The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-09-04
HE STARED HARD AT THE HALF DOZEN
DOCUMENTS.

DOCUMENTS.
a wire from headquarters. The mine
has gone smash-water, you see-utter-
ly worthless. Nobody would take it as
a gift"
"Oh, Teddy, I'm so sorry" she said.
"Of course it means financial ruin.
I'll have to begin again at the bottom
of the ladder. 1t may take years to
work my way up. 1t would be unjust
to you to ask you to wait. l will not
do it. 1 give you back your promise.
You are free"
A sudden trembling of the white lips
showed what the words cost him. The
look on his haggard face went to Eliz-
abeth's heart She was deeply in love
with Teddy Davenport. She loved him
for his handsome face, his manliness,
his courage and strength, his high no
tons of honor With a swift. impul-
sive gesture she slipped two slender
white arms, lost at the elbow In en-
chanting frills of lace, about his neck.
"But l don't want to be Free" she
cried. ooh, what a goose you are,
Teddy AS If hadn't money enough
for us both and wouldn't deem it a
privilege to share all I possess with
your
He released himself resolutely from
the clasping arms.
Eyes, Elizabeth, I know you would
do it, and willingly, if l would permit
the sacrifice. But l will not. How
can | take so much and give nothing
in return?"
"You will give yourself. That is
enough"
Not from mans standpoint. Don't
myself before l came. l shall always
love you, always be true to you, but
until fortune smiles again we can be
only friends"
Elizabeth loved him the better for
his unyielding firmness and pride Aft
er he had gone she stood for long
time at the window, the light gone out
of her beautiful eyes. What a pity
that so paltry a thing as the loss of
fortune should wreck the happiness of
two lives! Could nothing be done?
Suddenly thought came to her like
an inspiration and she acted upon 1t
at once Crossing the wide hall to a
she took the telephone directory from
Its shelf, ran her finger down the long
column of names until she came to the
letter s. Then she called up Mr. San
ford of the legal firm of Sanford &
Rollins, and the following conversation
took place:
"Mr. Sanford, you have charge of
Mr. Theodore Davenport's business af
fairs?'
YES"
"Is 1t true that his Lookout shares
have greatly deprecated in value?"
Excuse me, madam. That is a pri-
vate matter. l cannot discuss it with
stranger
You needn't be afraid. Mr.. Daven-
| port has just gone from here. I'm
Miss Elizabeth Mellen of Gramercy
Park"
"Oh-ah- yes!" 1t was curious-the
| change that had come into the voice at
the other end of the wire. "Of course,
then, 1t is quite unnecessary to keep
anything back. The mine is in very
bad shape-even worse than Davenport
Is aware"
"Id like to have talk with you, Mr..
Sanford, if | may. Can you call at
my house this evening at to meet my
business manager?'
Il will come with pleasure. Miss
Mellen."
Thanks. OF course you understand
that Mr.. Davenport is not to know of
this"
You can rely upon my discretion"
THAT is all Goodby until g."
The following afternoon Elizabeth
sat waiting with flushed cheeks and
shining eyes. On the stroke of the
clock Teddy bounded up the steps.
Without giving the servants a chance
to announce him, he rushed into the
drawing room and caught her In his
arms.