The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-05-22

SOME DREADFUL THING WAS CREEPING
/ UP BESIDE YOU"
came, tall, broad shouldered, crossins
the room to her with a quick, easy
stride, she could find NO words for the
wild rush of joy that enveloped her,
but stood mOtionless, holding out her
hands to him in the dim, firelit room.
Martha, Marthaw he said INSTEAD
lily, grasping the slender, outstretched
hands tightly In his own. And when
she did not speak
Martha, have made q mistaken Do
you want me to stay? Tell me the
truth"
Eyes, yesr' she answered tremulous
ly, leaving her hands In his In her tn
mutt of delight. "I-oh, can you not
see it?"
"Yes," he said gravely; Il know"
Il never meant that other" she went
on, breaking into low, nervous laugh
tar. 81 knew even when / said 1t that
didn't. Then-yesterday-
clasp of her slender fingers frightened
on his-"I don't know what I should
have done II you had
She stopped abruptly and, with a
heavy shudder, burst into tears in the
strong. tender clasp Of hts arms.
Some time afterward she slipped
away from him and dropped into the
deep leather chair drawn up in front
Of the fireplace. A little sigh escaped
her. She motioned him to a neighbor-
Ing chair, but gravely and not with her
accustomed gayety.
TOO far of. I can do the subject
justice only at close range" he object
ed.
Standing on the hearth rug, he smiled
down at her. She was looking straight
before her. wide eyed and motionless,
staring into the dancing flames. He
regarded her searchingiy and as If i'm
PEELED to the question because Of her
extreme stiffness.
''Of what are you thinkingT' he
asked
She turned to him, drawing her
breath quickly. The logs In the are
place famed up In sudden brilliazce,
and for the first time she noticed his
pallor and the dark circles under his
eyes. His face, too, was graver than
its wont In spite Of Its great content
Il have forgotten how hard it was
for you, too" Martha said, with quick
contrition. do you know, Robert
she sat up suddenly, her eyes dark
with horror-"I thought 1 was there
with you. heard the shrieks. / saw
the red glare Of the flames. 1 felt the
train sway and jar as the cars ahead
crashed into the engine Ohp'
She broke on with long, shuddsring
breath.
Robert" she said solemnly, 81 did
zee 1t. I-was-on-that-t
He looked at her strangely, then
seated himself on the arm Of the big
leather chair and. slipping his arm
around her, drew her gently toward
him.
'It was yesterday" she went on In a
choked voice, nervously clasping and
unclasping his hand II was sitting
here, and kept thinking and thinking
Of you, and then suddenly / saw you.
You were sitting In a car smoking and
laughing and talking, and all the while
some dreadful thing was creeping up
beside you-closing In around you-and
you would not see. With all my might
called to you to come away. and al
most that same instant came a terrific
jolt and the horrible grinding sound Of
crashing cars | tried to close my eyes
to the binding glare of the spreading
flames, and then-I was here again.
just sitting here before the fire az
home"
A sob shook her, and he drew her
closer. Then she went on again, nerv-
0usly, In a half smothered voice, q lit
tie pause between each sentence
THE dream haunted me. Then your
telegram came, Robert''-she changed
her position somewhat and regarded
him earnestly-'I did not dream 1t.
saw it. Tell me that you believe l did
not dream It,"
He nodded, regarding her gravely.
But how could see It when was
here In this room all the timer she
went on, with little laugh. Then her
nerves. already strained to the break
ing point, gave way, and her slender
body quivered with heavy sobs.,
The clasp of his arms reassured her.
He drew her head to his shoulder. and
they sat in silence in the fast darken-
ing room, lighted only by the flames
leaping In and out between the heavy
logs.
His voice, intense and hushed, was
the first to break the silence.
Il was in the front part Of the train
In the smoking car" he said gravely.
Il had finished one cigar and was
about to take another. Indeed, the
cigar case was in my hand, and was
just about to offer it to my companion
when looked up and saw-you. There
you were. standing just inside the door
at the end Of the car. remember
you standing there, so I must have
seen your whole figure, but all that I
noticed were your eyes-intenss, COM
polling, electric with some message
fastened on mine with q look Of pas
sionate, agonixing appeal
II do not remember that I was sur
prised. Ny only thought was that ron