The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-09-04


And the tired horses resumed their jog
with the driver still chuckling over the
joke.
For a momeut Edna's heart sank 1t
was getting well along in the after
noon. She had had long day in the
woods, and now she had to face a ten
mile walk to town unless some one
came along who would give her lift
In spite of the memories that clus-
tered about the spot she decided that
she would remain and wait for some
thing to turn up.
Presently grocery cart came rat
Ting along, and Edna hailed the driv-
er He refused her proffer of money
and sprang down to help her to the
seat. The sprig Of arbutus she pinned
In his buttonhole was greater reward
than any fee she could give, and he
was sorry when a mile beyond sec
ond wayfarer hailed him, asking for a
ride
AS the man turned at the sound of
the wheels Edna gasped. She had
supposed Jack Masters to be out west
somewhere, yet here was he or his
double standing in the muddy road.
do you mind?" asked the boy apol-
ogetically as he heard the anticipated
request. There's room on the seat
for three"
Not at all" said Edna, wondering
if her cheeks were as red as they felt.
The next moment Masters sprang to
the seat
For the first time he seemed to real
ize who the second occupant Of the
wagon was Edna" he cried, what
are you doing here?'
81 have been out after wild flowers"
she explained. THE day was so tempt
ing l could not stand the city"
did you go to the old placer" he
asked quietly.
THE arbutus is thickest there" she
said. Il guess it was about the old
hill"
81 was out there day before yester-
day" he said Somehow | felt that ]
would like to go back to the old place.
You remember that that was where
where
at is not necessary to be more spe-
cific," said Edna severely. ut is not
nice to rake up unpleasant memories"
The next moment she was penitent
and longed to tell him how sorry she
was for all that had occurred. but Jack
was looking out over the fields now,
and he did not catch the CLINT of tears
in her eyes
lie was thinking of the promise she
had made him when they were gather
ing the arbutus together and how they
had agreed to gather the arbutIls the
next spring as husband and wife.
Somehow the memory of it had
brought him back from the cactus and
sagebrush of the western plains He
had felt that he must come back-that
perhaps in the springtime she would
see things with clearer vision. He had
/ hoped against hope on his long journey
across the continent, and now, at this
unexpected meeting, she had snubbed
| him
! 1t was several minutes before he
could command himself, but when he
turned to her again it was with an i'm
passive face and some comment upon
the destruction of the power house
Edna felt hurt Why should she care
when he seemed to feel so little regret7
Her penltence vanished, and instead
there came an elfin desire to tease.
For a moment he seemed hurt at her
flippancy; then he rallied and met her
| mood. Beneath his smiles there lay a
bleeding heart, but he did not show his
hurt, and the Indifference reused Edna
to further flights until she was almost
insolent.
He bore with her patiently, but when
at last the boy drew up at the outskirts
and announced that he had to turn of
to his store Jack sprang to the ground
and caught her in his arms as she
sought to jump TO the ground without