The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-07-30

n I'd sOgged pavement, she suddenly
caught one foot in tangled heap OF
Wire-ffung down from the telephone
and telegraph lines by the ravagine
hand of recent hurricane-and STUN.
bled precipitately into the arms Of a
blond giant, who supported her valor.
Orsly till she had blushingly recovered
her poise.
Thanks, awfully." she said. 'You
have doubtless saved my life"
Your frock, more likely" he replied
lifting his hat. Il am no end glad I
happened along at the propitious mo-
ment"
Belinda returned him a little COM
bination smile and nod as she lifted her
dainty, crisp skirts and pursued her
way cautiously across the slippery
street.
Hardiman restrained his eagerness
until reasonably safe length Of time
had elapsed before turning to look
around He had gained the opposite
sidewalk by this time, and his glance
back at the girl betrayed instantly to
the casual pedestrians that the profess
or had been abruptly shaken from his
phlegmatic attitude of mind.
Belinda turned into Oak street all
unconscious Of the scrutiny that fol-
lowed her, and Hardiman continued
his way in tumult Of chaotic refec-
tons. He reached his hotel In state
OF mind that was quite impossible.
The very first look into the girls face
had thrilled him startlingly. The ac-
cidental contact Of her delicate form
against his had finished the job. He
told himself that 1t was a case of love
at first sight. So much for the explo-
sion of his lifelong theoriesi Then a
perfect regiment of doubts and fears
assailed him. Perhaps after all she
was not girl, but a married woman.
The professor ate his dinner In ST.
lence Afterward he went to his room
and for some inexpllcable reason ex-
changed his dark suit for one Of lighter
and more becoming texture He brush
ed his hair painstakingly, placed a soft
gray alpine hat on his head and saun-
tered forth In quest of-fresh air. 1t
was almost dark before he returned,
disappointed and oddly depressed He
eschewed supper altogether and went
back to his room for a solitary cigar
and meditation.
Meanwhile Belinda had reached
home, put on pair of dry boots and
settled herself for a quiet afternoon.
School would open on Monday, and she
would not have many more afternoons
to lounge, as they would be given over
to outdoor recreation after the trying
hours of the morning. The town clock,
striking 6, aroused her. She tore up
the last letter, old love letters they
were, and tossed the bits into the CRATE.
Then she made a careful toilet and
went downstairs to dinner. Teddy Ev-
erltt was coming over that evening, she
recollected, but for the first time In
many months the prospect of VISIT
from that individual gave her no par
ticular pleasure
Sunday morning she selected her
most becoming gown and hat. It was
perfect day, and her satisfaction was
almost complete. She created the usual
stir as she walked up the aisle of the
village church and took her seat near
the front. Less than FIVE minutes aft
erward the professor came in and sat
down in the pew opposite. He had
been waiting outside half the morning,
unobserved, but alert After service
Belinda gave him fieeting smile of
recognition and for some reason that
was new to her turned and hurried
home as fast as her pretty patent
leather covered feet could carry her.
When school opened the following
day, the first person she encountered
on entering the faculty hall was the
new professor She blushed to her
ears and tried valiantly to retain her
scholarly demeanor, but the logged
crimson showed persistently through
the tanned cheeks, and her eyes were
puzzles
Hardiman made no effort to conceal
his qualification, or, If he did, he was
not at all successful. The rest Of the
teachers looked on in good natured
amusement None Of them were old
maids.
In month the acquaintance grew to
intimacy. In two 1t became a serious
proposition. After three the only thing
lacking were the words and the ring.
The professor had at last made up
his mind to propose. He had meant
to restrain his ardor till the close Of
the term, but when 1t became manifest
that the adorable little instructor Of
grade No. reciprocated his affection
prudence was thrown to the winds
He sat in his study bordering. Sud
denly he got to work disposing of his
reports in short, but thorough, order
He made point of never sighting his
duties for anything. Then he drew
forth square envelope and sheet Of
white paper to match. This seemed
to him the most direct and final way
of settling matters between them.
Belinda was coquette, there was no
getting around that fact, even In ones
most generous moments, and Hardi-
man was determined to corner her
completely. He composed his lines
carefully; they were inspirational. And
now that he had broken the Ice at last
he meant to carry things to a rapid
finish. The professor was nothing If
not businesslike. He fshed in draw
er and pulled out teachers resigna-
ton blank. This he put In a separate
envelope and directed both to the dear
est girl in the world.
The following morning the postmans
shrill whistle brought Belinda herself
to the door She took the mail and
glanced through 1t hastily, rivers OF
scarlet flowing over her cheeks as she
recognized Hardiman's familiar back
hand. she tore open lie envelope
eagerly and scanned the contents with
whitening face. The paper fell from
her fingers and she leaned Imply
against the banister rail. So she was
asked, in the briefest possible way, to
resign, and she had dared to dream
she had been 50 sure-she had been
such a fool! She smothered the sob
In her throat and In quick scorn of her.
self dashed the hot tears from her
eyes. Then she pulled herself togeth-
er sharply and went upstairs. With
trembling fingers she filed out the
blank and directed 1t to the board.
Drab weeks followed Every eff
fort the professor made to gain an au-
dience with Belinda failed. He had
mortified and insulted her flagrantly
and she would see that he got no more
chances to repeat the ildignity. As to
Hardiman, he was on the rack. Fool
like, he reflected, he had rushed In and
frightened her away with his maudlin,
importunate lovemaking, and thus lost
her for good. But perhaps, after all, 1t
was not for him that she cared, but
the other fellow! What a dolt he had
been to presume upon the affection OF
matchless creature like that! Life
grew to be bitter struggle to him,
and he began all at once to look his