The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-07-28

not Irma Moultaires forte, and when
she innocently ascribed the collection
to the Egyptian section Brookfeld in
terrupted with correction.
Miss Moultaire, seeing that enthusi-
asm and not desire to open a flirta-
ton with her charges was his motive,
courteously acknowledged the correc-
ton, and Brookfeld, mounting his
hobby, rode it hard and fast.
He had the trick of interesting his
hearers, and Miss Moultaire, finding
that the girls really were absorbed in
his little lecture, thankfully retreated
into the background.
She, too, found the chat interesting
and was very sorry when the last case
was reached and they found them
! selves at the foot of the stairway lead
ing to the art galleries.
Here is where l shall prove use
less,' he said to Irma, with a smile.
II thank you very much for letting
me run on as you have. love the
collection. / was one Of the explora-
ton party that dug 1t up"
w SuOQlO-dLlO 0O-lAdhn JOo3 AAo-
claimed Irma. II am sorry that our
schedule does not permit US more time.
l should be glad to hear the rest"
"Why not?' he suggested. 81 am
here almost every afternoon"
Irma shook her head smilingly as the
little party went up the stairs, leav-
ing Brookfield looking. after them, but
a couple of weeks later she found her
self in the vicinity of the museum and
| with a little spare time on her hands
in the intervals Of her social duties.
Brookfield was leaning over one of
the cases which an attendant had open
ed for him, but at Irma's approach he
closed the case and hurried toward her.
"You did find time to Gomez he cried
81 have half an hour to spare" was
the smiling explanation. Il thought
you might be there. l wanted to ask
you If you could give lecture to my
class on the exploration work"
with pleasure" was the prompt an.
swer. IF you will give me the adj
dress and name the day, / shall come
with pleasure"
Irma named an evening and gave the
address of the settlement house. Then
they looked over the collection, and
the girl marveled at the breadth OF
his information. His speciality was the
| Aztecs. He knew the entire field, and
there was a genuine enthusiasm about
Tom Brookfield which compelled recip-
rocal interest.
Almost before she realized it the
closing time had come, and she had
spent two hours In his company She
uau sent away her carriage, intending
to walk home from the museum, so
she permitted him to walk beside her.
From taking an interest in Brook
fields fad she was beginning to take
an interest in Tom Brookfield himself.
She found him well worth her inter-
est by comparison with the idle men
of her own set Irma admired action.
nd though Brookheld had only just
Used thirty he had been worker
tor half his lifetime.
He had not become a monomaniac
on his hobby, but he was a good gen.
eral talker, and, though they met only
at the Settlement house or In the mu-
scum, a real friendship soon sprang up
between them. Irma had feeling that
to invite him to her home would spoil
1t all, and his dense Ignorance of the
fashionable and affiuent Miss Moul-
taire was not lifted.
He believed her to be a teacher In a
fashionable school who gave part of
her time to settlement work, and they
met on a plane of equality which was
refreshing to the woman after the for.
tune hunting she had so often to en-
dure
One afternoon late in the spring
Brookfield came to meet the class and
escort them to a private view Of col
lege collection. They had acquired
some of his enthusiasm, and he had
obtained private views Of many col
lections for them
Today he came, with beaming race,
and all the afternoon his high spirits
were apparent. He never shared the
little luncheons which wound up the
expeditions, but today he detained
Miss Moultaire for a moment.
'sThere is something / would like to
say" ne pleaded. May l walk home
with you, or do you have to go with
the girlsf'