The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-08
swered steadily. HE cares very


But the question fingered in Marga-
rets mind, touched to poignant sig
nificance by the memory of that small
white face. OF what was the child
thinking? Whence came the hidden
feeling which prompted the query?
Margaret, despite the close atmos-
phere. shivered. Why had Lassiter re-
turned and why, oh, why, had he come
here to destroy, this time forever, the
peace of mind which Margaret had be-
lieved so secure at last2 And this poor
child who loved her! Involuntary
Margaret wrung her hands. How
hard, how complicated, was life! But,
thank Heaven, tomorrow they would
all separate. After tomorrow she need
see him no more.
There was a step behind her on the
soft carpet of fallen needles-a quick,
firm tread coming hurriedly down the
path. Margaret turned 1t was dusky
under the thick sheltering boughs, but
she recognized at once that 1t was Las
sitter At sight of the white figure be-
fore him the man started
Margaret" he calculated sharply
Margaret But he caught himself
at once 81 beg your pardon" he
smiled. you looked almost like a
ghost there among the trees. am on
my way to the boathouse," explaining
easily. "Belen and young Morris are
on the lake, and it looks so like a
storm"
Come" she said quickly. 1t had
grown very dark. The sultry air was
breathless Not sigh stirred the
branches above. The slippery. over
grown path was difficult to find, but
Margaret sped unheedingly on. That
little frail canoe out on the tumbling
waters! Oh, why was the boathouse
so far2 And then all at once gnarled
old root thrust boldly out caught her
foot. She tripped, stumbled, and the
next instant she had fallen into Las
siter's arms.
1t was only for one brief fraction Of
time, one half anguished moment, dur
ing which the man, his stern self con-
troll shaken, had gathered her close
Then Margaret broke from him.
''Belenw she gasped. The lines
around Lassiter's mouth whitened.
II know" he said. II know" Blu.
despite his effort at self mastery the
emotion reused was not to be so easily
leashed. The bitterness of years surged
to the surface.
Margaret he cried. "Oh, Marga-
ret, why did you send me awayP'
IL didn't know" murmured the
woman unsteadily. IL thought I
didn't care, and then it was too late
you had gone. But-but you are happy
now" she urged. "Belen'-
"Belen is a child" said Lassiter
quietly. when she was left so alone
with only me for guardian there SEEM
ed nothing else to do. l shall try to
make her a good husband. But you,
Margaret"-his voice suddenly dropped
to an unconscious entreaty-"Marga
ret
Then out of the gloom a voice echoed
clearly across the water.
mo, no." 1t sobbed, and both man
and woman, stopping suddenly, recog
nized the voice as Belen's. you
mustn't talk so. l can't marry you.
Oh, can't! He loves me. Miss Aston
says So And he has been too good to
me. / must not break his heart, but
l love Billy"
Across the murky darkness leaped a
white fash of fire. A tremendous
crashing peal seemed to split the very
heavens, and then suddenly the rain,
lOosed at last, came pouring down,
cool, cleansing, revivifying, bringing
grateful freshness to the thirsty
ground, restored equilibrium to the
surcharged atmosphere. Great drops
battered on the pine boughs, but Mar
garet, her eyes wet with happy tears,
was not conscious Of the pelting rain,
for in that second when lake and woods
had stood distinct and clear, snhouet-
ted against that unearthly brilliance,
In that instant of vision had been re-
vealed the picture of a man and a
maid, a picture old when time was
young Billy Morris kissing Belen.
"Margaretr' cried Lassiter hoarsely.
ooh. Margaret, you saw, you heard!
Belen is going to marry Billy Morris,
and you-you are going to marry me,
aren't you, Margaret?' as she lifted
her face to his.