The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-08-20
ACQUISITION of
| Precedence.
By cuRRAN RICHARD cREENLEY.
Copyrighted, 1907, by Homer sprague.

III Copyrighted, 1907, by Homer Sprague. Il;
The limited pulled out from the
station as a dash of sleet against the
windows gave warning of the increas-
ing storm. Agatha shivered as she
pulled the wraps closer about her
shoulders. Somewhere out In that
swirl of sleet and snow Dick Weldon
was breasting the storm, his dark
face darker still with the pain that
her words hsd inflicted. Even so, let
him go since 1t had to be q question
his profession. She recalled the night
that she had excused herself from her
hostess box party to remain at home
for Weldon's call, only to sit alone In
the deserted drawing room, and he had
not even troubled to send an excuse.
That was the beginning of the end.
Now her bridges were all burned and
every moment speeding her toward the
new life out there in the orient. Kath-
arine Laird's invitation to go with
them to Japan had reached her at the
crucial moment-Japan, dim, dusky
dream that all her life had lain just
over the border of possibility, and with
Katharine and Ellis of all people!
Katharine wrote that the appointment
was not of sufficient Importance to
count as a political asset; therefore
they would be safe to remain there for
years.
Then out of the misty premises of
the future came the memory of Wei
don's face when badly, brutally, with
out one softening note of regret, she
had told him of her plans and in the
next breath conventional farewell in
the presence of the other guests. She
had built up the wall of injured pride
all too securely, leaving no loophole for
belated explanations.
The train settled down to the long
run through the open country, and the
twinkling lights of villages swept by
like f1refies through the stormy dark
ness. Loneliness engulfed her, and in
desperation she sought refuge in her
berth, to lie, open eyed, all the sleep
less night, while the certainty Of her
folly beat in upon her, clearer with
each succeeding hour
Morning found them far out on the
deal level of the prairies, with the
snow coming down with undated en-
ergy. The engine fought its way
through the drifts, but at last the big
wheels stood still. Agatha woke up
to the fact that something was wrong
when the men began to file out of the
car Then a man came down the
aisle and stopped at her seat.
"Dick Dick Weldon She was Oh
her feet, both hands outstretched and
all grievances forgotten In the glad
revulsion of feeling. If he had noticed
the joy in face and voice, he made nc
sign as he dropped into the vacant
seat
"We are snowbound and may have
to spend the rest of the day here until
the pillow comes to our relief"
The matter of fact tone put confusion
to flight and gave Agatha time to find
herself while he ran on with an easy
flow of commonplaces.
"You were on all night" she ven
tured.
Weldon's eyes met hers fairly. Eyes
would have made my presence
known, but feared you would resent
the intrusion; you have kept me sc
thoroughly out in the cold of late"
"I-that is" and the words failed her
Weldon pulled a magazine from his
pocket and handed it to her, the shad
ow of a smile lurking In his eyes
'sHave you seen that article on Japan
It may interest you" Then he van
ished behind his paper.
Agatha picked up the magazine, the
gray blur between her eyes and the
page threatening to overflow.
"Why need he fiaunt his indifference
SO brazenly?" she thought mo one
! asked him to come" But she stole
look at the dark, intent face, and theil
eyes met. The paper fell to the fool
between them mo use, dear lady,
confess. l followed because / could
not stay behind"
"What! Left all those wonderfully
interesting patients just to follow me
This belated interest is simply amaz
ing" But the heightened color ant
the laughter deep in her eyes BELIEF
her words. Under cover Of the maya
zine Weldon's hand sought and found
hers. They had the car practically Il
| themselves, and the brown heat
| dropped perilously near to Weidoni
shoulder as he bent over the girl anC
the door was flung open and a portel
dashed through, yelling as he went
sis there a doctor on board? Therei
a child bout to die back there in tn
way car, and its mothers scared stiff
Weldon hesitated; then the call t.
| duty overcame With an appealing
glance at the girl, you will hear mi
| afterward?' he was gone.
| Agatha turned to the blind whitenes
without, her lips trembling.
SIT will always be so-a secondar.
consideration" She knew the word
he would have said-felt the los
sweetness of the desecrated moment
Hours seemed to pass in the next tel
minutes. The porter returned for Wei
don's suit case; then the passenger
drifted back into the warm car. Their
is nothing exciting in contemplating
snowdrift, and they could continue tn
discussion in comfort. Agatha longe'
to escape the chatter.
| She went through the intervening
sleepers to the way car, where, at tn
end In little space, she found We
don. His coat was of, the instrumen
case open on the floor, and across tn
dingy velvet of the seat lay the child.
Weldon turned quickly.
at IS malignant diphtheria. Are 20
afraidT'
She shook her head, iler eyes grow
ing soft with pity as she watched tn
little head tossing from side to sid
and heard the choking gasps. For tn
0rSr time Agatha uHueNsSpVo.
Can l help you?"
The smile that lit his dark face wa
her reward.
81 would not have asked it, but
would be only too thankful if 20
!, would Get that alcohol lamp started
These instruments must be sterilized.
Agatha obeyed. losing all sense G
strangeness in the surroundings a
Weldon issued his orders and thos
short gasps grew more labored. Wit
the porter's assistance, he placed th
child on a little table borrowed froI
the sleeper, then, looking steadily int
the girls eyes, for the first time, Gale
her by name Agatha, try to remen
Der that this is absolutely necessar.
| te,v nd