolph produced a stubby pipe
from his coat pocket. When he had
pulled few moments in silence he
crossed his legs and clasped his hands
behind his head.
You make a man adorably comfort
able, Helen" he said slowly, then add
ed more decisively: You're the finest
kind Of a chum."
always a chum-always," she an
swered, with a queer difference Of in
tonation in the repetition that Ran
dolph interpreted as a warning.
Martin got his passes today for the
Frisco trip" he said hastily, In bust
nesslike tone.
did hef Then they go directT
mot quite. Lila wants to see Salt
Lake City, and Martin knows a fellow
who has a ranch in Colorado. They're
| going there for week or ten days
Jove, that's tripw
isn't It? But / think the coming
back will be almost as good. Have you
seen the housef In town, you know,
on Boliver street. l went over II this
week with Lila. It's almost perfect.
Not too large, and yet large enough.
A dear little reception hall-dining room
In Flemish oak and tapestry paper;
drawing room in dull light green. But
the libraryl / think could improve on
about one knee and stopped swinging.
whats 1t likeT" asked Randolph,
| with interest
Very good papering." said Helen
earnestly dark red and stained floor,
with some very good rugs. But the
| hookcasesp'
Separate, I supposeT
Yes. and they ought to be low, along
the walls, all around In one wood, In
stead Of which he has one mahogany.
jointed effect Then, instead of big
leather chair at the fireplace, there is a
rocker" She broke off with a little
sigh. Il can imagine how that library
would look on winter evening with
n wood fire and the light coming
through those loaded window panes and
the chair piled with cushions and the
books one likes best to read
Lila has red hair" said Randolph
thoughtfully, land she wears pink
gowns. She'd jar on the color scheme"
"Oh, Donald, you are nice" sighed
Helen mirthfully. you see what one
thinks SO well, and that's my idea Of
friend" she concluded, with sudzasn
fervor
"a library like that would At a wom-
an with dark hair" said Randolph, his
eyes on the dusky head beside him
"a woman who wore a pale yellow
gown and had shadows in her eyes.
She would be sitting there in the big
chair with a book when a fellow came
home In the evening. and she wouldn't
talk to him If he was tired, and she'd
let him smoke, and she'd play for
him
Would they have plano in the IL
braryT objected Helen nervousiy.
"A VIOLIN" said Randolph. shed
play Chopin for him, as you play it,
and Schumann"-
Dear me-" interrupted Helen light
ly, you're infected by the sentimental
environments. Isn't 1t lucky were
chums, so that understand your mood
and don't repay It In kind?"
She walked to the railing and stood
looking out across the shadowy inwn.
What chums we've been. haven't
wer There was a pathetic note In her
] voice. We've never spoiled It BY hirt-