The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-22
A Bad A
Beginnings.
BY BRIAN cAHILL.

on would not hold out until Benton's
return, and he gritted his teeth as he
thought of all the commission on the
1t would have made up the sum
needed to complete the purchase of the
little house he wanted to offer Edna
Conant as home, and 1t might mean
@ year now before another such bril-
liant opportunity would offer.
He glanced out of the window
through the light driving rain, at the
sodden vista of wet roof tops and
smoke stained buildings, and thought
how well the weather matched his own
feelings. For months he had been
working to close the real estate trans
action. Benton was to be at the office
at 10 to put the final details through,
and now he had sailed for Europe. and
1t was the final happening Of chain
Of accidents that had begun with his
stumbling his toe as he got out of bed,
followed by the loss of bis last collar
button under the bureau, the burning
Of half his breakfast by a green serv-
ant girl and then the wreck and its
attendant discomforts.
He turned from the window with a
shudder.
This Is fine beginning for the
week." he said to himself. IF it keeps
up this way until Saturday 1 shall
land In the lunatic asylum"
He took his seat before the desk and
busted himself with the papers in the
Benton matter Four signatures and
the exchange Of check would have
made the set complete and would have
brought him a commission of $4,000.
Evers hing had been arranged to ex-
pedite matters. Benton had waited
half an hour in the hall until he had
just time to make the steamer upon
which he was to sail.
Eddowes carefully clipped the papers
to file board and caught up his UNI
brella. There was no chance Of any
other caller during the lunch hour, and
the loss of his breakfast and the tramp
across country had put an edge on his
appetite.
The streets were filed with the usu-
al hurrying throng, and, raising his
umbrella, he fell In with the process
sion Of moist and steaming mortals.
The wind had freshened, and the rain
was driving In sheets now. At the cor
ner by the trust company building the
air currents were unusually strong,
and just as he passed the curb a girl
ahead made clutch at her umbrella
as 1t turned inside out, while the torn
silk f1uttered from the bent ribs. Ed
doves covered the dainty hat with his
own umbrella and steered her to the
protection of the entrance
LET 1t drop in the gutter" he said.
There Is no hope Of saving any part
of It,"
Harry" gasped the girl. Where
did you come fromr'
"From- the Office" he laughed. ''What
brings you downtown, EdnaY'
II was to meet father for lunch"
she explained. HE was called to an
important conference and left word
for me to go to lunch alone. I was
going home. 1 am so perfectly miser-
able. Everything has gone wrong to-
day. 1t has been chapter Of acct
dents ever since rose"
Lets be miserable together" he
suggested. "Come and have some
lunch, and We'll tell each other our
troubles"
he led the way to a little place
where the service was excellent and
the prices moderate Here, at little
table In the corner, she detailed her
chapter of accidents, while he in turn
gave whimsical account of his own
mishaps
"We are companions in misery" he
said, with a laugh. II really believe
that 1t has done me good to pour my
tale Of woe into sympathetic ears"
81 know that it has done me good to
share my burden" she said, with a
look that made Eddowes' heart beat
the faster. "Tm sorry about that deal
you lost"
'Tt meant a great deal to me-" he
said mournfully. Il was going to pur-
chase the Gordon place."
For Investment" she asked, though
she knew well enough she had said
once when she had visited his sister
how much she would enjoy a place
like that for her home.
"An investment In happiness" be
said meaningly. 81 suppose that the
place will be sold long before l am
able to get another deal like this
through"
lis your happiness entirely depend
ent upon that one placer she asked.
SIS happiness matter of real estater'
"Real estate contributes materially
to happiness" he said, with an uneasy
laugh. II should not want to offer an
unworthy home to the woman 1 want
to marry"
Home is what you make it." she re-
minded him. There is Jessie Bruce.
They have only four rooms In an
apartment house, but they are perfect
~ happy and content. George had the
courage to ask Jessie as soon as he
was certain that he could make both
ends meet in small way. He did not
wait to build a palace. If woman
loves a man she does not marry him
because he is able to offer a preten-
tious home"
srvVould vo,, t,orrv m v,tft, tho Ijtflo
/ have to offer?" he asked. ut was
you I thought of, dear"
Her hand crept across the table and
stole into his own. "Of course /
would-if you asked nse," she assented,
with happy little laugh, 'but / am
afraid that you are going TO let pride
keep you from happiness"
II was going to-" he admitted, "but
this little visit has done 80 much to
give me fresh courage that I realize
more than ever how much need you.
VIII you marry me, dear, take me for
better or worse, with the chances that
1t may be worse for awhile?"
The Yes was whispered so softly
that he guessed rather than heard the
answer, and his face grew radiant at
the thought that this great happiness
was to be his.
II don't care now about the loss of
the deal or the wreck or even the
rain" he cried. ST have you, and with
you It will always be sunshine and
good fortune"
AS though in answer, beam of sun
light stole through the windows and
fell across the table. Eddowes looked
up.
There Is the omen," he cried. That
last burst of rain must have been the
final gasp Of the storm. The sun is
coming through the Clouds"
"And it's always going to shine" she
answered
Lets pay the check and go and get
the ring" he suggested. 81 want To