The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-05-07
By RITA KELLEY.


| them her love for conventional Anne
and an overweening desire to provide
literature much diversified by COM
mentaries for her best beloved.
Anne made the train AS she hur-
RED down the platform and climbed
into the car feeling Of wild good hui
NOR possessed her The old cramping
occurrences that savored of self con
seriousness In her personality had been
lost In the excitement of the last hour.
She found herself within the car with
the exhilarating desire to do something
rash.
She didn't know what exactly Then
1t flashed over her. No more old ladies',
or women with children, or nice elder
ly men. She shuddered at thought of
the innumerable times she had asked
to share their seats-nO. This time she
was free from tradition. She would
pick winner With brave deter
mination she gripped her bags and set
out down the aisle in quest of him.
He was at the extreme end of the
car. Big and brown, and he looked the
part. The little query was said, the
alacrious moving of bags ended, and
Anne sank into the mans place by the
window, facing him, with a tiny feel
Ing of exultation.
He was a winner sure enough, hand
some and with the most charming
manner imaginable. Anne dubbed him
Harvard man when he lifted his hat.
They were all so delightfully."- gallant.
She was not in the least embarrassed
by his intermittent gaze, which was
timed, as only winner knows how, to
meet her vagrant glances. She knew
her hat was UNNECESSARILY becoming,
with the pink rose and soft plume
against her brownish hair; also that
her blue fox set was the latest cry in
furs and her gloves and boots correct.
1t occurred to her presently, however,
that she ought to convince the man
of her complete disinterestedness in
choosing him for a travelling compan-
ion.
Accordingly she drew the portion of
magazine from her hand bag and set
tied herself comfortably There were
six pages of 1t, and she knew that, pro-
vided she read leisurely, it would last
until she reached Brentwood. Janet
had third virtue. She considered,
specializing subconsciously, with eyes
fixed on the flowing landscape, over a
long look which she had Just inter-
rupted, were his eyes brown or gray
or green? oh. Janet's virtue! Well it
was providing literature for travelling
young ladies who were in danger of
reverting without warning to embar-
RAISING original self consciousness.
Janet had scrubbed in her bold CHI
Biography wherever an interlineation
was possible fond, foolish things
which Anne soon forgot to read In her
absorption in the story She loved a
horse, and this was hero handled
with the sympathetic touch of lover
of horses. Tears sprang to her eyes,
to be succeeded by a smile, a low
laugh or strained intentness and pain.
She finished the story as the train
whistled for Brentwood. with an over
whelming desire to lean over and tell
the man facing her that 1t was the
greatest story ever written; that she
wanted to tell him about it; that she
knew he would understand.
Carried outside herself, she leaned
forward impulsively, her lips parted,
eyes glowing, about to speak. Presto!
Her mind sprang like trap, and she
bent over her bags instead, embar-
rassedly preparing to fee She gave
him the fieetest Of glances as she rose,
and he looked steadily at her while a
suspicion of a smile, appreciative and
friendly, came into his eyes She had
the story with her; but suddenly fol-
lowing an impulse she dropped it as
thing of no value upon the seat
Janet Fair was in a state of woe.
The lion of the house party had not
materialized Frantic telephonlng and
wires disclosed the fact that he had
left town for Silox, next station be-
yond Brentwood, on the 4:50 train and
had been seen no more. The Fair
country place stood midway between
the two stations used impartially by
the Fair guests, and a coupe had met
both stations, one bringing Anne Hal
llwell from Brentwood, the last woman
guest.
"He is yours, dear" said Janet. draw
ing Anne out into the chill moonlight
on the little balcony. Put this shawl
over your shoulders-your gown is so
sheer and lovely-and promise me, If
he becomes manifest alive or dead,
that you viii smile upon him"
"Why dou't you take him yourseIfT'
laughed Anne.
Cant. Never sees me- Told me
confidentially that he adored the svelte,
dreamy girl made of repose and inner
reserves, and--I handed him over to
you. You'll have to take him bodily,
for Gladys Whitcomb has sharpened
up her teeth and nails ready to spring
and drag him off,
But Janet" protested Anne. 81 new
er went in for a man in my life /
couldn't do it, It's so dead common.
| I'd hate myself.
I'm a deep eyed yillain" growled
Janet, striking an attitude. you
blessed lamb, don't ! know your pro-
clivities? Rack your naive brain for a
simple and good reason why l seft you
belated invitation, why l expected
Aubrey Churchill on the 4:50 train,
Why
"W vas
Anne started in CONSERVATION, lost
her balance against the low railing and
was Keeling backward when strong
arms caught her and set her upon her
feet. Then a travelling bag was flung
upon the balcony, and, emerging from
the shrubbery beneath, man vaulted
beside the girls.
my lady of the story" he said, smil
ing whlmsically upon Anne, who after
one swift look was trying vainly tc
melt into the shadow, Il have a score
to settle with you after p get something
to eat Just look at this saturated
brow, will you? It's like sponge
And these aching arms carried thai
bag ten miles on an empty stomach"
"Oh, jollyI' screamed Janet ecstatic
ally, sliding through the French win
dow. you'll have a banquet Aubrey
Churchill"
A terrifying silence followed thu
click of the window behind Janet'i
exit. Anne stood on the chilly balcony
with the perfect stiffness that precede,
either attack or precipitate flight gaa