The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-11-19

phans and that she had been retained
on small pay as governess.
She had read In books about girls
who had suddenly met twentieth CEN
fury Prince Charmings, and she had
thought how wonderful such an ey-
perience must be, but today it was
anything but wonderful. She was sor-
ry she had not told him the truth. She
WAS sorry-no, she was not sorry about
the lunch nor the long, searching
glances she had encountered across the
table nor the sweet, slow trip home,
with the sleeping children piled into
the big seats behind them. But she
must never, never see him again!
The orphans from the Clarendon
Home were enjoying their second and
last big picnic of the season, this time
at the city park. They had had May
queen, though it was August, duly
browning her and showering her with
small attentions. They had much ice
cream and lemonade, and now the long
| afternoon was drawing to a drowsy
| finish. Annabel had helped to clean up
the lunch tables, had settled half a
dozen childish disputes and was begin
ming to feel a bit flushed and tired
when around the curve of the graveled
road flashed big. dull green car con-
tanning a single figure clad In long
gray coat. The car stopped; the figure
leaned forward, then sprang to the
ground.
j co w hn r14O in
the afternoon papers. Please come for
little run. You look as if you had
been working too hard"
Annabels lips set in firm lines She
answered quickly:
eyes; you see 1 must work for my
living. am one of the helpers at the
home, and was an orphan there once
Maybe you thought
Il knew-at the beach. But that isn't
what came to tell you. Please come"
Mechanically she. stepped into the
car and sat down beside him Then he
knew all the time!
The car moved off slowly. The su-
perintendent rose from the bench
where he had been resting for the first
time since early morning and, shading
his eyes with his hand, watched it out
Of sight. Then he smiled oddly and sat
down again.
The man In the car had something to
say, and he drew his breath sharply
before he spoke
you misunderstood. So did the SUI
perintendent but l told him the truth
before l asked you to ride with me
again. You thought / was Mr.. Austin,
but I'm only his chauffeur and have
charge Of his car while he is in Europe.
take his mother out occasionally, but
most of the time there is nothing to do.
It's no disgrace to be chauffeur, but
am sorry l did not tell you the first
day. l want to make and sell automo-
biles some day, and that is why start
ed as Mr.. Austin's chauffeur. When he
comes back I'm going into the factory
where this machine was made-and"-
He stopped abruptly at sight of ths
girls radiant face.
4 "Oh, Pm so glad-you-you are not
Mr.. Austilr
Light came to the young man.
well, I'm glad-that you are glad"
he said simply. May l bring my
mother to call on you some evening"
Eat the orphanageT' she asked fall
teringly.
cat the orphanage," he answered |
firmly. why, of course. told her all |
about you after that day at the beachp' |
The hand that was not on the steer
ing wheel closed firmly over hers, and
Annabel saw the woods and the lake |
through wonderful mist that was !
half tears, half golden sunshine.