The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-06-12
HE HAD THROWN AN ARM ABOUT FEE.

was he glad that he had refused to &C
cept his fathers dictum and marry
some one else. OF course 1t would
make an awful row when he wrote
that he was going to marry Marjorie,
but he had gained some recognition as
an engineer, and it would not be hard
to make his way If only Marjorie
would accept him.
Marjorie's frank friendliness was
scarcely encouraging to his hopes, but
as the days progressed he gained In
her favor, and before the end of his
first week he had begun to fiatter him
self that he was making Roadway.
Mrs. Carson clearly approved of him.
Early in the acquaintance he had taken
pains to acquaint her with his history
in an impersonal sort of way that did
not sound like formal announcement,
and she had smiled and replied that she
had heard of his father. After that she
had been much in the background, and
the young people went boating and on
other excursions alone.
1t was web along in the third week
before he had ventured to speak of
love to the girl. 1t was as they were
coming home one evening, and in saw
ing herself from a fall as she stepped
on loose stone, she had caught at his
coat sleeve. He had thrown an arm
about her and had kept 1t there until
with rosy face she had disengaged
herself
Il can get along all right now" she
said as she stepped ahead. He laid
hand upon her shoulder
Il hope you can't" he said simply.
Il should like you to think that you
always needed me-"
II don't" was the savage answer.
Il don't ever need you. and wish you
would go away"
Pardon" he said quietly. 81 had no
wish to be offensive"
They went along In silence, but as
they parted at the foot of the piazza
steps she turned toward him and held
out her hand
II am afraid l was very rude" she
said simply. "Will you forgive me"
"If you will take back what you
said" he answered pleadingly
81 think you're horrid,'' she exclaim-
ed with sudden shift from her peni-
tential mood. "If you were gentle
man you would not annoy me this
way
She sped up the steps before he could
demand an explanation, and left be-
hind her a much puzzled swain.
He was too tactfu to reopen the
question that evening, but for half the
night he paced the floor after he had
gone to his room and vainly sought for
an explanation of her odd remark.
That she liked him was apparent. He
could not see wherein he had been Of
fensive, and yet she had spoken as II
he must understand what the matter
was.
He was still puzzled the next morn
ing when they met at breakfast, but
there was no opportunity for an expla-
nation until late that evening. Just be-
fore the party broke up Jack and Mar
jorie were standing on the piazza. The
others had moved toward the entrance
and had left them alone in the corner.
'What did you mean yesterday" he
asked II was not conscious Of giving
offense."
81 should think it would bore you as
much as 1t does me-" she answered,
'but 1 don't want to talk about it, 30
good night"
She sped down the piazza. He turn
ed half irresolutely, then with a sigh
he turned back and went down the
other side.
That night he walked the floor again,
but no solution came to him, and at
last he threw himself upon the bed and
slept a sleep in which Marjorie perpet-
ually danced before him, ever eluding
his grasp and yet ever entreating him.
Some intangible barrier seemed to be
separating them, and he had the I'M
comfortable feeling that If he could de-
termine the nature of this barrier he
would gain her hand.
So strong was this impression that
Immediately after breakfast he sought
Marjorie on the piazza.