The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-10-29
Surprising
Semple.
BY WILLIAM r. BRYAN
Copyrighted, 1907, by P. c. EASEMENT.

'-They won't" assured Semple. Zone
pint to each plant. remember"
you're dear!" she exclaimed. "Its
awfully good of you, Ned, to let me &c
when you won't even have a teeny
vacation yourself. feel almost
ashamed of myself leaving you all
alone In the hot city"
you have the time of your life," or
dered Semple. 'I1l be all right. Don't
you worry about me-"
Il have such surprise for you" she
said, smiling through the tears that
filmed her eyes. II want you to write
and tell me just how you like it"
whats the surprise? I'll bet it's q
cat"
Better than that and not half the
trouble" she declared.
There's my train being called. It's
a shame they will not let You pass the
gate. Kiss me again, dear, and do be
careful Of yourself"
Ned Semple kissed her not once, but
half a dozen times. He worshiped
this dainty little woman who had lift
ed him out of bachelordom and board
ing houses and had made home a BIZ
of paradise on earth. He hated to
give her up for whole six weeks, but
he could not get away from town him
self, and she needed the rest and
change.
He waited until the train pulled out
of the station and went back to the
hot and stuffy Office. 1t was no hard
ship to work when he worked for her
and there were certain deals that could
not be neglected. If these deals went
through they would both go to Europe
next year, and the occasional problem
of where the money for bills was to
be found would be solved.
He remained at the Office later than
usual to make up for the time he had
lost over their last lunch together. The
occasional charwoman only made the
desolation of the huge Office building
seem more pronounced. The elevators
stopped at 8, and it was after 8 when
he descended interminable flights of
steps, and the sense of depression grew
upon him.
In the street the open cars whizzed
past crowded with tired workers who
found in the speeding trolleys the
breeze that could not be coaxed into
their stuffy rooms. Whole families fill
ed some Of the cross benches, and Sem
pie thought regretfully Of how only
two nights before he and Aida had
taken ride in the cool of the evening,
going clear to the end of the run and
stopping at the restaurant for a bite
to eat
He did not feel hungry tonight,
though he had had no dinner. He left
the car at his corner and crept up the
stairs to his apartment
BY this time he was thoroughly blue,
and the darkness of the place crowned
his misery. AS he opened the hall
door he seemed to hear her voice call
a CHEEKY "Good evening, dear. 1 hope
you had an easy day. Did your"
Could it be possible, he asked him
self, that Aida had come back? She
might be hiding In one of the closets.
He lighted the gas in every room, but
he could find no trace of her save In
the orderly neatness which worked all
for his comfort
He went back to the parlor and
pulled thoughtfully at his pipe. In
his low nervous state but one explana-
ton of the phenomenon was suggested
Aida was dead, and In her love she
had come to greet him. So thorough.
ly wrought up did he become that he
telephoned the railroad company to
ask If the train had been wrecked.
The response did not seem to soothe
his ruffied feelings If it did reassure
his anxiety, and at last he went to bed
only to toss restlessly. Sleep did moi
come until absolute physical exhaus-
ton closed his eyes.
It seemed scarcely five minutes be
fore the alarm clock rang, and be
dragged himself out of bed. Aida
had left coffee and crackers and con
densed milk in the house, and he sip
ped a cup of coffee while he searched
the morning paper for news Of q
wreck.
He could find nothing of the sort,
and at last he started for the Office.
AS he opened the door Alida's voice
rang in his ears again: ''Goodby, dear
I hope you have luck today"
It was what she always said, and,
although it did not sound exactly like
her voice, there was no installing GER
tain tricks of speech. He hastily closed
the door and hurried down the steps.
There was a telegraph Office at the
corner, and he sent a telegram asking
her to wire her safe arrival. In the
Office building was the booth of an
other company, and he sent second
dispatch. She was not due at her DIES.
tination for a full two hours yet, and
he could not hope to receive message
before noon, but he paced the Office
impatiently, unable to concentrate his
attention upon anything except the
tagging hands of the clock.
At last the blue uniformed boy ap-
peared with a yellow envelope and de
parted richer by half dollar tip. He
was back in an hour with another
message that ran: Both kilograms
received. Photographed upon arrival
OF course nothing is the matter"
The assurance brought contentment
and that afternoon Semple put through
an important deal. In his citation be
dined at their favorite restaurant, and
1t was late when he reached home
The same ghostly voice greeted him
and dashed his pleasure. He modify
smoked his pipe until late, and the IN
usual allowance Of tobacco wrought
further havoc upon his tired nerves.
The natural result was a dream II
which he wildly saw Aida swathed ir
bandages, alternately calling to him
and begging the attendants not to lei
him know her peril lest it interiors
with the consummation Of his plans.
1t was clear that In her longing FOL
him her spirit projected itself through
space and that same self denial which
had led her to keep back the news OF
her danger led her to give the ole
familiar greeting and farewell. Hel
spirit must be in the room.
On the way to the Office he tele
graphed her that he knew something
must be wrong and that unless he re
ceiyed definite information at once h'
would leave on the next train.
The answer was dual one. In ad
dition to long telegram his chum Bel
Bradley put in an appearance. Brad
ley fenced for awhile with small talk
but at last he came to the point.
do you feel all right, old mang h
asked anxiously. Il had wire from