The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-07-10

smile and nod and blush at me at
concert where we were and seemed to
think | would see her home the same
as everl Then the next time we met
she did not even speak,
Are you sure she received itY'
Eyes. ] sent it by my brother. and
he put 1t into her own hand. He did
not wait for an answer. She could
have sent that anyway Well, then
went away few weeks. l could not
stand 1t here, and now that | am back
1t is worse than ever. despise myself
for caring, but | hate Norman Cady for
being near her. | thought If l told you.
perhaps just putting 1t into words
would wear off some Of my anger and
help me forget her Elsie, be good tc
me and help me forget her. viii your
The girl touched his arm with her
hand.
You should go to her and have it
out in words. There may be some mis-
take"
There is no mistake She was sim
ply playing with me. Elsie, you were
always my comrade, be so now in time
Of need" Elsie laughed, but it hurt
her a little.
Very well, John, come to me when
ever you want to. We will talk and
walk and you shall try to forget. I
will not fail you"
March was gone and April had had
her last day Of grace. 1t was the even
Ing before May day. Elsie, happy
hearted, was waiting on the porch in
the twilight. John was to come Now
be nearly always came They were
going for another walk in the spring
twilight to wander across the green
hills and back along the roadways in
the white moonlight. Elsie thought
only of the moment, but she could not
help a little throb of gladness that he
SO seldom spoke of Rose. She did not,
as at first, regret the GOODNESS that had
sprung up between her and Rose.
Nothing seemed to matter but being
happy without thinking why. John
called her sister half jokingly, but
with entire affection and while he
sometimes wandered off lnconsolately
by himself he seemed content to be
with her. And so she waited. AS she
waited her fifteen-year-ol brother call
ed dlstressingly from his room:
isis, for goodness sake get my good
coat from the closet in the hall! I'm
goin' to be late to that party"
Elsie went to the dark closet and
emerged with a coat She knocked at
his door.
"Oh, come on in and help me with
this fool tie! Great snakes, If you
haven't got the wrong coat Just like
girl. Haven't worn that old thing
since winter" He snatched 1t from
her lmpatiently upside down. A letter
fell from the pocket.
Elsie picked 1t up, and as she glanced
at the address her face went white.
Terry What is thls?"
At the sound of her voice he TUNED
to look, and then stood stricken with
tardy penitence. 1t was addressed to
John Copeland, and in the lower left
corner was inscribed in Roses hand,
Kindness of Terry Terry stared
and struggled with the refractory tie
"a pretty messl Rose gave me that
months ago. and l promised to take 1t |
straight to John. And like fool for |
gotr' Then he cheered up. well, |
they're off anyway now. Probably |
she'll be glad he never saw 1t. will |
take it back to her tomorrow" He
wondered at the strange brightness of |
his sisters eyes, at the extreme white |
ness of her face.
Gee! Not even Rose can touch you |
for looks, Sis. / don't wonder that |
john She turned from him as Johns |
whistle sounded below. She still held |
the letter.
81 shall give 1t to John. 1t is his. l |
shall tell him you forgot. r.
Then she went down to John.
He sat contentedly on the porch with
his hat pushed back on his fair head.
He looked careless and happy enough. |
At her approach he rose.
Ready, sisterT Her smile was odd,
and she held the letter out to him. She
spoke as If she had been running:
John, take this into the parlor and |
read 1t. No one is there. told you |
there was a mistake. 1t is to you from |
Rose. She gave it to Terry, and he for |
got 1t. 1 just found 1t in the pocket of |
his winter coat" John did not know |
he almost snatched it from her hand. |
When he came back from the parlor |
his face was shining
Elsie, you are an ANGEL You have
the heart of a sister, You have given
her back to me. She did love me. She
doesl r.
Elsie smiled and gave him brave
little push.
'Well, you silly boy, go to her this
minutew
He snatched her hand and pressed 1t |
hard. Then he went from her with an
eager swiftness that he had never |
shown In coming to her She knew it
she had always known 1t, but never
theless it was not easy to see. And I'M
der her breath she whispered bravely:
"The heart of a sister!'